Taxonomy of images and content women consider private, intimate, or harmful if shared without consent

Head and face coverings

• Without hijab, dupatta, or head covering — where hair is visible to unrelated menIncludes images where a woman who wears hijab is seen without it, even at home or with female friends
• Without face covering — in contexts where purdah* is strictly observedIn the most conservative settings, even a woman's face or hands visible to unrelated men is considered intimate

Clothing and dress

• Revealing or informal clothing: tight, sleeveless, gym wear, pyjamas, swimwear, short or low-cut
• Western clothing: jeans, t-shirts, dressesRead as aligning with Western values, which are often considered immoral or culturally threatening
• Clothing showing arms, legs, ankles, collarbone, or neck
• Clothing that reveals body contour or shape, even if traditionally styled
• Visible underwear or bra strapRead as signalling sexual availability rather than accidental
• Dress or styling that signals queer or LGBTQ+ identity
• Dressed-up photos or selfies — a woman presenting herself confidentlyRead as inviting male attention; even women who are otherwise comfortable sharing photos would edit or withhold these

Body and movement

• Images of the body in motion — the way movement makes the body visible, expressive, or physically prominent, e.g. dancing, stretching, yogaThis entry concerns how bodily movement appears in an image. For the social transgression of women exercising in public, see Category 2
• Sleeping or restingWomen report being taught from childhood that photos of them sleeping should never be taken
• Images taken from angles that sexualise body parts — from behind, or emphasising physical features
• Nudity or sexually explicit images

Social and expressive activities

• Singing, dancing, or performing — especially in public or mixed-gender settingsIn some areas, singing alone can be grounds for violence in the name of honour
• Laughing, clapping, or visibly enjoying oneselfWomen appearing carefree or uninhibited can be reframed as immodest once photographed
• Partying, attending raves, nightlife, or social eventsNormal within some circles but almost never posted publicly — photographing these environments introduces serious risk
• Celebrating other religions or cultures, e.g. participating in HoliCan trigger blasphemy accusations or community retaliation

Restricted behaviours

• Smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugsThese may be common in certain social circles but are “hidden”. Being photographed is understood as dangerous
• Eating food associated with religious prohibition (e.g. pork)
• Exercising or being physically active in public or mixed-gender spaces — gym, outdoor exercise, yogaWomen doing yoga in a park were told by security they were being “vulgar.” This entry concerns the social transgression of women exercising in public; for how movement appears in images, see Category 1
• Travelling alone or without a male chaperone e.g. solo trips, road trips, travel abroad

Political and civic expression

• Expressing political opinions or feminist viewsMay be labelled as anti-Pakistan or anti-Islam
• Being photographed at protests or demonstrations — including protests for human rights and feminist eventsWomen described carefully managing whether and how they were photographed; the label “feminist” is used “like a slur”

Online visibility and presence

• Having a public online profile — being a content creator, activist, or public figureA woman's online visibility has been cited to justify violence against her
• Posting content that expresses personality, opinions, or private life
• Being “viral” or widely circulated — regardless of image contentBecoming a “trend” is itself considered reprehensible for a woman, even if as a result of having images shared non-consensually

Men and proximity

• Any man who is not a husband or close family member — including colleagues, classmates, friendsEven appearing in the background of the same photo can invite assumptions of a romantic relationship
• Sitting close to, or in physical proximity with, a man — even slight contact or heads touching
• Being photographed alone with a man (one-on-one vs. group)Eating together, being in a car alone, or any solo encounter heightens risk regardless of what is actually happening
• Any visible interaction with a man — eye contact, smiling, conversation

LGBTQ+ identity and association

• A woman who is queer or queer-presentingImages can trigger homophobic assumptions and put both subject and those with her at risk
• Anyone who is transgender or gender non-conforming
• Being photographed alongside a queer or trans personFriends and family sometimes refuse to be photographed with LGBTQ+ individuals fearing how the association will be interpreted
• Pre-transition images of a transgender personFor trans people, this is often one of the most harmful images that can be shared

Social difference and status

• Anyone from a different religion, caste, or ethnic groupFor religious minorities, this risk is compounded — images can be fed into blasphemy narratives
• Anyone from a different class, education level, or social background
• Anyone perceived as having “socially unacceptable” characteristics such as substance use, political reputation, or associations considered to demonstrate “loose character”

