The Express Tribune hi five - December 6

Ms DECEMBER 6, 2015

ISSUE NO. 181

Careers vs jobs — a comparison

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Travelling with toddlers

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inside En vogue —

Saira Rizwan’s bridal collections

Domestic goddess —

Pineapple perfection

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

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What’s trending: flared jeans

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The buzz

ne of Pakistan’s most promising achievements has been the acceptance of working women into society. Nowhere is this more apparent than in its corporate sector, where firms are struggling for gender parity amongst their workforce on a daily basis. Currently, women occupy 5% of corporate leadership positions in Pakistan, as per the Women@Work report published by Engage Consulting in 2013. This was the first-ever study of gender diversity in Pakistan’s corporate sector.

On a more social scale, prospective mothers-in-law now acknowledge the benefits of an educated and earning daughter-in-law who can share the financial stress with their sons.

This change may not have become a norm all over Pakistan yet, but it is clear that slowly and gradually, this is where our society is headed. Even though it is uncertain what exactly could have prompted this change, one can safely conclude that the outcome is positive for Pakistan at large.

But despite such developments, a closer inspection of our female workforce reveals a lack of stringent career paths. Thousands of Pakistani women now head off to their respective workplaces every morning and even look after their homes simultaneously, but few of them boast of a following detailed career plan. While stable jobs might help put food on the table, they are not necessarily leading women towards personal or professional growth.

In fact, they might not be utilising the education, experiences and skillsets of the women in the first place.

To be clear, one must note that a successful career does not always have to imply handsome remuneration. Many people, male or female, switch jobs in search of greater income and corporate benefits. Careers, on the other hand, require passion, hard work and a greater commitment to the job at hand.

In order to build a sound career in any field of work, it is imperative for an individual to be highly determined, skilled and most importantly, patient. Unfortunately, few people — even in today’s competitive corporate climates — possess such qualities and often find themselves stuck in a rut between home and work. Women in particular are percieved to be ‘killing time’ at meager jobs with little or no intention to further themselves. In fact, it has been seen that they switch fields, firms and roles with greater frequency than their male counterparts.

Perhaps a great example of this would be the astonishing number of young girls taking admission into medical schools and even passing through but not working as doctors. The incidence of this phenomenon had become so high that the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC)

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 6, 2015

was recently forced to implement a 50% quota for male and female med-students to safeguard its resources. The reasoning behind this might be a lack of familial support or an inability to maintain a work-life balance. For most women, teaching is the most common fall-back option as it is assumed to be relatively easier and less time-consuming. According to Ayesha Bano, a HR manager at FAST University, many women take up teaching (or other jobs) for mere entertainment or respite from their in-laws. “I have found that nearly 90% of our teachers are either looking to marry or trying to escape from their inlaws,” says Ayesha. “It is rather sad but they are simply passing time and earning some cash while at it.” What is overlooked is the fact that teaching is actually much more demanding as a profession for it impacts society directly.

One might argue that the roots of the problem lie in the makeup of Pakistani society wherein the woman is expected to be the homemaker and disparaged for wanting more than that. No matter how intelligent or ambitious she may be, her most esteemed role is said to be within the home and for society that ought to be the extent of her ambitions. With such preconceived notions, it is hardly

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 6, 2015

surprising that when push comes to shove, careers almost always take a backseat.

As per educationist Naureen Khan’s* 15 years of experience, the discrepancy between one’s career and job is not as black and white as personal versus professional life. There are multitudinal layers in between which must be taken into consideration. “For instance, not everyone resigns from teaching to become a housewife. There are some who do indeed leave it but in favour of banking or corporate jobs,” says Naureen. “Also, back in my time, there were a lot of female employees in the corporate sector but that translated into growth and long-term careers for teachers such as myself.”

Then there are individuals such as 23-year-old Fatima Rizvi whose passion for education is the driving force behind every decision she has undertaken thus far. “I have a career, not a job,” claims Fatima. “I have been taking certifications for O and A levels while I was in college myself.

