Ms FEBRUARY 23, 2014
ISSUE NO. 88
Gems and Jewels
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Maids or More?
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inside list —
7 Worst Female Habits
domestic goddess —
Get smitten by cinnamon
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Section In-Charge: Batool Zehra Sub-Editor: Amna Hashmi
Our very own Ashton Kutcher
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the buzz
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
Maids or
more?
Children by belong in Mashal Abbasi schools. Let’s keep it that way
Picture an average Pakistani female street-child: her face is marred with dirt but she has a pair of eyes that pierce right through your soul. She may not be the ideal child. Her short time on Earth has seen some trying times that compelled her to behave in dubious ways. But she is ideal enough to take care of your toddler — this much is apparent from her eager movements and agility as she balances the baby on the nape of her tiny waist and plays with it like you never could. Yes, put together the image of the two children — both as different as fire and water — and you have a scenario not uncommon in Pakistan: a child taking care of a child. While the subject may be illegal in most other countries, child labour is rampant across Pakistan, India and other regions of Asia lacking stringent law enforcement. In Pakistan, it is illegal for a child under 14 to be employed in any form, corporate or domestic, but alas, who cares about that? It is hardly breaking news that the barefoot child selling roses around the corner has never seen the inside of a school. Your chai wala may be an adorable little Pashtun boy who must fend for himself at the tender age of 10 but it doesn’t matter so long as the chai comes to you warm. Many like 68-year-old Musharraf Jehan hire young children considering it a favour upon humanity, taking the child off of the streets and providing them with food, shelter and a steady income to boot. “I hired two young girls to help me around the house and they are great,” shares Musharraf. “I have taught them how to cook, clean and sew. These skills will help them in their future!” Indeed what Musharraf has done for the girls is great but what most of us don’t seem to realise is that apart from the steady income, the child needs nurturing and education — not just a corner in your home that they can retreat to after hours of running around the house. According to London-based psychologist Dr SH Mehdi, the cheap labour charges are the main reasons for the prevalence of child labour across the sub-continent. “Of course it is much cheaper for the privileged elite to hire unskilled youngsters as opposed to trained professionals,” explains Mehdi. “Not to mention, children are much easier to control or punish if they misbehave. They are also considered much more reliable in terms of theft and security but of course, that does not always hold true,” he adds.
siblings themselves so many of them already have the experience and sense of responsibility.” Unfortunately, what follows puts a damper in our social development. Parents from the low-income brackets fail to send their children, especially daughters, to school and rely on their additional income to run the house. Not to mention, forcing young girls into employment usurps their right to education, having choices and building a better life for themselves. Shahzana Salman, a stay-
A child may be going through a level of abuse that the parents do not know about. After all, the nanny herself is a child and can only hold out so much. The level of abuse may only manifest itself once a person is older, when it is too late to amend childhood trauma
In Pakistan, it is illegal for a child under 14 to be employed in any form, corporate or domestic, but alas, who cares about that? Along with preferring children over adults — especially as nannies or babysitters — there is also clear gender discrimination when it comes to opening one’s home to them. According to Mehdi, girls are favoured over boys as they are thought to be more caring, committed and protective by nature. “They also raise their younger
at-home mother of three, speaks about her previous maid Kulsoom who was hired as a nanny at the age of 10. “It was convenient for me as Kulsoom had no husband or children to worry about and so, wouldn’t ask for too many leaves,” admits Shahzana. “She would feed, bathe and play with my son Mustafa, help me with the dinner, do the laundry, clean the house, etc. Kulsoom stayed with me for five years, until her parents took her back to their village to be married off to someone.” Oftentimes, girls working in households are subjected to abuse and negligence, something common in many parts of Pakistan. Zareena, an elderly housekeeper shares that her 13-year-old daughter was “tied with a rope and beaten by her employers because they suspected her of theft. In reality, she never stole anything. What is worse is that now she is fearful of working anywhere else and our family income has reduced.” The fear of being scolded or beaten up can amount to further psychological issues for the young nannies. Depending on the type of employer, these young girls often undergo great stress which can affect their physical and mental well-being adversely. According to Mehdi, “Constant stress and exhaustion can give rise to negative energy and bad thoughts. There have been documented cases of the nanny feeling resentful towards her charge for having a more privileged life than her and of young workers growing hateful of their own parents and siblings