Bodies Unseen: Gendered Exclusion and Activism in Contemporary Pakistan

Abstract

This paper examines the issue of women’s (in)visibility in Pakistan’s public sphere, particularly in the context of contemporary debates on gender and social justice. It explores how a new generation of women is reclaiming spaces historically dominated by men, raising awareness of inequalities—ranging from the unequal distribution of resources to something as fundamental as the right to rest. Through a semiotic analysis of visual representations, this study investigates the imagery used to depict gender issues, social inequalities, and taboos, focusing on its symbolism and the ways it conveys meaning to the audience. The analysis draws on the works of Naiza Khan (b. 1968) and Shehzil Malik (b. 1988), alongside materials collected during fieldwork in Karachi and Lahore, particularly from the Aurat March. Despite differences in artistic style and medium, both artists—representing two generations—engage with similar themes: societal norms, prevailing stereotypes, tradition, subjectivity, feminine corporeality, and individual agency. By bringing their work from traditionally “safe” spaces—art galleries in the case of Khan and digital platforms for Malik—into the streets of Pakistan, their art symbolically reintroduces and reclaims women’s presence in the public sphere.