Bisma Jay

Everyday Femme Intimacies

Contagious laughter fills the air, the sound of heavy footsteps darting across the courtyard, and the gossip of the day being recounted as the girls go through their daily chores. The intimate interactions between desi femmes during these moments of escape is something to be admired. 

Sisterhood runs deep in South Asia’s family and social dynamic. The daughters of a family look after each other through shared responsibilities while taking care of the rest of the house too. 

I photographed my female cousins in Pakistan in various areas around their houses. Areas they frequent. Areas where they get ready, play, work, relax, and more. I wanted to explore the relationship between sisters because I found all of their varying bonds to be so special and unique as someone who grew up away from any extended family. I then further asked them to tell me what having a sister felt like, they all echoed similar responses; saying “no matter the number of arguments they had, their heart would forever cherish the other”. One of them mentioned how it was almost like having the company of your own shadow, you know its always there and you find comfort in how ordinary that is. It was this kind of ordinary everyday intimacy that I wanted to capture. Simple moments of escape with each other in a world that expects so much out of them.