for forcing them to work.” Another common problem is that the nanny grows too accustomed to the life and style her employers lead due to the large amount of time she spends in their home, away from her own. “In such cases, the subject gets confused. They find it difficult to settle into their own lifestyle, their own reality,” explains Mehdi. “This is particularly alarming cause then these children are tempted toward unlawful means of obtaining things they see their employers using. That can explain a large number of the theft that goes on in Pakistani homes.” And of course, you cannot blame them; they are children! “The fact of the matter is that these children need guidance themselves. How can they possibly guide others?” Questions Rozmeen Khan, a mother of three, vehemently against the idea of nannies, specially such young ones. “It’s your child. You should look after him/her yourself. Don’t depend on a poor little thing to do it for you! Send
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
her to school instead. It will do her more good!” Not only can such circumstances evoke psychological issues in the employed, they may also perpetrate certain reactions in the mind of the toddler being raised by them. Mehdi elaborates on the consequences of relying on domestic help in that “There is a high possibility that the child will develop a comfort level with his/her caretaker that is stronger than what they share with their own parents. Hence, the parental relationship may become secondary in a child’s mind if they are left with the caretaker for too long.” A point to note is that many times the caretakers change as the child grows older; a phenomenon that has been linked to loss of confidence in children and trust issues once they are older. “I strongly believe mental health issues, including personality disorders, can occur in a child’s mind regarding this parent vs nanny type of arrangement,” explains Mehdi. “A child may be going through a level of abuse that the parents do not know about. After all, the nanny herself is a child and can only hold out so much. The level of abuse may only manifest itself once a person is older, when it is too late to amend childhood trauma.” We must remember that the minds of children are like soft clay — easily moulded. As a child grows older, their brain becomes increasingly attentive and curious and they begin adopting the habits and behaviours of those around them. “This is why we are told not to shout or abuse before children,” says 38-year-old mother of two Shehnila Jameel. “I have never understood how some women can just trust a little girl with their babies so easily! In a country where labour is cheaper than fuel, it is no wonder that the privileges enjoyed by the lucky handful are constantly exploited. The custom has developed into a vicious cycle of sorts, pushing thousands of needy children away from a carefree childhood and into low-income, labour-intensive work — children who will, one day, grow up and throw their own children into the mill. The next time you are considering a young child, girl or boy, for domestic help, keep in mind the detrimental effects that your decision may have on both the employed and your children. As suggested by Mehdi, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. If you really wish to help the community, sponsor the child’s education instead.
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en vogue
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
Get glam with Sarwana’s latest jewellery collection, perfect for the spring wedding festival Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair & Makeup: Angie Marshall Jewellery: Sawana Designers: Ahsan Hussain — Eid Formals Photogtaphy: Rohail Khalid @ Munna Mushtaq studio Models: Saadia Faisal
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list
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
If you think you have been looking after yourself, think again! Some everyday habits may be compromising your well-being without you knowing it by Iram Waqar In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, much of what we do in our day often goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, some of our activities and habits can have a profound impact on our health in the long run, especially if we don’t keep them in check. But do not worry, Ms T is here to help you! Check out our list of top 7 worst female habits and understand why they might be taking a toll on you.
High Heels
Sleeping Beau ty
Binge Eating:
: Admit it or no t, almost all of us have succumbed to th e temptation of hitting the sack with ou r post-party makeup on. U fortunately, w nhile you may go to bed look ing like a prin cess, the mak eup — along with the dirt and natural oi ls nate within th that germie skin — crea tes clogged pores, spots, irritable skin and aging. Sleeping with eye makeup is particularly harmful as it can cause re dness, itchy ey and even infe es ctio tired, we know ns. We know you are all you want to do is jump into those co mfy pyjamas and hit the sa but be sure to ck do it with a w ashed face, clear of all ex ternal impuri ties.
edies No matter what romantic com te and cola tell you, overdosing on cho for tion solu the er, ice cream is nev upset en wh ing eat ge Bin . sion depres porarily may elevate your spirits tem stline wai r you and exp but it will also are you e tim t Nex tly. nen ma per comfort upset and seeking solace in your out t ven to gym the food, hit not do se, negative energy. But plea . sion res dep of eat your way out my or Nothing is worth a bulging tum malnutrition.
