Bisma Jay

Bisma Jay

Bisma Jay

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Contagious laughter fills the air, the sound of heavy footsteps darting across the courtyard, and the gossip of the day being recounted as the girls go through their daily chores. The intimate interactions between women in Pakistan during these moments of escape are something to be admired. “Zenana” directly translates to “of the women”, spaces that are only for women to come in and out of.

Last fall I spent five weeks living with my extended family in northern Punjab. I saw their daily lives, and how they spend the majority of their time off from school together doing mundane activities such as household tasks, lounging, talking, and rarely spending a moment alone. In this series, I am showcasing a side of Pakistan that is commonly overlooked in the media: everyday feminine intimacies.