The Tragedy and Misogyny of “What Will People Say” and the Cost of Life
The stigma of what people will say costs many their lives, the latest being Sania Khan
Sania Khan was a vibrant 28 year old photographer who had so much to offer for the world. Unfortunately for her, due to the lack of community, she wasn’t afforded the protection she needed from ex-husband. Her ex-husband drove all the way from Georgia because he couldn’t handle her wanting to divorce him. She recently spoke about the stigma of divorce in the South Asian community and how lonely she felt. This isn’t unheard of in many ethnic or conservative communities.
Being in the South Asian community, I know exactly how it feels to speak out for your truth. There is an innate fear of what people will think and understandably so. To many this who live in a Western culture, it may seem absurd but ethnic communities rely more on communal living rather than individualistic living. Social standing in the community is enough for people to shun each other out of each other’s lives.
Living this firsthand through my marriage to someone outside of my own ethnic background, my parents had the fear of people talking about me and no one wanting to be their friends. Luckily for them, no one stopped talking to them and continued as if nothing…
