Sobia A Shaikh is regarded as a much-celebrated influencer, with a strong opinion against gender discrimination and the sexist comments that are still quite normalised in society. She resided in Pakistan and London prior to moving to San Francisco and brings a rich cultural perspective and worldview informed by the time she had spent in different parts of the world. She is a fixture in the San Francisco social scene and is regarded as a trendsetter with her unique sense of style. Other than that, she travels extensively and attending Fashion Weeks in New York & Paris which have further cemented her role as an international lifestyle influencer.
Recently, the major cities in Pakistan held their third annual Aurat March – aurat is a woman in Urdu – to observe International Women’s Day. And to her utter delight, women of all ages participated in unprecedented numbers. Impressed and delighted at the turnout, she was following it regularly online and getting updates via WhatsApp from her sisters, mother-in-law and friends (all of whom were involved in some capacity) from Karachi (my hometown) and Lahore (the city where she went to college).
According to her, one of the most prominent themes of Aurat March 2020 was “Mera Jism Meri Marzi” – My Body My Choice. “I was bowled over by some of the placards and banners that the women carried – in the most positive manner – and it made me realize how much progress Pakistan has made since 1997 when I lived and worked there before moving to San Francisco.” Says Sobia.
Her blog post is not about women’s equality or stepping into the streets holding placards to fight “slut-shaming” (which is primarily used to disparage women or gay men). Rather, this is her attempt to create awareness about a mindset that exists in societies across the board. She clarified that she is not a man-hating girl. However, little drops make the ocean. Sharing one of the unforgettable words that she read somewhere that “movements are built by thousands of people changing their minds,” she pushes and motivates others to be the first drop of a new way of thinking which surely will turn into a movement one day.
Sobia A Shaikh is an active member in various other NGOs and activism centres. Presently, she is a member of the UNICEF USA North West Region Board. She is also the co-chair of the UNICEF @75 Celebration event. Get to know more about Sobia A. Shaikh and her achievements by connecting with her on social media.
Instagram: sobiaashaikh
Facebook: Sobia A. Shaikh/Shaikhenandstirred
Website: www.shaikhenandstirred.com
Twitter: sobia_a_shaikh