Nadia Afgan stirs debate with repost on modesty, male gaze

Actor shares satirical clip arguing that responsibility for modesty should not fall on women alone

Actor Nadia Afgan shared a controversial take on women’s clothing and the concept of the “male gaze", with her response receiving mixed reactions online. She reposted a clip by a content creator on Instagram, adding the caption “This” with a heart emoji, signalling her agreement with the message.

The original video uses satire to highlight societal expectations in Pakistan, where the responsibility for modesty is often placed on women rather than on emphasising men’s control over their gaze. The sketch depicts a conversation between two men discussing how they would react upon seeing women dressed differently.

The video uses humour to critique societal double standards, suggesting that modesty is not solely women's responsibility but also involves personal accountability in how individuals conduct themselves.

Following Afgan’s repost, several actors and influencers also engaged with the clip, leaving largely supportive comments. One user wrote, “I am surprised being a boy you know this,” reflecting approval of the perspective shared in the video.

Although many agreed with Afgan and others who supported the message, some users criticised the comedic take, arguing that “responsibility is on both genders.” 

The exchange reflects ongoing conversations on social media about gender expectations, societal norms, and how humour is used to challenge sensitive cultural topics.