Ayesha Omar speaks out against misconceptions about feminism
Actor and activist Ayesha Omar has pushed back against the perception that feminism is about hostility towards men, using a series of Instagram posts to spotlight cases of violence against women in Pakistan, India and the United States.
Sharing a quote attributed to Nadia Carly, Omar asked in her caption, “Why does the word feminism bother men so much?” The quote argued that feminism targets abuse, sexism, misogyny and other forms of harmful behaviour rather than men themselves.
Omar then shared a series of Instagram stories featuring recent cases involving violence against women from different parts of the world. She also highlighted the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
In one of her posts, Omar stressed that men should hold their friends accountable for their behaviour towards women before drawing attention to specific cases.
Among the incidents she highlighted was the alleged assault of a pregnant woman in Gujranwala after her family reportedly discovered through an ultrasound that she was expecting another daughter.
She also shared reports of protests in New Delhi following the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Temple. Students from Lady Shri Ram College and other Delhi University institutions protested on September 23, calling for greater safety for women and accountability from authorities.
Omar later referred to the case known as the “Cornell Seven” in the United States.
The case involves allegations by a former Cornell University student, identified as Jane Doe in court documents, who said she was sexually assaulted by seven students at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
The renewed investigation has also brought attention to the way Cornell University and local authorities dealt with the allegations when they were initially reported.
For Omar, the issue forms part of her broader public advocacy on gender equality, feminism and harassment. She has previously spoken about her own experiences in Pakistan’s entertainment industry.
In a 2022 interview, Omar said she identified as a feminist and described feminism as supporting equal opportunities for men and women. She also discussed the objectification of women in the media industry and said women were often subjected to greater scrutiny than men.
In June 2026, Omar also joined actor Aliya Ali at an event in London to discuss women’s safety. She urged men to take greater responsibility for helping create safer environments for women and encouraged them to speak out on the issue.
Through her latest Instagram posts, Omar has once again connected the discussion around feminism with cases of alleged violence against women in three countries.
Her message focused on accountability and called on men to challenge harmful behaviour among their peers rather than viewing feminism as an attack on men.