Aurat March announces satirical ‘Misogynist of the Year’ awards ahead of Mother’s Day event | The Express Tribune
Campaign invites users to share most misogynistic remarks of 2025, with footwear-shaped trophy for ‘Loser of the Year’
“Misogynist of the Year Awards,” a satirical campaign by Aurat March that went viral as a critique of misogyny, is part of this year’s Mother’s Day event at Sea View, Karachi.
The Aurat March Instagram page announced: “For the first time in our history, we present to you the Misogynist of the Year Awards! (Pakistan edition).” The picture shows a trophy shaped like footwear, symbolising a satirical “award”.
The caption of the post stated: “Our men spend the entire year displaying their excessive misogyny. We are so used to living in this misogynistic environment that we often forget when or what they’ve said and whom they’ve hurt with their words.”
The post encouraged users to share their experiences, saying: “Think about the most misogynistic remark you can recall a cisgender man publicly making during the year 2025 and drop it in the comments below. Who knows he might end up getting crowned the biggest Loser of the Year in a few days’ time?”
The post received a number of responses, with users naming public figures they associated with misogynistic remarks. Some also referenced experiences involving individuals from their personal and professional lives.
Many also commented on the perceived competitiveness of the “award,” calling it “tough competition.”
This year’s Aurat March theme is focused on intergenerational trauma and “achi betiyaan” (good daughters), highlighting the societal pressure on women to conform to idealised roles, as well as the challenges faced by mothers.
The campaign also references everyday phrases such as “khud khaana garam karlo” (warm up your own food), framing them within broader discussions about gender roles and domestic expectations.
The event aims to highlight the often-unrecognised labour of mothers, along with women’s daily domestic responsibilities. The movement asks: “Why do men in this country feel so entitled to receive women’s unpaid, unacknowledged labour that any imperfection they sense in this process becomes grounds for them to murder us?”
The “Misogynist of the Year Awards” campaign argues that many everyday phrases and experiences are often not recognised as serious issues faced by Pakistani women, reinforcing the need for women to voice their realities through public platforms.