Loved ones

• Children — even “beautiful” images are withheld to protect them from unknown online harm
• Friends, especially in settings where their presence could expose themFor example, “someone might not want their parents to know they were there” or a friend said “I was not supposed to be wearing this”

Private domestic environments

• Inside the home — especially bedrooms or bathroomsA bedroom image is considered intimate regardless of clothing; the identical photo taken in a restaurant would be acceptable
• Any setting where purdah* is observed — where a woman would relax dress codes around trusted family only

Socially coded venues

• Bars, nightclubs, and party venuesThe location itself becomes evidence — it doesn't matter what was actually happening
• Cafes, restaurants, or venues known as “date spots” — especially if with a manSpecific bowling alleys and coffee shops in Lahore are understood as meeting spots; being photographed there carries assumptions
• Music festivals or events associated with Western or liberal culture
• Locations associated with drugs, sex work, or immorality — certain areas of a city carry these associations

Public and mixed-gender spaces

• Mixed-gender environments: gyms, co-educational classrooms, workplaces (in social settings), public parks
• Being in public spaces alone, particularly in sparsely populated areas“Why were you there? What were you doing?”
• Protests and political demonstrations — particularly feminist marches

Time of day

• Any image taken at night — including outdoors, in public, or with othersThe same image carries significantly more scrutiny after dark. “If the same picture, same person, same background is at night — it would have thousands of questions”

Voice and written communication

• Voice recordings and voice notesIn some areas, a woman's voice heard by men outside of the immediate family is itself considered intimate; a WhatsApp voice note found by a father or brother is treated as a serious violation
• Screenshots of conversations — real or fabricatedFake screenshots are easily produced by changing contact names and rewriting messages. “It doesn't even need to be you or your body or your face”
• Any recorded expression of opinion — particularly on religion or politics

Identifying and personal details

• Personal details in an image: full name alongside address, postcode, phone number, or location
• Images identifying a woman from objects, room interiors, or clothing — even without her faceFamily members can recognise a woman from her dress or the interior of her bedroom

AI-generated and manipulated content

• Deepfake or AI-generated images: nudified, sexualised, or falsified images created from any source photo
• A normal image paired with a sexually explicit song, audio, or captionThe image need not be intimate at all — the added context creates the harm and the threat

Identity-based targeting

• Confession pages and identifying descriptions: anonymous posts using appearance or possessions alongside explicit or violent language — without a name or photoDesigned to be recognisable to those who know the victim, while evading formal complaint or platform action
• Content that outs or reveals someone's queer or trans identityFor LGBTQ+ people, images that expose gender identity or sexual orientation carry the same or greater risk than sexually explicit images

Who holds the image

• Any image in the possession of a man who is not a husband or close family member“These are normal images — but the problem is that some man who is not her husband or family member has those images. That's where the problem comes from.”
• Any image seen by strangers or untrusted people — regardless of contentFor some women, any photo of them seen by those outside the family circle carries risk

Scale and method of distribution

• Images shared in WhatsApp groups including family groups, alumni groups, friendship circlesWomen often hear their image is circulating on WhatsApp without ever seeing it themselves
• Images posted publicly on social media without consent
• Images printed and delivered physically e.g. to parents, universities, or police stations as “evidence of immorality”

Consent and recontextualisation

• Any image captured or shared without consent — including being caught in the background of someone else's postIn urban leisure spaces, women describe being routinely captured as background content in TikTokers' videos without awareness
• An image recontextualised by a new caption, edited framing, or different audience — changing meaning without changing the image
• An image taken in a trusted context (private account, close friends) and moved to another without consent
• An ordinary image sexualised by the receiver — the subject loses control of what the image means“It's not even up to me to decide what is private — someone took that choice and autonomy from me”

Absence of consent as the harm

• Private Instagram stories, close-friends lists, or direct messages — content shared privately that is screenshotted and redistributed
• Hacked cloud storage, email accounts, or device access used to obtain images
• Images captured covertly — during arguments, through hidden cameras, or by recording an intimate partner“All my life, the camera might be there recording it. Now I'm divorced — what is he doing with those videos?”