Baghawat
Amal Shaheedi
Baghawat is a print/web archive that challenges false female representation and stereotypes within Pakistan. Through my work, I aim to bring to light the feminist movement, that has been underway since the birth of the country.
Renowned female activists Farida Shaheed and Khawar Mumtaz describe the journey of a Pakistani woman as “One step forward, two steps back.” This is the struggle that is overshadowed by the male-dominant narratives prevalent within the society. Women of Pakistan are often painted as “conformists” who exist to serve in the roles of “sisters”, “mothers” and “wives”. Baghawat gives voice to a community that has been silenced over time.
By analyzing newspapers and other direct sources of past representation, one can question narratives surrounding women and how they came to exist. How has censorship altered the stereotypes around the female identity? The goal of this archive is to showcase an accurate portrayal of Pakistani women, in order to form and revive our own history. In doing this, I will be bringing forward the work of female activists through a web archive and a personal reflection- the Baghawat zine. This web archive will serve as a historical reference for their works, while the zine offers direct insight into the struggles shared by us women.