Silence of a Pakistani Muslim woman: The influence of culture on the meaning of silence

ABSTRACT

Western feminist writers often associate voice with empowerment and treat silence as a manifestation of a woman’s powerlessness. Although the significance of voice cannot be minimized, the association of silence with victimization is flawed. This essay analyzes the silent appearance of Ghazala Khan, a Pakistani Muslim woman, at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Using post-colonial methodology, I argue that her silence was an expression of her agency rather than her powerlessness. My analysis focuses on Trump’s comments, Ghazala’s post-convention remarks, and Ghazala’s dupatta (light scarf). The impulse to essentialize silence can be checked by examining contextual information surrounding the silence.

KEYWORDS:

• Silence
• veil
• Pakistani Muslim woman
• Islam
• post-colonial critique

Notes

1 I refer to Ghazala and Khizr Khan by their first names because it is typical in Pakistani culture to do so.

2 Translations are from Quran.com.

3 A burqa is a head-to-toe covering; a chador covers the head and body, but leaves the face exposed; a dupatta sits loosely either over the head or around the neck.

4 See Baxter (1991) for why Pakistani women are suspicious of Western intervention in their feminist battles.