5 ordinary women with extraordinary stories of courage

KARACHI:

“Every day should be women’s day,” was a common saying I picked up from the women around me as a child. For NGOs, media channels and many companies, International Women’s Day ushers in a new set of campaigns, products and stories about women. These range from attempts to define empowerment to chronicles of “inspiration and perseverance.” For others, March 8 often yields little beyond a rise in pink and curated lists of “extraordinary women.”

Those who lead space missions, who advocate for peace in international forums, who own their stories in art and music – to list any one is both inexhaustible and misses the big picture. Remarkable women go far beyond famous women and surround us at all times, making the world possible in their own ordinary ways.

So, this women’s day, let’s look around and celebrate the extraordinary lives of ordinary women in Pakistan who live, persevere and care despite myriad patriarchal obstacles – every day.

Iaveria Rachel

“Being a model with vitiligo is not easy. However, I also know that accepting myself is what paved my way in the industry,” Javeria tells me, a little apologetically late to finish her last class of the day. Being a full-time fashion student, the 24-year-old has a lot on her plate: classes, modeling contracts, her Instagram blog and establishing herself as a content creator.

Javeria, who has worked with fashion labels such as Manto and Outfitters, knows firsthand the brunt of exclusion. Many in Pakistan’s fashion and entertainment industries have pointed to its long association with coloring and other disturbing beauty measures, particularly aimed at women. However, Iaveria is determined to create the acceptance that is every human’s right. She adds, “I could never have imagined that embracing something that society considers a weakness would bring me so much success in life.”

The pressures and discrimination are obvious, but Javeria is too busy winning in his life to indulge stray commenters. A typical day in her life involves staying on top of multiple deadlines while ensuring time for herself. “With classes five days a week as a fashion student, there’s a lot of manual work… Starting early to work on my Instagram blog takes up a significant chunk of my day as I take on everything from shooting to editing and blog management independently.”

So what does Women’s Day mean to her? “This day encourages me to appreciate not only the women around me but also myself, something I often overlook,” she says. “It serves as a reminder that, given the persistent patriarchy in our nation, unity among women is important for change.”

Zil-e-Fatima

Launching a fashion startup at the height of Pakistan’s struggle with COVID-19 is impressive, but the achievement is understated without a deeper look. A mother of three, Fatima is the woman behind Salsabil, an online womenswear brand that hit the scene a few years before she decided to end an unhappy marriage.

“I started my own clothing brand five years ago, with a little personal savings,” she recounts, reflecting on her long journey. “Now, I’m at a stage where I’m doing things on my own, independently, always going to the next level.” As a single mother who must work, both for financial stability and personal fulfillment, the ultimate challenge of balancing work and family is ever-present.

Fatima’s children, all at school, are an integral part of her day. “My day starts with waking up early, sending the kids to school. Then comes my daily chores. I make time for my business while juggling my responsibilities as a single parent and looking after the house, from cooking to cleaning to helping them with their homework.”

Exhausted to the bone in the evening, Fatima is adamant that “every day is a woman’s day.” As she looks back over the years, the 36-year-old urges women everywhere to truly believe in their dreams and abilities — no matter what life throws at them.

Nayara Shah

Nayara is a queen of many trades. “I teach in an elementary school from 7 to 2,” she explains of a typical day in her life. “I teach online classes twice a week. I also have an online home store called De’Hogar…It’s Spanish for ‘The Home,’” she describes her penchant for interior design, putting her art degree to work. “I opened an outlet in the past but had to close it due to COVID-19.”

Despite all her creative endeavors, Nayyara shares that her “main job” is her home. Cleaning, organizing, maintaining a household – mostly women’s work, this work has a long history of being dismissed as the drudgery of life. “Men are more appreciated because their work is more ‘visible’, more recognized, they get paid for what they do.”

She further remarks on the “double shift” that many working women have to pull as they return from work to endless chores that await them. In this regard, Nayyara is grateful to her husband and family for the support they always provide. “My family is the fuel that keeps me going.”

This women’s day for Nayyara comes with different levels of recognition. “Things have changed a lot now, women have more chances to work in a comfortable environment. But when my generation was growing up, we had a lot of restrictions,” she says before expressing her admiration for her mother and grandmother, two inspirational figures in her life. “Women’s Day is a recognition of every woman who works hard for her family, her passion and herself,” she adds.

Nida Naz

“All my household responsibilities fall on me now since my mother passed away,” Nida explains of the many household checks she has to take on alongside her busy work as a deaf interpreter for a local NGO. Revealing her reason for choosing this profession, which has its ups and downs, she recalls her late mother’s dream.

“I have been an interpreter for deaf people for the past 15 years…My mother’s dream was to be a voice for people with disabilities, even though there was no deaf person in my family. She passed away in 2019, but I will never stop fulfilling her dreams,” she expresses her determination.

Taking care of her ailing father, completing chores and then starting work – Nida begins her day with a prayer, a lifelong ritual gifted to her by her mother. “I feel happy knowing that all my mother’s good traits have been passed on to me,” she smiles.

Although she attributes her faith in her profession to her mother, she is fully aware of its implications. She proudly and happily calls herself “the voice of the deaf community,” stating that her work is central to how she sees herself as a woman. “I think of myself as a very strong woman who can do anything with courage and joy. On Women’s Day, I want every woman to remember: she can win the world on her own if she puts her heart to it.”

Suman Lohana

Completing her undergraduate studies in 2023, Shuman has found a joy too rare for many: a calling that fills her heart and makes a difference while providing the basic perks of a good job. As a research assistant at a local NGO, Aahung, dedicated to children’s and women’s reproductive and sexual health, her days are often in the Research, Learning and Evaluation department and between trips – lots of them.

“My job involves collecting qualitative data and analyzing it and working on impact evaluation of different programs,” Suman elaborates on her job description. Answering my questions in a phone conversation from a work-related road trip, she is both tired and satisfied. “Every day in my life is very different from the other because the monotony breaks my mind… but my work and my daily walk are prominent parts of my day.”

Working around the clock, she stresses the importance of finding time for herself, her walks and morning yoga sessions are just a few ways she grounds herself. “For me, my work is the most important and strongest means of defending women’s rights. Most days, it gives me hope to see so many people working tirelessly for the rights of women and minorities, but some days it pushes me into despair and makes me think that maybe we are all too far from a sustainable and healthy life. “

Calling herself a “feminist at heart and soul,” she delivers a celebratory message of hope on March 8. “Women’s Day is like Eid for me,” she asserts. “I work and defend women’s rights and feminist society every day of the year, but on Women’s Day, when I march with my fellow feminists, it gives me a new hope and energy to dismantle the patriarchy.”

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