For Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr, grandson of former Pakistan PM, masculinity is softness and effeminate

Bhutto Jr also talked about the concept of “strong men” and “masculinity” all around the world. “A lot of nations have built this especially ones that are ethnically formed, it happens in India. It happens in Pakistan. But the strong Muslim, the strong Sikh, the strong Hindu, the strong Jew, the strong Arab… There is this stereotype that the representative of the nation is a strong man.” Bhutto Jr said the idea of masculinity and strength is “ridiculous”. He added that masculinity for him is “softness”, “effeminate” and “gentle”.

Bhutto Jr also spoke about his history and the violence that surrounded him in his childhood. “My father was killed when I was six years old outside our home in Karachi. My grandfather was also killed. My aunt was also killed. My uncle was also killed. So how our identities formed through violence,” he said.

Currently working on art performances to protest against US President Donald Trump’s visa ban, Bhutto Jr talked about his poem titled “Muslim’s burden”, which deals with the politics associated with being a Muslim. “It’s not me. It’s you, the white man. You have called me out… I’m a Muslim because a white man says me so,” he said.

Bhutto Jr’s artwork was recently at an art gallery in Castro. Speaking at the event, Bhutto Jr said, “I want to see more artists of colour take over these streets. I want to see more artists of colour in Berkely, in Oakland, in San Francisco, in fact, take over the whole f****** world.”