In fact, I taught A-level students during my last year too. I have been working towards teaching since the very beginning.” With this fervour and a Master’s degree in educational leadership from the prestigious University of Warwick in England, Fatima is gearing for a thriving career and changing the stigma attached to teaching in Pakistan. “It makes me sad when I see women using teaching as a mere stepping stone to another job,” she adds.

A question that comes to mind is exactly to what extent one can attribute our shortcomings to society. After all, is it not us who comprise it and hold the power to change it? Sana Masood, a corporate advisor at a local investment firm, highlights an interesting aspect of the debate between careers and jobs, saying that it is not solely women who face the problem. “Developing a career is one’s personal decision. It requires them to invest in themselves for years and not everyone has it in them to do so,” explains Sana.

“While on the one hand women do face greater obstacles in their professional development, on the other, there are many men who lack careers and lose themselves in run-of-the-mill jobs too.” She also points out how a great proportion of our middle and upper classes can afford domestic help and thereby enable themselves to lead full careers. “There are plenty of women who overcome social and familial deterrents and end up with fulfilling careers.” Ayesha agrees, saying that frequent

job changes might simply be indicative of strong likes and dislikes. “I myself remained unsure about my career for long time,” shares Ayesha, “Then I happened to come across a mentor on one of my experimental stints who was successful and had also raised two children! A lot of my inspiration comes from her.”

Mavra Bari, the brains behind Islamabad-based female entrepreneurship center We Create, also believes that women around the world are breaking barriers and going against the grain. “I have seen that women who desire careers or their own businesses face immense hurdles which do make them sway at times,” says Mavra.

“However, simultaneously, there are many in the 18-35 age bracket that are not seeking conventional jobs. They have foresight of what they want to accomplish and understand the difference between being a cog in the machine and a game-changer.” According to Mavra, many of the hopefuls who apply to We Create explicitly state in their applications they want to become entreprenuers to challenge status quo and contribute to society.

Nimrah Karim, Project manager at WomenX Pakistan, lends credence to Mavra’s claim, stating that the modern Pakistani woman is pursuing fields which match her talents and interests. “There has recently been a spike in the prevalence of female-owned and run enterprises, across technology, health, fashion and food,” says Nimrah. “This is very advantageous for women as they can run the business from their very homes.”

Perhaps what Sana implies is that success depends largely on each individual and how determined they are to hurtle themselves ahead, regardless of their gender or occupation. “It is really upsetting when girls with great degrees from reputed institutions do not utilise themselves,” says HR professional Kiran Laeeq.

“Personally, I feel like one of the most empowering things for an individual is to allow them to do as they please. If women are allowed to follow their dreams, many of our problems can be eradicated.” After three years of working within the job market, Kiran has learned that a change of such epic proportion can only be piecemeal. “The situation is improving, albeit slowly. I hope that the template of a woman — as seen by our society — will change too.” *Name has been changed due to protect privacy Hafsah Sarfraz is a reporter for The Express Tribune in Islamabad Design by Eesha Azam

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En vogue

The latest offerings from Saira Rizwan’s exquisite bridal studio Designer: Saira Rizwan Collection: F/W 2015 Photography: Adnan Qazi Hair & Makeup: Boe Wright Styling: Farina Ghauri Models: Sadaf RKS, Stephanie L

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 6, 2015

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 6, 2015

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Lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 6, 2015

Set aside the essentials:

By Nudrat Mustafa The holiday season has arrived, and with it the chance of a respite from your daily life.

Taking a long and relaxing break seems like heaven, doesn’t it? If you’re a new mother, you are probably gushing just reading about the idea of lying on the beach and soaking up the sun without a care in the world.

Sorry to pop your daydream but you must be warned: travelling with an infant is no easy feat. Just ask the other mothers in your social circle and they will agree. Even packing for an infant is a nightmare, considering the amount of things they might need and the current airline baggage allowances. Plus, one can never be too sure how your child will react on the flight and at the new destination. Fortunately, there are some easy travel hacks that you can use to make your travel a bit easier. Follow these tips and be ready for a journey you will cherish through g out. throughout.

Be baby-planned: Pre-planning works all the time. It not only keeps your sanity in check but also helps organise priorities around the little one.

