Not Just a Chef

Mrs. Saad

 The deeper I dig into feminism, the more I strengthen my perception about it; feminism is based on no concept of equality, on the contrary, it brings up an inferiority complex against all the things "womanly" and glamorizes everything that is "manly" in its true essence. It encourages a woman to go to office but not a man to see house affairs. It tells women to serve the economy but not men to raise good children. You'll see women feeling good in manly three-piece suits, did you ever see a man wandering around in an umbrella frock or a maxi? Of course not. Even imagining it makes one feel disgusted. Isn't this all the hype just for quenching the lust of men everywhere they go? Do you see anything other than the basic unit of a society (family institution) being destroyed? Well, I don't.

Yes, we do need feminism, but in that feminism, we need the rights that make us take proud in being a woman, not the feminism which degrades a woman being herself... fragile, covered, yet empowered and strong...not a showpiece on display which anyone and everyone can hold in hands and play with!

In our world:

• A woman wearing shirt and jeans is better than a woman in traditional "womanly" clothes.
• An air hostess serving meals is better than a woman cooking food for her family.
• A woman building her body at gym is better than a fragile "womanly" woman looking domestic affairs.
• A woman pursuing job by going against her family is better than a woman sacrificing her job for the family.
• A woman teaching in some educational institution, leaving behind her kids in the hands of a daycare is better than a woman raising the future of her nation at home.
• A woman working at construction sites to build houses is better than a home-maker woman.

You must've seen slogans and hashtags like "#morethanjustachef". But to me, my mom is everything. From a chef to a security guard, an engineer, a doctor and a teacher to the world and heaven, each and everything, and instead of disrespecting her like that on signboards, I give her a shout-out for all the sacrifices she has made... She's the one who deserves the most respect.

• Our sisters deserve respect who cook hot and fresh meals for their tired husbands before they come home after a daylong of hard work.
• Our wives deserve respect who find our socks for their men not to get late from work.
• Our daughters deserve respect who press clothes for their fathers before meetings for them not to get embarrassed about their clothes.
• And yes, our women in business, jobs and stuff, who follow the strict Islamic guidelines of satr-o-hijab and segregation, also deserve due respect, because Islam doesn't forbid women from these if they do follow the divine rules.

Every single woman living in chaadar and chardiwari, who is contributing to build a better nation, deserves a salute. These are the women we know!