Leave the lense
s: According to New York-bas ed ophthalmolog ist Cykiert, 95 pe Robert r cent of all ey e infections oc cur due to slee ping with contact lens take your lens es. Failure to es the chance of off increases contracting an infection from 30 to almost 10 per cent. You wouldn’t wan 0 t to wake up with swollen red ey es now, do you?
en: ping outdoors Beasts of burdlo ng you are step
every one No matter how stuff each and to ed ne t no bag. Why? Befor, you do s into your hand on si uch es ss po ur of yo le it. With so m dy cannot hand rely w no e w at th cause your bo ic gadgets on tr ec arel ss d ce an makeup rrying unne women are ca y. of da y ity er or ev aj s m er , on eir should th on gs gba lu , nd w lts right no ily heavy ha t feel the resu n no ca ay s si m u ba yo m While long-ter avy bags on a ck he ne nd , ck ou ar ba ur ng gi yo us problems in s perpetrate serio to mention, heavy backpack ot ll N to s. a er s ld ke ou ta sh and rward which fo nd be us e e rs tend to mak ear out your pu e as well. So cl aller on our postur switch to a sm or ntial items se will es en nrd no l bu al r of fo avy beasts he e es th e us bag. Beca h good. not do you muc
Bad new , Low Health: s for all fa sh high hee ls are bad ionistas out there : for you. W may be n ec hil for a wed essary to comple e they te your o ding or p utf art your pos ture adve y, they can affec it t rsely, add the joints pressure and even on tually lea hammer d to arth toes, leg ritis, and back other inju ach rie flat-heele s. Similarly, com es and pletely d shoes a re abdomen . To minim hard on the lowe r pair of in soles to e ise damage, inves t in a ase the p joints an re d li ss the maxim mit your heels to ure on the 1.5 inche um, espe s at daily. Mo cially if yo st u shoes are importantly, mak wear them es c in. If you’r omfortable and e ure your asy to wa e not wa lk lking righ looking ri t, you’re ght! not
Sleepless & Careless: Women need more sleep than men — a fact proven by scientific research. They are also twice as likely to sacrifice their sleep to get work done — another fact proven by scientific research. Unfortunately, many of us don’t take our sleep seriously enough: lack of sufficient sleep makes us look and feel our worst. It can lead to low productivity, fatigue, flu, absent mindedness, additional calories and ultimately, heart diseases. Therefore, it is imperative — especially for working women — to rest for at least seven hours daily for effective functioning of the mind and body.
your pretty? Why aren’tlook good and feel prettynd
te Wanting to n generally , but wome ks more than e im cr o n is loo bout their hysical to obsess a reaking news that p ore b o .Am men. It is n ntal health in affects me o d n e m o insecurity w is what e su is ties, such t ri n e cu pertin eir inse th e m o rc htorder to ove ts, surgery and weig for ie d d o e o g m ese are as extre . None of th ring about tc e s, ill p nb loss , we body and ca the human rs like bulimia. Hence e ve rd lo o is to d d eating e worl s across th re, accept ie d la ll a e urg ey a s for who th d endearing and themselve an l ra tu a n as is is what their faults openly. Th ve o -l lf se ir e oman. declare th confident w , g n ro st a makes
domestic goddess 7
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
Recipe
Glazed Cinnamon Bread Who doesn’t love waking up to the smell of freshly-baked cinnamon bread? This Sunday, surprise your family early morning with a loaf of this easy-to-make breakfast delight. Addiction guaranteed!