1. Gear up for the fun: You should build some positive anticipation for the journey by pointing out planes flying by in the sky. This will help children acclimatise to this mode of transport. Perhaps you can even give them a toy airplane to play with a few days before flying off.

2. Be ready for the unexpected: Keep in mind that children are highly likely get upset at least once during the trip — especially during take-off and landing. The quicker you can tackle the situation, the better. No one knows your young one better than you, so plan and pack things according to their moods and needs, such as toys to distract them, medicine to soothe ear aches and an extra pair of clothing.

3. Let the music play: If your toddler loves rhymes or certain music videos, make sure you have them downloaded on your phone. It could help as recourse if your baby is getting rowdy.

4. Eliminate waiting time: Check all your timings in advance, whether for the flight or the tourist spot you are visiting. You don’t want to reach a tourist attraction and find it closed with a baby in your arms. Hence, keeping things in check eliminates uncertainty.

Pack Cleverly: Excess luggage along with a child during any part of the trip will surely become cumbersome and exhausting so pack cautiously.

1. Take along a day’s worth of child emergency accessories like diapers, no-mess nibbles, baby wipes and an extra set of clothes.

2. Pack at least one toy to keep your child occupied. It is better to not let them see it until flying lest they grow bored of it by the time your flight leaves.

3. A great baby carrier and backpack is very necessary. You and your husband can take turns wearing it but trust us, you will not regret it. These genius carriers are life savers at crowded places like airports, train stations and parks.

With one arm holding the baby, it can be quite quiite difficult to arrange travel documents like your passport and boarding passes. The only way to avoid getting caught up is to set the essentials aside to avoid searching for it at the counter.

• Keep all the important documents, chargers and medicines in a separate bag carefully.

• Make sure you reach the airport ahead of time to beat the chaos. In fact, let your kid burn energy at the airport for him to sleep off the trip on board.

The final stop: Now that you have successfully reached your destination, do not let your trip become memorable for the wrong reasons. These steps will help make your stay worthwhile.

• If you’re traveling across time zones, wane the jetlag by taking a nice walk around the premises of your hotel. Remember that fresh air, daylight and exercise are the ideal cures for jetlag.

• If your infant is being unusually cranky or tired, try to set up your hotel room up to resemble your home. This will help the little one feel more comfortable.

• If you are staying for a long period of time, it is advisable to rent out a small apartment of a bigger hotel room for your child to ply around in. Apartments are often cheaper than hotel rooms and offer greater space than most hotels.

Also, an apartment will have its own kitchen so you can make your toddler the kind of food they like.

• Most importantly, remember that you are not the only one responsible for the children. Leave them with their father for a little while and take some time off to rejuvenate yourself. You will come back healthier and happier.

Quick checklist for travelling with children Remember to tick off the necessities from the following list: • • • • • • • • • •

Diapers Wipes Blanket(s) Plastic bags to throw away used pampers Small bottles of disinfecting hand gel and toiletries. Pain relievers and supplies for treating minor injuries can also come in handy Paediatrician’s phone number Colour pencils, books, old favourites or new toys to surprise the infant along the way Extra clothes, socks, and shoes (with the weather in mind) Washable bibs Sippy cups, bottles

Nudrat Mustafa is a high-school teacher, considerate mentor and a passionate learner who loves to pen down things connected to fashion and lifestyle. Follow her on twitter @nudrat_mustafa

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Domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 6, 2015

By Iram Waqar

Pineapple paradise

A mouthwatering dessert for your next dinner party

Ingredients Pineapple 1 can Cream 300 grammes Sweet biscuits 1 pack½ Butter 2 tbsp Icing sugar 3 tbsp

PHOTO: IRAM WAQAR

Method • Grind sweet biscuits into crumbs and mix them with melted butter in a small bowl. Place the crumbs on the base of your serving glasses, pressing it firmly with a spoon to form a smooth dessert base.

• Cut the pineapple chunks into small pieces and scatter them over the base of the dessert. Keep a few of the bigger pieces aside.

• In another bowl, whip cream along with icing sugar until it becomes firm and starts to form peaks.

• Carefully pour the mixture into the glasses.

