Zaira Wasim Chooses To Quit Movies For Religious Reasons – But Is It Just A Question Of Her Choice?

Zaira Wasim, of Secret Superstar and Dangal, has chosen to quit working in movies because she feels that it hampers her ability to follow her religion. While she should be free to follow her heart, is it also not harmful to hold her up as an example to be followed?  

When I was sixteen or seventeen, a girl I knew quit her studies. Her reason for doing so is that she had “found religion.” I remember feeling extremely conflicted then –should I support her decision as a friend, or should I dig deeper to make sure that she wasn’t pressured into doing so?

That same conflicted feeling took hold of me when I read about Zaira Wasim quitting the movie business.

Needless to say, this created a commotion on social media, with her decision being debated and discussed.

Conflicted reactions of all types

The Islamophobes were out in full strength, using this as an example to comment about how regressive Islam is, and how badly it treats women, conveniently forgetting the many patriarchal traditions of their own religions. Ultimately, the fact that Zaira is a Muslim does not matter. Different religions have different ways of controlling women.

Twitter users were quick to call out this hypocrisy.

So Nusrat Jahan wears sindoor, it's her choice.
Zaira Wasim quits films and it's not her choice? Oh no it's Islam again?

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Hypocrites!

— Zainab Sikander (@zainabsikander) June 30, 2019

Many users pointed out that if the movie business is forbidden by Islam, then the many Khans of Bollywood have no place in Bollywood too. Others argued that there is nothing un-Islamic about acting or making movies.

One Twitter user pointed out the hypocrisy of calling Zaira’s decision regressive, while hailing Vinod Khanna for embracing monkhood.

Vinod Khanna a BJP MP quitting Bollywood to become a monk is a great leap into spirituality, but Zaira Wasim quitting Bollywood is regressive. Wow.

— Nikhil (@nikhil_thatte) June 30, 2019

Many said that it was Zaira’s choice and that it must be respected, drawing parallels to MP Nusrat Jahan’s choice to wear sindoor and mangalsutra.

“Freedom to choose is supreme,” wrote Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Senior Editor of The Wire.

#ZairaWasim ‘s decision to dissociate with film industry (‘because it interferes with her faith’) should be understood and respected as much as Nusrat Jahan’s Sindoor-Bindi.
That did not make Nusrat immoral as this does not make Zaira more moral.
*Freedom to choose is supreme*

— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) June 30, 2019

Others pointed out that no one had any real authority to comment in a personal choice.

Nusrat Jahan's marriage is her own choice. Zaira Wasim's decision also her own choice. Stop trying to dictate what Muslims should think and how they should behave. No difference between liberals and right wingers on such matters. https://t.co/muOM8l96qY

— Aditya Menon (@AdityaMenon22) June 30, 2019

Others however were skeptical. Rama Lakshmi, Editor of The Print, wrote, “When you’ve a modern Constitution, why do you turn to ancient religious texts to define morality?” Many questioned if it really was her choice, given that she has constantly faced backlash for her choice to work in films.

ALL religions fill your head with spurious notions of pure/impure. When you've a modern Constitution, why do you turn to ancient religious texts to define morality?

Dangal actor Zaira Wasim says Bollywood leading her away from faith, quits acting https://t.co/NAwwKOFIeU

— rama lakshmi (@RamaNewDelhi) June 30, 2019

Some pointed out that it was not Zaira’s choice to quit that was the problem, but the religious angle that makes it problematic. According to them, her post comes off as a “sermon”, and puts undue pressure to conform on other young women who may have other aspirations.

#ZairaWasim has quit Bollywood. It was her personal choice.
But by making it religious,she has just put thousands of Muslim women in Entertainment under radar,who will now find their religious inclinations being needlessly questioned just because of this one girl's choice

— Aastha Khandpur (@AasthaBKhandpur) June 30, 2019

A ‘choice’ is not ‘feminist’ simply because a woman makes it

In her book, Rage Becomes Her, Soraya Chemaly warns of the dangers of “choice feminism” –the idea that any choice is feminist simply because a woman is making it. “Feminism is public and political by definition, and the term “choice feminism” rings hollow for many reasons, not the least of which is that it depoliticizes women’s thinking and decisions, and contributes to women blaming themselves, feeling depressed and being quiet when they witness or encounter discrimination,” she writes.

As this comic strip so wonderfully explains, any choice we make is a result of social conditioning, cultural values and other factors that are not in our control. So while we are entitled to our choices, we must question their origin and support people who make other choices.

Zaira Wasim has made her choice, and it is her right to do so. There is no point in attaching any labels to it. However, to term her choice as the “only good choice” or to shame other women for choosing differently is unquestionably wrong.

Image source: YouTube

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