The Express Tribune hi five - August 9

Ms AUGUST 9, 2015

ISSUE NO. 164

Women and Politics

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Stuck on Repeat?

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inside En vogue — A burst of colour

Domestic goddess — Seafood galore

Section In-Charge: Dilaira Dubash Sub-Editors: Amna Hashmi Nisma Chauhan Designer: Umar Waqas Feedback: women@tribune.com.pk

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The stylish Pomme Gohar

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The buzz

By Komal Anwar Despite its apparent democratic status, Pakistan fails to give equal representation to women in politics. There are a number of platforms for them to launch their political careers from but unfortunately, due to security concerns and corruption, many women are actually fearful of doing so. Not to mention, the greater half of our population still believes it to be against the norm for a woman to seek gratification anywhere outside of the kitchen, making it extremely difficult for her to pursue a career anywhere, let alone in politics.

Under such circumstances, there are a few exceptions that have been resisting social stigma and male domination for years and making headway. In fact, they make one question whether Pakistani politics is as gender-biased as we deem it to be. Sharmila Farooqui, Minister of Culture and Tourism and Secretary Information for Sindh, is one such woman who has never let her gender get in the way. “I actually wanted to become a barrister and even completed my Masters in Law but life had other, greater plans for me,” says Sharmila when asked about her career trajectory.

“After the demise of Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari pushed me to become a member of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) so it was destiny that lead me here.” According to Sharmila, the PPP offers many points of entry for women who wish to participate in its operations, such as the social service wing, the women’s wing, the study circle wing and the minority and youth wings. Therefore, it is not necessary for women to travel to major cities as they can always begin from the grass root level, within their own communities, and work their way to the top. “As the co-chairman of PP, Zardari is a huge advocate of female empowerment,” shares Sharmila. Women can, therefore, feel free to contest elections for both general and reserved seats.

As per data compiled by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (based on information from national parliaments by June 1, 2015) the 2013 elections in Pakistan saw 67 of the 323 seats occupied by women in the lower or single house. In the 2015 elections, 18 out of 100 seats were given to women in the upper house or Senate.

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

Sumeta Afzal Syed

Sharmila Farooqi

Similarly, Sumeta Afzal Syed has successfully won a seat for herself in Pakistan’s Provincial Assembly at just 26 years of age. After completing a degree in psychology from the United States, Sumeta returned to Pakistan and joined a leading pharmaceutical company as the director of CSR. She also advocated social issues as part of the Council of Professionals, eventually becoming a general member and then, joint in-charge within a year. A representative of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Sumeta is credited as the youngest MPA ever and believes women can work around all social issues if they are determined and courageous. “The MQM offers different opportunities for female political aspirants as well,” shares Sumeta. “They can join the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation (APMSO) or the media, professional, social, diplomatic, research or blogs wings.”

A study conducted by the Aurat Foundation entitled ‘A Five Year Report on Performance of Women Parliamentarians in the 12th National Assembly (2002-2007),’ found that 27% of all questions were moved by female MPs during the given years. Similarly, 30% of total calling-attention notices, 24% of total resolutions and 42% of private member bills were initiated by women.

But of course, even Sharmila and Sumeta have dealt with their fair share of hardships, considering that Pakistan’s patriarchal mindset only solidifies the glass ceiling further. As in every other field of work, female politicians have to work twice as hard as their male counterparts whilst shrugging off the latter’s unnecessary chafing. “There is a general tendency for parties to include women simply for the sake of it,” claims Sharmila. “When I entered politics, people did not take me seriously either. And even though I had the goodwill of the former president, I had to work my way up.” According to Sharmila, competency and discipline are imperative for a successful career in the political jungle. “I have raised slogans and even sat in dharnas but thoroughly enjoyed doing so. One’s sustainability in any party depends on their commitment to it.” She is a beacon of hope for working women everywhere, struggling to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. “I have a responsibility to my husband and home and there is always some adjustment that needs to be made,” admits Sharmila. “But I am good at managing my time and draw inspiration from the life of Benazir.”

