TikTok Killings Instill Fear Among Pakistani Celebrities: 'Every Woman Understands This Anxiety'
** In the bustling city of Islamabad, Sana Yousaf made her mark as a flourishing entrepreneur, but her journey wasn't easy. "In my family, it wasn't an acceptable profession at all," she shared, "Yet, I managed to persuade them, and even established my own business."
Tragically, last week, Yousaf was killed outside her home by a man who had continually pursued her, only for her to repeatedly reject his advances. This heinous act sent shockwaves through her online community.
Under her last post, celebrating her 17th birthday, comments poured in, many expressing condolences. Some, however, blamed her for her own demise, statements like "You reap what you sow" or "it's deserved, she was tarnishing Islam."
On social media, she shared her love for cafes, skincare products, and traditional shalwar kameez outfits, capturing the hearts of over a million followers.
Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan
Pakistani women like Yousaf face a variety of societal attitudes and challenges, often rooted in age-old gender roles, limited access to resources, and social and cultural barriers. Adding to these troubles, they confront specific hurdles in the digital realm, including online harassment.
Societal Attitudes
- Gender Roles: Many women are discouraged from pursuing careers or businesses. Over one-third have been forbidden by their fathers or husbands, while over 43% have renounced work to focus on household duties[5].
- Workforce Representation: Only about 23% of women are part of the labor force, a significant disparity compared to men[5].
- Resource Access: Women struggle to secure financing, productive assets, and digital tools, and face an average earnings gap of 18% compared to their male counterparts[1][4].
- Discrimination and Safety: Women experience sexual violence and harassment, deterring them from pursuing economic independence[3][4].
Online Entrepreneurship Challenges
- Online Harassment: Women involved in digital entrepreneurship often suffer derogatory comments, unwanted advances, and trolling. This mirrors broader instances of gender-based violence and harassment[4].
- Backlash and Social Stigma: Women who challenge traditional norms online may encounter social stigma and backlash from their communities or families, accused of being overly public or neglecting their domestic responsibilities[4].
- Digital Access and Safety: Inadequate digital literacy and access—especially among women—stymies e-commerce and digital marketing[4].
Economic and Structural Barriers
- Funding Gaps: Female-led startups receive minimal funding, particularly those run solely by women. In 2024, no such startups received funding at all, demonstrating clear gender disparities[2].
- Private Sector Support: Private sector companies often have a low representation of women, limiting mentorship, networking, and support for women-led ventures[4].
- Policy and Protection Gaps: Enforcement of protective policies against harassment—both online and offline—is weak, and protections are often ineffective[3][4].
To foster a supportive environment for women entrepreneurs in Pakistan, concerted efforts are required from both public and private sectors to promote gender equality, expand resource access, and enhance the safety and support available to women—especially online.
- The heinous crime against Sana Yousaf, a successful businesswoman in Islamabad, underscores the challenges women entrepreneurs face in Pakistan, including online harassment.
- Aside from her business, Sana Yousaf was actively engaged on social media, showcasing her love for cafes, skincare products, and traditional clothing, enjoying a following of over a million people.
- Despite these societal challenges, women in Pakistan continue to make strides in various sectors, including science, health-and-wellness, and entertainment, but many still grapple with gender roles, limited access to resources, and online harassment.
- To combat these issues and create a fertile ground for women entrepreneurs, it's crucial for the public and private sectors to address discrimination and safety concerns, enhance access to resources, and promote gender equality online and offline.
