The Express Tribune hi five - October 18

Ms OCTOBER 18, 2015

ISSUE NO. 174

Understanding feminism

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Wallpapers 101

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inside En vogue — A bridal fantasy

Domestic goddess —

Cottage cheese rolls

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

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The energetic Mantaha Tareen

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The buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 18, 201 2015

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By Kanwal Tariq

ollywood starlet Priyanka Chopra recently made an appearance on the hit American talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live to promote her television debut Quantico. All was going well until Priyanka was asked if she considered the show — which revolves around a group of young FBI recruits — to be feminist in nature. “It’s about empowerment,” she answered.

“It has got very strong female characters but I don’t think it is a bra-burning feminist show where you hate men. We have strong male characters too.” Prior to this, the 33-year-old diva has time and again voiced her concerns regarding the gender disparity in Bollywood, even at the risk of her career. Despite this, however, the concept of feminism appears to be unclear to Priyanka.

You see, if there is one thing that women — irrespective of cast, creed or culture — can unite upon, it would be fighting for their rights. Throughout history, women like Priyanka have advocated equal opportunities for themselves in the social, political and legal arenas.

They have waved the banner of feminism high so as to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their male counterparts. And yet, many of them seem to operate from a minimal or incorrect understanding of the concept. In fact, some female advocates consciously distance themselves from the term feminist completely, lest they be dubbed as man-haters.

Judging from Priyanka’s unassuming statements, one can arrive at two main conclusions.

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 18, 2015

Firstly, most people fail to understand exactly what feminism entails. This includes almost everyone, especially those who, such as Priyanka, identify themselves as feminists. The second finding would be that feminism is often confused for misandry — an ingrained prejudice against men. According to lawyer, political activist and self-proclaimed feminist Jibran Nasir, this is wrong. “I do believe in equal rights and opportunities for women. If that is how one defines feminism, then yes. I am a feminist,” claims Jibran, adding that no one deserves to be discriminated against based upon gender. The point to be noted is that just because a woman demands equal rights as men, it does not necessarily imply that she wants to snub them for it.

Interestingly, Priyanka is not the only celebrity who appears to be confused about the matter. Oscar winner and an equal rights advocate, actor Meryl Streep, was also questioned about being a feminist in a recent interview with Time Out. “I am a humanist,” she responded. “I am all for a nice, easy balance.”

But how exactly is the balance titled?

The world-renowned Merriam-Webster dictionary defines feminism as ‘The theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes as organised activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.’ The definition, however, oversimplifies the concept. While most would agree for a world with gender equality, there exist different focus groups that specialise in particular objectives, ultimately related to feminism. For instance, the Young Doctors Association Pakistan can be credited for having the harassers of the lady doctors arrested. On the other hand, there may be many female empowerment groups working to eradicate sexual harassment in the country, but how often do these groups work together?

One of the main reasons as to why local society discredits feminism is because it is considered to be an alien, western concept. While it is indeed true that women from different parts of the world differ in terms of values, morals and culture, we must realise that no particular choice is right or wrong. What is essential is that feminism is about having the freedom to make that choice — something every woman should be given.

“The problem with a patriarchal society such as ours is that we have put restrictions on women, both inside and outside our homes,” explains Jibran. “We make it seem like we are protecting them but we are actually stopping their growth. We have to let them step out, grow and learn their lessons. This is how men grow too,” he adds.

Women may have paved their way into different spheres but feminism still has a long way to go before it is welcomed completely. The term ‘Feminazi’ has become the latest slang word, used to describe a woman who promotes gender equality. The term was once limited to radical feminists only; the kind who allegedly hoped for female superiority and hated men for unknown reasons. Now, it is used to disparage feminists in general.

According to Mehreen Syed, supermodel and Pakistani spokesperson for L’Oreal Paris, people perceive feminism as an extreme, without the right context. “It is not about treating one gender better than the other but more about giving a platform to an already suppressed gender to allow them an equal shot,” she says.

Unfortunately, although much of the negativity associated with the concept stems from men, a large group of women also share the same sentiments. In fact, there is even a popular community on the social media giant Facebook called Women against Feminism! Herein, women who think feminism to be degrading towards other women voice their opinions freely.