For the young Sumeta, domestic duties are not as pertinent an issue as security and financial remuneration. “Talibanisation is a major issue which impacts the role of women in politics,” she explains, citing the attack on Malala Yousafzai as an example. “Also, I was making much more money while employed in the private sector so politics is not always as financially rewarding as a full-time job. The salary is often insufficient for running a household.” Nonetheless, Sumeta is content with her chosen field and considers her party to be her greatest strength. “When I returned from America after 14 years, I had a huge cultural

Ali Raza Abidi

shock. But the MQM selected me on my merits and our leader Altaf Hussain has been a great mentor.”

Interestingly, some men from political backgrounds have a similar perspective and actually propagate female involvement in their work. Member of National Assembly (MNA) and MQM representative Ali Raza Abidi, for instance, openly admits, “Men do not accept women as equals in society or inside national, provincial or Senate assemblies.” According to Ali, this social bias worsens the situation as the uneducated masses try and impose their personal agenda onto national politics. “Also, our politics is known for corruption and mismanagement and many women would not want to be associated with that,” he claims.

However, Ali is surprisingly hopeful about the future of female participation. “I am expecting a representation of at least 50% in the elections of 2018 and 2023,” he shares. Sharmila lends credence to Ali’s claim, highlighting the recent local body elections in Lower Dir, which were negated as women were not allowed to vote. She also believes that recent efforts to improve security as well as Operation Zarb-a-Azb will help as well. Sharmila gives a few words of warning, describing politics as ‘not a part-time job.’ “You are in the public eye all the time so there is no privacy. There is a lot of competition too and you must be prepared for that. It is not easy speaking about women’s issues in a male-dominated forum!”

Nonetheless, both Sharmila and Sumeta acknowledge that their respective parties are very good to their female members and look after them in every way. Sumeta is a strong believer that the youth of Pakistan must come forth and bring about a change in the political landscape. “Educated youngsters understand the good and bad of the East and West. They have the energy to run a country and that is exactly what our country needs for a better future.”

Until then, we must encourage our women to resist the odds and further their standing in society themselves. Unless we equip ourselves with the necessary knowledge and skills, we cannot hope to make strides in any profession. Remember that for politics to give equal participation to men and women, it is not necessary for society to change as a whole but that a few, forward-thinking individuals at least get the ball rolling. Sharmila and Sumeta are already doing their part. But are you?

Komal Anwar is a subeditor at The Express Tribune magazine desk.

She tweets @Komal1201

The MQM is credited with holding Pakistan’s biggest female rally ever in Karachi about two years ago. Also, two out of the four seats granted to the MQM in the Senate are occupied by women.

Design by Eesha Azam

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En vogue

Zari Faisal showcases her bright and trendy new collection Label: Zari Faisal Makeup & styling: Palwasha Yousuf Photography: Humayun M @ 18 Percent Grey Model: Marvi Sarfaraz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

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Lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

There might be thousands of new tracks circulating on the airwaves but there is still something uncanny about Ali Haider’s Puraani Jeans that these tunes simply cannot live up to. Every time the song comes on, a rush of nostalgia hits us hard and makes us press the repeat button. The same is true for evergreen movies like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and shows like Friends that have struck a chord in our hearts. We know the songs and scripts by heart but can still shamelessly binge-watch these all-time greats whenever we get the chance.

But have you ever wondered why we never get sick of them? How does one explain this desire to watch or listen to things on repeat?

Over the years, many philosophers, anthropologists, economists and psychologists have tried to unearth the reasoning behind this phenomenon. In psychology, it is defined as ‘the exposure effect’ wherein people tend to develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. This is also referred to as ‘the familiarity principle.’ Irsa Usman, a behaviour therapist at the Institute of Behavioural Psychology in Karachi, states that a particular behaviour derives its roots from the ways in which our minds are wired to work. “The mind dusts away the unfamiliar and clings onto what it deems familiar.

Being a witness to a first time experience is bound to be daunting. Slight doses over a longer period of time tend to shape into more pleasant experiences in our minds,” explains Irsa. For instance, imagine yourself walking in a neighbourhood. Would you feel more comfortable alongside an amiable neighbour or a friendly stranger? The chances are, you will be more at ease in the presence of the neighbour and that, essentially, is the familiarity principle.

