Last week, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif referred to female opposition leaders in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party as “trash and leftovers” of Imran Khan, likely unaware of the strength of the backlash he would face.

Last week, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif referred to female opposition leaders in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party as “trash and leftovers” of Imran Khan, likely unaware of the strength of the backlash he would face.

As a result, Pakistani writers, cricketers, celebrities, and judges have all made similar sexist remarks. Sharmila Faruqi, a member of the provincial assembly, told local media: “Men can get away with sexism.”

In addition, this was not the first time Mr Asif had expressed such sentiments in parliament. The 73-year-old called former federal minister Sheerin Mazari a “tractor trolley” in an earlier joint session.

Legislators had used such language before. Asif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and the PTI frequently make sexist and misogynistic remarks about opposition party female parliamentarians.

The outcry against Mr Asif, however, was loud and widespread this time.

Many media outlets also lambasted him for his comments, as well as lawmakers from the PTI and other parties on social media. In a scathing editorial, Dawn, one of the country’s largest English-language newspapers, declared “Khawaja Asif, our indefensible defence minister, needs to learn about gender equality”.

Asif later posted on Twitter that his comments were “taken out of context” and that “calling someone ‘trash’ and ‘leftover’ is not gender-specific”. He did not apologize, however.

Nida Kirmani, however, believes this was a sign of change.

Several years ago, there would have been no outcry and no need for him to explain or respond,” she says. Activists for women’s rights have fought long and hard to respond to Khawaja Asif’s sexist comments.

According to her, social media has changed the way women express themselves because it gives them a platform to do so.

Conversations far from the national spotlight also reflect that. Several men praised a clip from Baby Baji that showed a husband slapping his wife for “finally putting her in her place.”

Women, however, were quick to respond.

The misconception that women are the root of all evil is perpetuated so much that when the slap finally occurs, people celebrate it along with their abused wives, according to Amina Rehman

As a result, Pakistani writers, cricketers, celebrities, and judges have all made similar sexist remarks. Sharmila Faruqi, a member of the provincial assembly, told local media: “Men can get away with sexism.”

In addition, this was not the first time Mr Asif had expressed such sentiments in parliament. The 73-year-old called former federal minister Sheerin Mazari a “tractor trolley” in an earlier joint session.

Legislators had used such language before. Asif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) and the PTI frequently make sexist and misogynistic remarks about opposition party female parliamentarians.

The outcry against Mr Asif, however, was loud and widespread this time.

Many media outlets also lambasted him for his comments, as well as lawmakers from the PTI and other parties on social media. In a scathing editorial, Dawn, one of the country’s largest English-language newspapers, declared “Khawaja Asif, our indefensible defence minister, needs to learn about gender equality”.

Asif later posted on Twitter that his comments were “taken out of context” and that “calling someone ‘trash’ and ‘leftover’ is not gender-specific”. He did not apologize, however.

Nida Kirmani, however, believes this was a sign of change.

Several years ago, there would have been no outcry and no need for him to explain or respond,” she says. Activists for women’s rights have fought long and hard to respond to Khawaja Asif’s sexist comments.

According to her, social media has changed the way women express themselves because it gives them a platform to do so.

Conversations far from the national spotlight also reflect that. Several men praised a clip from Baby Baji that showed a husband slapping his wife for “finally putting her in her place.”

Women, however, were quick to respond.

The misconception that women are the root of all evil is perpetuated so much that when the slap finally occurs, people celebrate it along with their abused wives, according to Amina Rehman