Method • Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. • Prepare a loaf tin by greasing it with oil or butter and set it aside. • In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. • In another bowl, combine the egg, milk, vanilla essence and yogurt/sour cream. • Mix the dry and wet ingredients together and create a fluffy batter using an electric mixer or wooden spoon. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin. • In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon and water to make the mix for the swirl. Add the swirl onto the cake using a spoon and roll the topping into the batter with a knife to create the design. Alternatively, you can just spread the swirl mix on top of the batter to create a crispy glazed top skin. • Bake the batter for 45 to 60 minutes or until cooked thoroughly. Use a toothpick to track the progress of the bread — if it comes out clean, the bread is ready. Once cooked, remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for at least 10 minutes. • Prepare the glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and milk together. If the mixture it too dry, add another tablespoon of milk and continue until it becomes easy to spread. • Retrieve the bread from the pan and top it off with the glaze. Your desert is now ready. Note: In case Greek yogurt or sour cream is unavailable in stores, prepare your own sour cream at home by taking 1/3 cup of cream and 1 tablespoon of dairy yogurt (dahi). Mix well and leave over night in an airtight container. The sour cream needs a minimum of 12 hours to prepare, therefore it is advisable that you plan this recipe in advance.
Seemi Aamir is a part-time teacher and mother of three who spends much of her free time trying out new recipes and creating her own
For the bread:
All purpose flour 2 cups
Baking powder 1 tbsp
For the swirl:
Salt 1/2 tsp
Granulated sugar 1/2 cup
Granulated sugar 1/3 cup
Cinnamon 2 tsp
For the glaze:
Milk 1 cup
Vanilla extract 2 tsp
Plain Greek yogurt or sour cream 1/3 cup
Egg (lightly beaten at room temperature) 1
Powdered sugar 1/2 cup
Milk 1 tbsp
Water 2 tbsp
hottie of the week 8
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, FEBRUARY 23, 2014
Status Born
Single Quetta, Pakistan
Birthday
11th July, 1990
Face
85%
Feroze Khan Kopite
Body
80%
Who is he? There is something inexplicably enchanting about Feroze’s smile that just draws us in every time we see him. You might recall it from the many television shows and live programmes he has hosted with ARY Music. It is hard to miss that warm and welcoming cheeky grin. Add to that a porcelain complexion, an impeccable sense of style and the ability to breathe life into even the dullest of TV moments and we have our very own Ashton Kutcher! A graduate from the UK, Feroze stumbled into the world of video-jockeying by chance and realised that it was his true calling. He has been dubbed by many as the ideal ‘GQ man with an IQ’ and naturally becomes the centre of attention everywhere he goes. Inspired by creativity and his family, Feroze has sailed through criticism and the difficulties of the showbiz industry and emerged successful in every venture he has undertaken.
Talent
80%
Why we love him There are two things Feroze cannot live without: his mother and his motorbike. He has gone on record and confessed that if it weren’t for hosting, he would have loved to be a professional bike racer as he relishes the adrenaline rush his bike gives him. As for his mother, we couldn’t help but want to give him a tight hug when he sweetly admitted that his mother is his one true weakness and he couldn’t ever imagine living without her constant love and guidance. Flirty, flamboyant and very fun to look at, Feroze is everything that a boy should be. His big personality is evident in his TV shows and one cannot help but want to get to know this handsome youngster a bit more. But there is more to Feroze than just an exuberant personality: he is very disciplined when it comes to health and fitness and works out religiously to maintain himself. And unlike most other boys, he is also very obsessive about hygiene and cleanliness and loves to cook! Yup… this boy just keeps getting better and better.
What you didn’t know about him Feroze is deathly afraid of cockroaches. He loves Pakistan but his favourite holiday destination is Cancun, Mexico. Feroze is in search of a simple and sincere girl to be his life partner. He is seeking someone with whom he can connect intellectually and be best friends with. So ladies, if this sounds like you, we suggest you speak up soon. Who knows… maybe a honeymoon in Cancun is on the cards for you.
Total Package
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