Elizabeth Margulis, Professor and Director of the Music Cognition Lab at the University of Arkansas has summed up the phenomenon perfectly in On Repeat: How Music Plays the Mind. She denotes the familiarity

By Zohaib Amjad

principle as an evolutionary process which, on different hierarchies, adapts us to the environment. In other words, it may be a testimony to how our minds are made and who we are. In fact, another study suggests that a connection bridges familiarity with people, in part by showing regions of the brain associated with surges in emotional activity. Therefore, listening to a piece of music, watching a movie or even saying a repetitive phrase teaches people new ways of adding dimensions to perceptions. Zeeshan Mushtaq, a medical student at the University of Sheffield lends credence to this notion with his frantic obsession with the song The Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix. The guitarist admits that the song has become a ritual in his daily life and is actually the main reason he started playing the guitar. “I feel a sense of transcendence whenever I hear the song,” shares Zeeshan. “It is like I escape the boundaries and limitations of my own body and feel a unity with the song,” he adds.

As a person learns to listen to the stimulus in more than one ways, it increases the perceptual fluency which makes the repeated experience more pleasing. “The sensation aroused is the building block of such behaviour and attracts the person to the particular activity,” says Irsa. The same thing again and again would make entertainment lose its initial appeal but psychologists believe that repetition actually breeds affection. Simply put, familiarity requires less mental energy for processing and when something is easy to think about, the mind deems it good. So, In a nutshell, the movies we watch on repeat are simply, easy for our minds to process. Nostalgia also plays an important role in making one reminisce on old music or movies. Sometimes we indulge in them to extract fondness or memory about the way things once were. It is the same concept as visiting a restaurant one may have been to with a loved one, in an attempt to relive the moment. Repeating those experiences helps us remember the past and perhaps, the remembrance makes us feel good.

Zohaib Amjad is a scientist with a major in molecular pathology. He tweets as @infectiousuni Design By Maryam Rashid

Domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, AUGUST 9, 2015

By Huba Akbar

Honey Walnut Shrimps with Sautéed Vegetables

Oriental cuisine at its best

Ingredients

PHOTO: HUBA AKBAR

• Shrimps (large, peeled and deveined with tails removed) 2 lbs • Egg 1 • Flour 1 cup • Olive oil 2 tbsp • Sesame oil 1 tsp • Walnuts 1/2 cup • Water 1/2 cup • Mayonnaise 1/2 cup • Red chili flakes (crushed) 1 tsp • Garlic paste 1 tsp • Chicken powder 1 tsp • Salt 1/2 tsp • Honey 4 tbsp • Condensed milk 1 tbsp • Chili sauce 1 tsp • Thyme 1 tsp • Sautéed carrots, capsicums and green onions (diced) 1 bowl

Method • Prepare the batter by combining the sesame oil, mayonnaise, red chili, garlic paste, chicken powder, salt, honey, chili sauce, thyme and condensed milk in a large bowl.

• Stir the mixture well and add the shrimps to it, coating on both sides. Mix well and set the bowl aside.

• In the meantime, bring the water to a boil and add walnuts to it. Allow the walnuts to cook for about two to three minutes before draining the pan. Place the walnuts on a flat surface where they can cool.

• Coat the shrimps with flour.

• In a smaller bowl, whisk the eggs together with some water and dip the coated shrimps in it before frying.

• Heat olive oil in a large pan and cook the marinated shrimps in it. Add the boiled walnuts and mix together.

• Serve with sautéed or roasted vegetables. Your dish is now ready!

A two-step guide for peeling and deveining shrimps the right way Clean shrimps are easy to find in the markets but are generally more expensive than those with their peels on. Why not save yourself some cash and learn how to clean them at home?

Peel it off: If the shrimps have got their heads on, start by twisting the tops gently to take them off. Once the heads are gone, move downwards to the legs and dig your thumbs underneath to release them. The tail can come off with an easy tug.

The cleaning technique: Since most shrimps are small, the cleaning process can get tricky so be careful with your knives. Begin by placing the shrimp down on a flat surface and run your knife along the center of its back. Be mindful of cutting too deep into the meat. Once you’re in, pull out the thin grey vein you see. If the recipe you are making requires tail-on shrimps, follow the same routine with the legs attached.

