Hania Aamir speaks out against jokes about women’s bodies and appearance

Popular Pakistani actress Hania Aamir has spoken out against the growing tendency to make jokes or create content about women’s appearance, bodies, age and personal lives. She said such content cannot simply be dismissed as harmless humour or an exercise of freedom of expression, and urged both content creators and audiences to act responsibly in creating and promoting it.

Hania shared her views on Instagram Stories on Thursday, writing that in 2026, turning women’s bodies, appearances, beauty, age and personal lives into subjects of jokes is itself “ridiculous.”

According to Hania, presenting something as an “opinion” or “humour” does not automatically make it acceptable. She also pointed to a clear distinction between making a comment about someone and turning a woman’s private life into entertainment.

Hania said the impact of people’s words does not end in the immediate moment. When a public figure makes a statement, she noted, it can influence their followers as well. In her words, when someone speaks publicly, they do more than simply express a personal opinion—they also influence what society comes to regard as normal, funny or acceptable.

The actress also called on audiences, not just content creators, to be more conscious of what they consume and promote. She argued that when millions of people watch a particular type of content, they collectively help determine what kind of language and behaviour toward women becomes socially acceptable.

Hania has also recently made her debut in the music industry. She said that while people should expect respectful behaviour from society, they should also avoid promoting content in which the opposite behaviour is presented as entertainment.

Making her position on women even clearer, Hania wrote, “Women are not anyone’s property. Their bodies are not subjects for public commentary, and their appearances should not be treated as material for public discussion. We should have moved beyond this by now.”

Urging people not to amplify such content, she said the tendency to treat jokes about women as entertainment needs to stop. Society, she said, is capable of doing better.

Hania did not name any particular individual or content creator in her statement. Her comments came at a time when actress Katrina Kaif was facing criticism on social media in India. Various online comments were directed at Kaif after she appeared in public following a long period away from the spotlight after giving birth.

In Pakistan, actresses Zhalay Sarhadi and Aamna Ilyas have also previously spoken out against online mockery and negative comments targeting women. They have said such behaviour does not affect only well-known women; women with less social power can also be harmed by such attitudes.