The Express Tribune hi five - December 27

Ms DECEMBER 27, 2015

ISSUE NO. 184

Celebrating 2015 A year of womanhood

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Avoid gaining holiday weight

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

inside En vogue — Fashion frenzy

Domestic goddess —

Sesame chicken drumsticks and beef chapli kebabs

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Fashion forward: The new look

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The buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 27, 2015

By Nisma Chauhan With 2015 at a close, we decided to look back on all of the biggest moments of the year. And what we noticed came as a pleasant surprise: 2015 has been an exemplary year for women. Not only have several women’s issues come to the forefront during the year but women have also proved their mettle and risen to fight for equal rights. So, before you bid farewell to these last few, power-packed months, let us take a trip down memory lane and rejoice in the many developments they offered.

One of the key developments during 2015 was the female stronghold over social media. Women have virtually ruled over popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and utilised them to further their cause.

The entire year has been a whirlwind of online awareness campaigns and hashtags. Some of them like the #ILookLikeAnEngineer have aimed towards gender equality in the global, corporate world. It was sparked back in August by American software engineer Isis Wenger whose photograph was included in her company’s recruitment campaign. Although the picture showed Isis simply smiling into the camera, it was met with negative comments from people who felt she looked too good to be a real engineer. One commentator even went on to say that she did not appear “remotely plausible” as “what a female engineer should look like.” In retaliation, Isis took to social media to highlight the misogyny, prejudices and sexism rampant in her field of work and established #ILookLikeAnEngineer which clocked in over 75,000 tweets across more than 50 countries.

On the topic of female appearances, the #PowerofMakeup provided a refreshing respite from the multitude of online makeup tutorials. Early on in 2015, social media saw thousands of women posting selfies of themselves with only half of their faces was made up — the other side left au natural. The trend was initiated after famous Dutch beauty blogger Nikkie de Jager spoke about the hypocritical practice

of judging women who enjoy cosmetics and dressing up. In the video, Nikkie responded to the mounting ridicule, saying, “Nowadays, when you say you love make-up, you either do it because you want to look good for boys, because you’re insecure or because you don’t love yourself.” Nikki went on to admit that oftentimes, she felt that the world deemed it a crime for a woman to enjoy looking good. Soon enough, the video went viral and women all over the world began posting the selfies in her support.

A picture from Lahore for #GirlsAtDhabas

But perhaps the most prolific of the year’s hashtag campaigns has been #GirlsAtDhabas, started by Karachi-based dhaba-goer Sadia Khatri. The idea came to her when she posted a photograph of herself and her friends at a nearby dhaba on Instagram, along with the hashtag #GirlsAtDhabas. One of her followers suggested she start a series and so, Sadia and her friend Sabahat Zakariya started a Tumblr page of the same name. Herein, they curate photo submissions sent in by desi women across the country who, like them, love to hit their local dhaba for some tea. The hashtag has beaten the decadesold orthodox idea that it is unsafe and unladylike for women to visit dhabas. Soon after its launch, women from different parts of South Asia began sending in selfies of themselves at dhabas, all under #GirlsAtDhabas. In fact, the idea recently sparked a movement to set up a dhaba catering to more women and those belonging to gender minorities.

Sadia and Sabahat have been busy searching for a space to establish the dhaba and even began the #DhabaForWomen fund to generate money for it.

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 27, 2015

For decades, the advertising industry has taken a dig at women, their relationships and perceived duties. Things are less bleak on the international front, considering ‘successful marriages start in the kitchen’ concept promulgated by kitchen goods giant Agee Pyrex in the 1950s. Thanks to the feminist movement, such ideas have largely been shunned and replaced by more progressive, pro-women advertisements. But here in Pakistan, things remain rather bleak. Our cooking oil advertisements are evidence enough, as they always depict women as dutiful bahus or housewives, trying to impress their in-laws through good food.

