So as you are aware, a lot of people in Pakistan have a staring problem. It’s not just the mushtanda-type boys/men on street corners, but also regular uncles and aunties and even girls your age sometimes. I am not sure why that is. When I go to a bazaar in Pakistan, I feel like the majority of people are staring at me and I get very self-conscious.
My last visit was six years ago and I remember going to the plaza with my aunt. We were all wearing casual everyday shalwar kameez…nothing too flashy or attention-grabbing (I don’t wear very fitted or revealing clothes). Yet guys would whistle or sing dirty songs. And ‘aunties’ in the shop would give me a dirty glance as a result. The shopkeeper asked me if I was from abroad. I was very surprised because I wasn’t doing any haggling or even talking much. I later asked my khala how he figured that out and she said it’s because other people are used to the ‘mahool’ and go about their business as usual. You were holding onto your dupatta for dear life. Maybe that’s how they figured you’re not from here. I don’t know.
So anyhow, I am going to Pakistan soon (very excited! :)) and would like to know what’s the dress code these days, or what can I do to blend in. I am planning to do some shopping in Lahore.
I think an abaya might help. You are wearing it to protect yourself, so there is nothing improper about it.
I went to Pakistan five years ago, and the staring was terrible, but not many singing dirty songs waghera. Than I went this summer, and the staring was a lot less, maybe once in a while. But that might have been due to the fact it was about 100+ degrees, and no electricity most of the time. I think people were just trying to survive the heat, and just do what they need to.
Oh, when I was walking outside on the streets, I would pull my chaddar up to my face. There was like dirt, wind, and heat from generators coming right at your face.
Muzna, I don't want to wear one if it's just temporary. I believe one should do it properly or not do it at all.
This isn't really a religious issue so I'm not sure where you're coming from. Are you going to be wearing shalwar kameez to the shopping malls and holding onto dupatta for your dear life in Canada too permanently? No, right? That's just temporary too so why not an abaya? Mahol k hisab se you have to make certain adjustments when travelling to a different country. I doubt any of the women who return from Umrah etc continue wearing abayas even though they were required to do so in Makkah. Doesn't make them hypocrites. Also, not saying abaya/burqa will prevent the staring but it's about how comfortable you feel yourself. Here, I don't wear desi clothes outside but in Pakistan I would only wear the traditional dress because I feel more comfortable in shalwar kameez than jeans.
I become so self-conscious that I don't even wear anything fancy/blingy when visiting some gaon because the villagers are such saada people that you'd look odd even if you wore something slightly different than simple shalwar kameez like choori pajama or something. So whatever it takes to make you feel at ease....
Rest assured, please don't take any badtameezi from the retards and have a chappal ready.
same here! i do NOT wear Desi Clothes outside my house but when i go to India i wear the traditional shalwar qameez **because, if i don’t, the girls stare at me and make my life miserable! **
Won't help. Back in Dubai I heard of dudes (mostly Indian laborers, but also Pakistanis among them) who specifically travel to public beaches like the one in Jumeirah on their day off (Friday) for the sole purpose of staring at the bikini-wearing girls there. Pathetic!
^ This is what we like to call "Sasti tafreeh".
Zardari should work on something similar for the clifton beach and the terrorism will be gone in no time.