SOURCE: FOODNETWORK.COM

How to get rid of cooking smells So many of our favourite seafood dishes look and smell so delicious on the dinner table that we often forget the awful smells they have left behind in the kitchen. And what’s worse than the smell is that it lingers until the next day!

What can you do to eliminate the pungent cooking odour? Here are five, easy ideas.

Ventilate well: The best way to get rid of smells is to force them out as quickly as possible. Just opening a window will of course help but placing a small fan pointing towards it will expedite the process.

Seal the kitchen while cooking: Remember that fabrics absorb odour quickly and are much harder to clean. Therefore, you should close the doors of all bedrooms and other living spaces while cooking seafood lest you have to sleep in a room that smells.

Clean up quickly: Once the food is ready, put back all the spices, sauces, pots and pans immediately.

Make use of candles, sprays and spices: There is a huge variety of items you can purchase that will freshen up your cooking space. Scented candles and aerosol sprays are some options. You can also simmer some pleasant spices like cloves, citrus peels and cinnamon sticks in water. These emanate an all-natural smell that masks lingering food odour instantly.

Organic air fresheners: A bowl of vinegar, baking soda or coffee grounds left in the kitchen overnight will absorb the stubborn seafood smell naturally.

SOURCE: THEKITCHN.COM

Woman of the week 8

Yours truly.

Chilling with my son.

Fashion choreographer and CEO of Phenomena On holiday with

the girls.

By Dr Saadia Khan

reast milk m is the essence for the life of a baby, esp especially during the first six months of its life. Strangely, there are many misconceptions ccirculating around this most natural practice, d discouraging women from doing it. Accordin According to a demographic health survey conducted ffrom 2012 to 2013, breastfeeding accounts for about 38% while bottle feeding rates have rrisen to 41% in Pakistan. Also, over the ye years, the infant formula industry has flo flourished rapidly, replacing the need for breast milk altogether.

The first week of August is celebrated as the global Breastfeeding Week. It’s a good time to understand and propogate its importance across Pakistan as well. Nursing is the first source of natural vaccines for infants and boosts their immunity. A baby who is frequently breastfed is at a lo lower risk of mortality or malnutrition.

In fa fact, the risk of pneumonia, asthma, diarrhe diarrhea, otitis and other allergies are all reduced tha thanks to the nutritional elements of breast milk. Scientific research has also proved that children who have been breastfed grow up to have better IQs, memory and development skills than those who are not.

But the health benefits of breastfeeding are not all that need to be highlighted. Unhealthy feeding practices, such as bottle feeding, contributes to hi h rate off mortality in babies under the age of higher

five. As a result, there is a dire need to educate expecting mothers. There are also some baseless myths surrounding breastfeeding, especially in the rural areas of Pakistan. For instance, there is a popular belief that the milk produced soon after birth shouldn’t be fed as it is poisonous for the infant. On the contrary, most doctors advise new mothers to feed the first produce of milk. Similarly, many mothers wrongly believe that lactation can adversely affect the physical appearance of the breast when in fact, the milk has nothing to do with the size or shape. Not to mention, lactation actually burns calories! Therefore, in order to provide our children with a happy, healthy and a bright life, we must spread awareness for nursing across the country.

It is estimated that 22% of infant mortality cases can be prevented if breast milk is introduced soon after birth. Some of the myths that prevent this include:

Because breast milk is so easy to digest, babies generally get hungrier quicker than when they are fed formula milk. In reality, most doctors say that it is normal for newborns to eat every two to three hours.

It isn’t the lactation that causes mastitis and soreness but rather, poor nursing techniques.

The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. In fact, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that gain weight too slowly or lose it too fast do so because they do not get all the milk that the mother has. Most commonly, this is because the baby fails to latch onto the breast properly.

Baring a few exceptions, continuous breastfeeding will actually protect the baby.

This is because by the time the mother has fever (or cough, vomiting, diarrhea or rashes, etc) she has already transferred the infection to her baby, since it has been germinating within her before making her sick. The baby’s best protection against getting this is for the mother to continue breastfeeding.

Design By Maryam Rashid