Photos: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo
The women in this country have seen it all – from becoming state
leaders to literally climbing mountains and celebrating summits. As
compared to decades ago, women win awards, excel in science and take
decisions. However, for the every day woman, conquering the streets of
Dhaka, being at the corporate head or simply being a free spirit has
always been a difficult task in the country. Instead of viewing her
under a single microscope, let's try to appreciate and celebrate the
different shades that she showcases in Bangladesh.
It's not uncommon to see young women on the streets – comparing
notes, listening to music or simply drinking tea with work friends or
class mates. "We come here to relax between classes, but we end up
talking about politics, movies, people and books," says Iffat Jahan, a
third year student of Business. We catch her drinking chaffi near
Dhanmondi 26. As she orders a round of it for everyone, she tries to
explain the taste of the concoction of traditional milk tea and coffee
powder. "It's like a burst of emotions inside my mouth!" she says. "I
think the drink would do better with a little malai (cream)."
The ideal woman is beautiful, intelligent, hard working, studious,
has a great job, has children and the best of all – can create a perfect
balance between work and home. Let's get real. In Dhaka city, it is
almost impossible to get from Point A to Point B without facing traffic
congestions and 'VIP on the move' obstacles, even if you have to save
your job or shush your wailing child on the phone. How in the world can a
woman be expected to be on time everywhere she goes?
A long journey on the bus towards Gulshan, and you find young
students looking for seats. At every stop, the bus gets over crowded and
people end up standing and waiting for their destination. 24-year-old
medical student Marwa Hossain gets up to offer her seat to an elderly
gentleman. "It's the reserved seat for the ladies, I know," Marwa
explains to the young female student standing next to her. "But I don't
think he will be able to stand on his feet for too long. There are no
other seats available." Ignoring the scorns and contempt firing at her
from all around, she picks up her book - The Girl on The Train by Paula
Hawkins - and continues to read.
Gulshan 2 is a pleasant surprise. An empty footpath, amidst the
day-long traffic is occupied. Not by shopkeepers or bikes, but by a
school of children reading aloud and writing alphabets. Clearly, the
school is especially created for street children and the young woman
heading the inquisitive yet mischievous crowd of students had a lot to
handle! The children are grouped according to ages and were given
worksheets to complete. While that's being done, another group walks up
the teacher and recites a poetry in Bangla and then another one in
English. People stuck in traffic, on rickshaws an CNG driven auto
rickshaws were clearly having a fun time watching the children trying to
finish their math problems on time.
Maha Matin is enjoying motherhood. Managing a 2-month-old for the
very first time, Maha is now awake half the time, changing diapers and
feeding. "But that does not stop me from doing what I love! This is the
only time I can browse, read poetry, eat whatever I want to and shop,"
she admits. The Centre Manager of Standard Chartered Priority Banking at
Gulshan, Maha Matin has always been the top of her game – be it in
school, university or her banking career. And to the delight of the
thinkers of the nation, Maha plans to strike a balance between work and
home – and plans to have her husband do the same!
It's high time to stop categorising women under 'working' and 'not
working' and end up judging them. A woman is always working – whether on
the streets, educating the street children or at a school, teaching
classes professionally. It is also time that we had a Bangla word for
the spouse choosing to become stay at home mothers – so that the typical
Bangla amaar ma/bou kaaj kore na (my mother/wife does not work) can be
shifted to amaar ma ebong bouer kaaj shesh hoy na generally translating
to being Homemaker.
0 comments:
Post a Comment