• Dust some cocoa powder on the dessert and put the leftover pineapple chunks on the rim of the glasses for decoration. Serve chilled.

Pineapple Delight Don’t let the ingredients you bought go to waste! Instead buy them in bulk and prepare a delicious pineapple delight that tastes like just like cheesecake but with half the effort. The rich cream and pineapple taste great together.

Sugar biscuits 2 packs Butter (melted) 1/2 cup Butter (softened) 1/2 cup Icing sugar 1 and 1/2 cups Egg 1 Vanilla essence 1 tsp Pineapple 1 can Cream 2 cups

• Preheat the oven to 163oC and place rack in the centre of the oven.

• In a medium bowl, combine the biscuits and 1/2 cup of melted butter. Press the mixture into the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Once cooked, cool the base completely on a wire rack.

• In a separate bowl, mix together the 1/2 cup of softened butter, icing sugar, egg, and vanilla essence until smooth. Spread this mixture over the crust and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and cool once again.

• Add two tablespoons of white sugar and one teaspoon of vanilla essence in the cream for sweetness and flavour.

• Drain the juice from the pineapple can and mix the cream batter with the fruit, spreading evenly over the cooled butter filling.

• Garnish the dessert with a sprinkle of biscuits. Keep chilled and serve cold.

SOURCE: RECIPESQUICKNEASY.COM

Wide-leg pants are back in style and if you don’t already own a pair, you are seriously missing out!

By Nisma Chauhan If there is one trend that is primed to dominate this winter, it is flared pants. From wide-leg trousers to bell bottoms — this style staple of the 70’s is back in business. Ramps and red carpets across the world have been teeming with this uber chic style. Closer to home, stars like Mahira Khan have been sporting flared trousers with medium-length kurtis as well. So go out and get yourself a pair before the stocks run out!

Where to wear: Fortunately, flared pants are not event-specific. You can wear them to work with a loose-fitting shirt or a more fitting, formal one for a casual outing with your girl squad.

But it from: Mango Rs 7,990 Old Navy Rs 1,500 Mantra Rs 2,350 Sapphire Rs 2,450

Scientifically speaking, every extra minute you spend resisting having to get out of bed actually tires you out more as you are semiconscious throughout this small period.

We have all been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This is because consuming the meal within an hour after waking up actually boosts your cognition which is ideal for a foggy head.

Naturally, sleeping eeping for less than six hours will have you u yawning all day. The lack of sleep may be due to some undiscovered anxiety or simply imply insomnia. Whatever the reason, it will ill tire you out, making it a struggle to complete your tasks at work.

But fret not: t: There are ways to overcome the exhaustion! tion! New York Magazine’s portal, Science nce of Us, recently released a life-saving video from the Science of Sleep Institute forr insomniacs. The scientists herein suggest gest that a sleep-deprived brain can only nly concentrate on something for about 10 0 minutes at a time. It is not a complete cure but rather a simple guide to help p people get through the day without compromising mpromising their productivity.

Following are re some of the tips the video prescribes to the iimpending t beat b t th di effects ff t off inadequate rest:

A chocolate donut or fruity muffin may seem like a good way to kickstart a hazy morning but they will soon send you in a spiral of sugar crashes. Therefore, it is best to stick to protein and grains to stay active till the evening.

Did you know that natural light boosts alertness by raising your body temperature? Walking out in the sun or simply basking in its natural warmth near a window can thus give you a dose of much-needed energy.

Ideally, one should consume a cup of coffee in the morning during breakfast, another upon reaching the workplace and then one last serving in the early afternoon, before 3pm. Caffeine typically lasts for up to eight hours in your system and if you want to get an early night, it is best to keep away from it evening onwards.

Remember that you will be the most alert at morning time. Therfore, it is advisable to do the most difficult and time-consuming tasks early in the morning.

This may be contingent upon the type of work you do and your office environment, but you should try to get done as early as possible. The earlier you get done, the more leisure time you can enjoy in the evenings.

Note: You can watch the video ‘How to Recover from an All-Nighter’ at http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2yujdp_how-to-recover-from-an-all-nighterthe-science-of-us-episode-3_webcam SOURCE: GRAZIADAILY.CO.UK

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