My new independence has been met with everything from curiosity to awkward laughter. But this is about me, not them
When Lost Migrations, an animated film series I’d been waiting to see for months, finally premiered in Karachi earlier this year, I immediately saved the date in my calendar. But instead of doing what I, or anyone around me, would usually do – coordinate with a group of friends – I decided to go alone.
A few years ago, the idea of doing anything alone, much less in Pakistan as a woman, would have seemed impossible. Women in Pakistan are generally expected to socialise inside, rather than in public (although there are growing attempts to challenge this by women’s movements), and many believe there can be safety risks to going out alone.
Anmol Irfan is a freelance journalist and founder of Perspective Magazine