Bollywood has always had a huge impact on how its viewers like to live their lives. For instance, back in the year 2008, many young women began working out in hopes to achieve Kareena Kapoor’s size-zero figure. Similarly, fans of the Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone starrer Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani began to visit the snow-capped mountains of Kashmir, just like the star couple did in the movie. But with a fair share of good and bad impacts, 2015 has overall proved to be a progressive year for women in Bollywood as well.

Anupama Chopra and Anushka Sharma

One of the high-points of the year has been Anushka Sharma’s interview with film critic Anupama Chopra wherein the actor spoke vociferously against gender inequality within the film industry. The 27-year-old highlighted the blatant sexism and double standards she and her contemporaries have to deal with as members of Bollywood, from inequitable earnings to the issue of age.

Anushka’s interview came on the heels of Man’s World, a multi-starrer, four-episode series released by Y-Films a youth production house of Yash Raj Films, on the 29th of September. The show aimed to promote gender equality through the concept of a role reversal between men and women in India, in support of UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development. In the movie, a young marketing officer named Kiran walks in the shoes of women in the corporate world and experiences the many issues they have to deal with daily. It operates on the idea of what if (what if women treated men the way men treat them) and expertly portrays the female struggle in a comical manner.

The year 2015 also saw a surge of women-centric movies which were hugely appreciated by both film critics as well as movie-goers. Movies such as Anushka’s NH10, Deepika’s Piku, Kalki Koechlin’s Margarita with a Straw and Angry Indian Goddesses gave these leading ladies the chance to grow and develop their acting skills and prove that female actors can achieve success sans male leads as well. In fact, movies such as Dil Dhadakne Do and Tanu Weds Manu Returns — both of which had strong female protagonists — have also performed brilliantly at the box office.

Aunty Pakistan, a twitter handle that become an overnight sensation, gave many women in Pakistan a reason to rejoice. Aunty challenges sexist stereotypes prevalent in Pakistani society, one funny tweet at a time. The handle takes on misogyny on the political, social and cultural fronts and managed to amass a following of more than 3,500 people in just a day and a half after its inception. It has given Pakistani women a voice and defiantly called out sexism in our patriarchal society and that too, in a tummy-tickling, sarcastic manner.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when a new restaurant called ‘Table No. 5’ in Islamabad tried to gain publicity by developing sexist humour. What did shock us, however, was the uproar its marketing strategy incited. One of the key taglines promoted by the restaurant read “If she won’t make you a sandwich, we will.” To make matters worse, much of the menu was named after international celebrities who have been convicted for abuse against women, such as a chicken steak called The Charlie Sheane.

There is also a beef and cheese dish titled the Kris Browne, coined with reference to Chris Brown who is known to have assaulted his ex-girlfriend Rihanna. People from across the country were outraged at the restaurant’s audacity and dubbed it misogynistic. Eventually, the brouhaha compelled the restaurant owners to issue a public apology for the misdemeanours.

Such was the case with Singapore-based online clothing store SuperGurl which used the phrase ‘Rape Us Now’ as a catchphrase for their Black Friday sales this year. The line was accompanied with a photograph of a young woman in a suggestive pose. Fortunately, after hoards of criticism and being labelled “inappropriate” and “disgusting”, the brand’s creative director Jordus Lim posted an apology. “SuperGurl did not mean it to be offensive to anyone,” he stated. The banner was also removed immediately from the website.

Nisma Chauhan is a subeditor at the magazine desk.

She tweets@ChauhanNisma

Design by Maryam Rashid

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En vogue

Kodak showcases its flowery latest collection Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair and makeup: Saba Ansari at Sabs Label: Kodak Photography ad styling: Rohail Khaled Model: Fareena Ijaz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 27, 2015

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 27, 2015

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Lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 27, 2015

It’s that time of the year again! The leaves have fallen, as has the temperature. Children are finally on the much-awaited two-week winter break from school. Guests have been coming from abroad in droves as seemingly everyone on Pakistani soil has decided to get married this year. There is a general air of festivity across the country and with that comes a whole lot of fatty foods. The extra calories are lurking around every corner, from hot drinks, chocolates, Christmas cookies, spicy biryani and all that oily wedding food that makes Pakistani cuisine so tempting!

