There are stereotypes. And then there are stereotypes that are awfully close to reality. Roam the streets of urban

Pakistan and you are likely to meet one of these women:

•

Usually clad in homespun cotton or khaddar, the NGO aunty is a formidable type. She will be a member of the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) and be present at important rallies on Lahore’s Mall road, coming up with rousing

slogans off the cuff: “Bhookhe mar gaye mein aur tu/ Loot ke khha gya GHQ!”

And: Is khule jhoot ko/ Zehen ki loot ko/ Hum nahin maante/ Hum nahin jaante. Or: Zara zor se bolo — AZADI!/ Zara hosh se bolo — AZADI!/ Zara shor se bolo — AZADI!/ Zara josh se bolo — AZADI!

If middle-aged, this NGO lady will be healthy-looking and will have seriously considered the ‘To Dye or Not to Dye’ question. Phrases such as, “There are two solutions to get out of this national quagmire”, and “All issues are women’s issues” feature prominently in her vocabulary. Leather-chappals and silver jewelry are her hallmark accessories.

• The Social Butterfly:

By turns vilified and envied (more, perhaps, for her latest Louis Vuitton bag than that ready wit), this ambitious lady’s dream is to become a fixture on the social scene. Will be seen hobnobbing with Lahore’s glitterati — event managers, fashion designers, models — all of whom will be “close friends”. When asked what trait she most deplores in others, “hypocrisy” will come up and her favourite motto is, alas: “Live and let Live.” If married to a reader-writer type, the butterfly’s remarks — “I must say, I do support Musharraf; he’s a liberal type” — will draw amused titters from hubby’s “intellectual” friends.

• Yummy Mummy:

She has a deep, almost academic belief in the sanctity of motherhood — “there is no such thing as a non-working mother.” Her daughter’s 10th bubble-gum pink “Mulan” themed birthday will be the event of the month. Other mummies will be very impressed by the imaginative choice of sweeties in the doggie bag. Yummy Mummys are acutely intuitive: on demand, they can furnish from their bags foil-wrapped healthy snacks and felt tip pens for their bratty progeny.

• Hijabi Mummy (No pun intended):

These mummys are not to be messed with. Reared on a diet of stoical reserve, they meet and greet with care. Social and political discussions take on intense colours. Instead of the customary “Khuda Hafiz”, they take pride in saying “Allah Hafiz”.