Touted as the ‘Pakistani Martha Stewart’, Saher Sohail has been making waves on social media with her witty illustrations that are based on the experiences of a second-generation Pakistani woman living abroad. DW blogger Roma Rajpal-Weiß spoke to her about her art and the inspiration behind it.

Social media celebrity Qandeel Baloch, who was strangled in what appeared to be an “honour killing,” in Multan, Pakistan, is pictured in a selfie on her Facebook page. (Baloch/Facebook/via Reuters)

Pakistani model Qandeel Baloch, touted as the Pakistani ‘Kim Kardashian’ was loved and loathed for her controversial comments and viral videos. Last week, she was murdered by her brother because he believed that she had been dishonoring the ‘Baloch’ name. 

I know, you’ve read enough already! You probably shook your head when you saw the headline. Another rape? God, what is this country coming to? Why don’t they do something about it? The shock turns into anger and then the anger fades into resignation.

The city of Vrindavan in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is also known as the ‘City of Widows’ and is home to an estimated number of 20,000 women who have lost their husbands. These women have been abandoned by their families and are shunned by the society because of many superstitions. Widows are said to bring bad luck and being a widow is considered the biggest curse for a woman.

An Indian bride waits before a mass community marriage in Bahirkhand © AP Photo/Bikas Das

A recent statement, Maneka Gandhi, India’s Women and Child Development Minister, says that marital rape cannot be applied to the Indian context. Her comments have raised many disturbing questions.

Poster of Super Sikh © Surpreet Singh Manchanda

“Our hero is not a misogynist, he is not a bigot, he is not a racist and he is very comfortable with strong, highly educated powerful women.” A strong man that respects women is needed in the fight for women’s rights.

© Aarthi Parthasarathy

Royal Existentials is a weekly web-comic series that uses Indian vintage art and imagery as a backdrop for contemporary dialogues. Members of the Mughal family contemplate on conflict, problems of patriarchy and feminism. The miniature paintings tell ironic stories of Queens and Handmaidens who talk about smashing Patriarchy.