A Dreadful Hall mark

I was planning to write on this issue, but the biggest hurdle in my way was the data availability. After talking to several male models and some event managers, I was able to write on Homophobia and abuse that exists in the modeling world. This happens to be a critical and crucial part of the modeling world. In Pakistani fashion industry as well as fashion industry abroad, this culture is found too much. The models and starters who want to begin their career and earn name in the world of modeling often fall prey to gay photographers, artists, stylists and even designers at times. “Homophobia is a hall mark of the fashion industry.” as these are words from a female event manager, who is also responsible for finding fresh talent and new faces. Not being paid on time was also something that she talked about. “Homophobia in showbiz is very normal and rife because the victims hardly report the crimes out of a deep sense of shame. The predators go scot free and are usually ready for others victims because they know they will ever be punished”, she said. Another female model promoter talked about it as well. She is of the view that culprits are never punished, since victims are shy to share their stories and let the world know about them. She also talked about a modeling agency owner who asked her the details about a young boy. Plus the models are also scared. They think that the gay culprits would simply ruin their career and job, so they never bring out the stories. An upcoming model straight went to the promoter and complained to her about the male photographer who was constantly harassing him during a photo shoot. Fashion industry is one of the most challenging and demanding industries and the survival in this industry becomes harder just because of this culture, especially for those who don’t want to be a part of the homo culture.

The victims want to earn a name and want to be well paid as well. But this kind of abuse and harassment simply ruins their self-worth and self-esteem. Another model talked about the kind of politics, monopoly and homo culture. “There is little kind of dirty politics and homo culture in the modeling world,” she said. She also feels that men and women both often find it hard to have a survival in modeling world just because of this issue. An upcoming male model, who has worked for many agencies also, shared in his words how a very well known male designer had offered him to promote him to a high level in fashion industry in Pakistan and abroad only if he fulfills his wrong demands. He also talked about a photographer who tried to harass him during a photo shoot. Later, almost each model talked about a feeling of anger, hatred, fear and shame that they went through. The models also talked about being harassed too. 

The problem is that severe gender roles are taught from birth by the family, schools and the media, all of which firmly define and uphold the concept of hegemonic masculinity. Ismat Chughtai wrote on it in her highly and critically acclaimed story “Lihaaf” on which she was persecuted as well. The lady, on which she wrote this homo encounter story, later met her and told her that just because of this story she was able to leave her husband. Homosexual activity is a misdemeanor and prohibited in most Muslim-majority countries. What can be done, what shall be done, and what has to be done is a very big debate. After all its all modeling and fashion world. It’s not even easy to talk about such issues nor find any real solution to it. The law for harassment is up there, but people are scared of making a complaint against any culprit, for a better career. It’s not something non-professional but un-ethical, or may be un-lawful as well. 

Names of the victims have been changed for privacy.The following post was published in 

Express Tribune, with some changes.......This was the original version.......