Considering this, it is hardly surprising that an average Pakistani can gain up to a kilo or two during winter holidays.

Even if one possesses superhuman willpower, the holiday and wedding season can make it very difficult to keep track of your diet. The worst part is that the excess pounds don’t really disappear with the season. But do you really want to commence the new year with a pot-belly? No? We thought so!

To keep the flab at bay, we have brought you some ingenious ways to stay fit throughout the season. Read on and be on your way to festive and fit.

Bundle up without bulking up this winter…

By Hafsah Sarfraz

Regardless of where and how you’re spending your winter, always try to pick protein when it comes to food. Proteins help maintain a healthy weight and are also extremely essential for healthy muscle growth.

They are also ideal to keep one warm during the cold winter days. So you can relish those roof-top barbeques to your heart’s desire, so long as you keep away from the garam garam naan.

When it comes to eating during the holiday season, you can expect loads of tempting, oilrich items and while there is no harm in indulging every now and then, the temptations can get out of hand.

The best way to prevent that is by filling up on fibres before indulging so that your stomach feels full already and you don’t go overboard. Agreed, it may not be as tasty as the other mouthwatering items on the menu but food high in fibre keeps one fuller for longer. So why not give the salad bar a second chance?

Pakistani weddings are known across the world for enticing buffets that could make even the most determined of us question their will power. So if the dinner is being served buffet style, try to outsmart it by first picking a small plate and opting for the simpler items of the menu. Try to pick baked items instead of fried ones so you consume more protein and fibre.

The best way to maintain your weight during this time is to take moderate meals.

Mehak Taherani, a fitness expert from Karachi, stresses on the fact that moderation is the key and sometimes it is much needed to take time off. “A recent trip I made to London was a partial time off from my diet, where I skipped on my regular workouts and ate up to 2000 calories a day,” shares Mehak. “Yet, I tried to keep myself active by walking. I made a point to eat one big satisfying meal every day and have dessert too because let’s face it — what meal is complete without dessert?” she added. Luckily, Mehak didn’t gain a single pound but actually lost a kilo! “I am glad I did not resist having a bar of chocolate or a slice of pizza when I wanted to.” Mehak’s experience shows us that too much of anything — even healthy diet food — is never good for you.

There is nothing more appealing to one’s sweet tooth than a bar of chocolate during the cold winter months. Or a bowl of kheer at weddings. But you have to work hard to keep off the extra pounds, right. Therefore, try to be selective when it comes to desserts as well. Always remember that not all of them are as delicious as they appear and if it has too many calories, the dish better be worth it.

The holidays may not be the most ideal time to work out but trust us, you will not regret it later. If you’re vacationing abroad, try to incorporate as much walking into your routine as possible. This is not only a great way to experience the foreign location you’re in but will also burn off all the excess fats you might have consumed earlier. After all, one should maximise their travel experience to the fullest and that includes exotic new cuisines. So if you’re in, say Italy, don’t pass on the authentic gelato or those scrumptious baguettes from France because that would just be silly! You can eat whatever you like, so long as it is worked off afterwards.

Hafsah Sarfraz is an Islamabad-based reporter for The Express Tribune.

Design by Sobia Khan

Domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 27, 2015

By Iram Waqar

Sesame chicken drumsticks

These crunchy drumsticks taste delicious and are simple and quick to prepare

Ingredients

PHOTO: IRAM WAQAR

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Chicken legs (skinned) 6 Vinegar 2 tsp Soy sauce 2 tsp Garlic (crushed) 1 tsp Egg 1 Sesame seeds 1 tbsp Breadcrumbs as required Salt to taste Pepper to taste

Beef chapli kebabs

By Chef Shamsher This popular dish, made from beef with spices, gives an aromatic flavour and smell that leaves everyone’s mouth watering for more.

