The marriage market in Pakistan continues to be driven by damaging ideals—where a person’s worth is reduced to their weight, skin tone, or height. Fuelled by family pressure and societal norms, this obsession with superficial traits undermines self-esteem and reinforces toxic standards.
These aren’t harmless preferences—they are systemic issues like colourism, fatphobia, and heightism that hold back both individual and societal progress. Qualities like character, mutual respect, and emotional compatibility should define relationships—not arbitrary beauty standards.
It’s time to redefine love. Let’s value inner qualities and reject outdated ideals. Only then can we build a healthier, more inclusive understanding of marriage.
SONIA SALEEM,
Hyderabad.