In Pakistan, young people are taking a stand against patriarchal or simply outdated attitudes, echoing the huge strides that have been made for female empowerment around the globe. While the approach may be whimsical, the issues are serious—from escaping arranged marriages to demystifying menstrual taboos and tackling domestic abuse.
After years of trying to elude matchmakers in Pakistan, Nashra Balagamwala, 24, created a board game this year where players try to evade an unwanted match and marry for love instead.
Balagamwala had flown off to study at Rhode Island School of Design, against her parents’ wishes. Back home, her friends were being married off one by one. “Sometimes, they would meet the person and be married to him within the week,” she told Fast Company. “I see them now and they’re all just stuck in loveless marriages dealing with horrible in-laws, horrible husbands, and there isn’t much they can do about it.”
The board game “Arranged!” features cards with diversionary tactics, such as getting a tan (in a country where lighter skin is prized), that allow the player to move a few spaces away from the matchmaker. Smiling while looking at your phone, to hint at an existing boyfriend, has a similar effect.