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Beef (minced) 1 kg Tomatoes 3 Coriander (chopped) 5 tbsp Onions (chopped) 2 Green chilies 5-6 Mint leaves 3 tbsp Flour 1/2 cup Garam masala 1 tbsp Red chili powder 1 and 1/2 tbsp Salt to taste Anaardana 1 and 1/2 tbsp Coriander powder 1 tbsp White cumin 1 tbsp Egg 1

Method • Begin by pricking the chicken legs with a fork so as to ensure that the spices applied reach within.

• Marinate the skinned legs in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce, salt and black pepper for about 40 minutes to an hour.

• In a small bowl, beat one egg.

• Place the sesame seeds in another plate or bowl, along with the bread crumbs.

• Dip the legs in the egg mix one by one, followed by the sesame seeds and bread crumbs for a second coating.

• Once covered, deep-fry the drumstick on medium heat until they become goldenbrown in colour and are cooked from the inside as well.

• To ease consumption and add a professional touch, cover the ends of the drumsticks with a piece of aluminum foil. Serve warm with a dip and side dish of your choice.

• Place the minced beef, tomatoes, coriander, green chilies, mint, salt, garam masala, PHOTO: CHEF SHAMSHER red chili powder, anaardana, white cumin and coriander powder in an electric chopper and grind them all together. Make sure all the ingredients are finely chopped lest the kebabs break while frying.

• Add about a half cup of flour and one egg into the mixture and grind it again.

• Once the mixture is ready, retrieve it from the chopper and make medium-sized balls out of it. Press them between your palms to make chapli kebab patties.

• Heat oil on a straight, non-stick pan or a tawwa for frying. Cook the kebabs for about four to five minutes on both sides. Once fried, take them off of the heat and allow them to cool slightly on a plate lined with paper-towels.

• Serve warm with mint or coriander chutney and hot bread.

By Neha Javed

Pakistan’s fashion gurus predict the top trends for 2016 Pa It’s been a riveting year for Pakistan fashion industry. Shows have been held both within and outside the country, including London and Oman. We also witnessed some new trends such cigarette pants taki taking over to a few old items making their way back into the fashion scene, namely knee-length kurtis and culottes. And as much as we hope that our favourite styles remain cool in the new year as well, we can can’t deny that with the ever-changing industry we might leave some of them behind. Perhaps a whole diff different look may be awaiting us in 2016. To get a hint of what we can expect, MsT spoke with some loca local fashion gurus to find out what they perceive could be the new look for 2016.

“Fo formal wear we will see long lengths “For coming back, with some figure-flattering com shapes. A lot of glamour with accessories sha is in vogue too, because of which we will witness everyone breaking rules but at the wit same time, looking very individualistic. On sam the other hand, we are going to see a lot in fashion again and also a lot of metallic m cuts. As far as the colours are of vintage v concerned, bold and vibrant colours will con be in i to help the wearer make their own statement.” stat

“I think we will see more of minimalistic silhouettes, organic fabrics and perhaps shalwars with quirky modern prints come back in style.”

“Fa “Fashion will become more ‘temporary’ will start using very random as people p pieces and mix them up together to credit piec their own look. It might be a comeback of the everything together. For instance, more eve fun-oriented silhouettes with a palate of fun different colours along with much more diff contrast and detailing can be expected.” con

“Well, Pakistan’s market are influenced by the west. There are lot of layers and a lot of solids like block prints or single colours which are trending now. Tailored tunics with detailing and finishing are in style. We want to give our client something new every season. The Pakistani market is so vibrant that we never limit our colour palette. We play with all the trending colours.”

“For 2016, I predict a return of more structured cuts and a lot of use of materials such as organza and tissue. Lengths will continue to remain on the shorter side. And for pants we will see a lot of three-quarter culottes and boot-cut along with the forever popular cigarette pants.”

Neha Javed is a textile designer. She likes to write about fashion and beauty in her free time.

Design by Sobia Khan