Here lies the problem: we do not see feminists as like-minded people working for our own betterment. A feminist, like any other person, has societal ties, past experiences and some cultural norms that they are accustomed to. “Most women are put down and since they are emotional, they let others dominate them. This takes away their self-confidence,” says 22-year-old singer, Alycia Dias. “For example, many women who drive are honked and yelled at, which makes them even more nervous,” she says, adding that this is what makes them feel less equal to men. Ultimately, this begets feelings of suppression and anger which manifest themselves in the form of radical feminism.

According to Alycia, there ought to be programs which should help women get back their self-confidence. “Women are now riding bikes, albeit a few of them, and even rickshaws, which is a good thing,” she says.

Feminazi by definition means a radical feminist. Initially it was used to describe an extreme or a militant feminist, giving way to the portmanteau of the nouns feminist and Nazi. However, lately the word is being used to describe all kinds of feminists as a more derogatory terminology. The term, however, was first used in the early 1990s by the politically conservative American radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh and since then has gained much popularity.

Rush in his book The Way Things Ought to Be, referred to feminazis as unspecified women whose goals were to allow as many abortions as possible. Later in 2004, Limbaugh named feminist activists Gloria Steinem as a famous feminazi, belittling her efforts and struggles towards equal rights and opportunities. However, in an interview, Steinem criticised Rush’s use of the term by calling it cruel and ahistorical.

Steinem went on to say, “Hitler came to power against the strong feminist movement in Germany, padlocked the family planning clinics and declared abortion a crime against the state — all views that more closely resemble Rush Limbaugh’s.”

More often than not, women are at the receiving end of discrimination. But if we want equality for both genders, we need to identify the issues and start working towards solving them. “I want women to have the ability to succeed and pursue their dreams without the mere obstacle of their gender,” suggests Mehreen. Society must realise that feminism is for everyone — those who work for equal pay and those who are stay-at-home parents, alike. For Mehreen, her own vested interest makes her vouch for feminism, “I do identify as a feminist because I am a mother and I want my daughter to be given the same opportunities and chances as any other boy of her age,” she adds.

While some women might ‘hate’ men, there are others who respect the ones fighting for equality. There are women less accepting of others’ choices and also those who only want to give everyone a fighting chance. Feminism is not just a movement: it is a journey where we learn our way. As far as the argument between being a humanist over a feminist goes, women are half the world’s population. Working to empower them and addressing gender-based injustice is, therefore, a part of human rights activism. In this way, every feminist can be considered a humanist too.

Kanwal Tariq is a bio-technologist, a writer and a feminist. She blogs at Whirling Cosmos (kanwalmeghjii.wordpress.com) Design by Maryam Rashid

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En vogue

Saira Shakira’s latest collection will make you feel like a princess Designer: Saira Shakira Collection: Seeking Paradise Model: Amna Babar Photography: MHM at 360 Degrees Post: Guddu Shani Jewellery: Naheed Concepts

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 18, 2015

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 18, 2015

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Lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 18, 2015

By Adeela Akmal

Do you know the one thing that takes up the most space in a room? It’s the walls.

When you’re planning to renovate a room but are unsure of where to start, go to the walls. They might not exactly be the first thing you see upon entering the room but they certainly have the greatest effect. You can actually make the room appear smaller or bigger just by changing the colour and style of its walls.

For a long time now, the only preferred choice — when it comes to decorating rooms — has been paint. But now, trends seem to be changing and people are moving back towards the wallpaper fad of the yesteryears. The good thing is that this time around, wallpapers are coming in a variety of shapes, textures and colours and style, making them the must-have accessory in your house.

According to Saher Qadir, interior decorator and founder of Esque Designs, “Wallpapers are always a quick and easy way to fix a wall.” They are particularly useful when one is renting a room as most landlords are very particular about their property and often charge a hefty amount should it be damaged. With wallpapers, you have the liberty to choose any design you like and it comes off easily without causing much harm to the walls. “Clients are increasingly becoming aware of wallpaper options and more and more of them are leaning towards them,” says Saher. “They know wallpapers can be changed at any time without much hassle, as opposed to wall paint of panelling,” she further added.

There are many different types of wallpapers produced. Some of the main qualities include woodchip, pulps, and vinylcoated, embossed, flocks and hand-printed paper. Here in Pakistan, we may be a little slow in terms of following global trends but Saher is hopeful. “I cannot say we have a wide selection of wallpapers but what we do have is a good, niche market in which we could always do well with more wallpapers.

Few vendors can bring material from all around the world and almost everything I have ever had to search for has been available.”

Asad Khan of Asad I.A Khan Design Studio believes that wallpapers make for a soft and soothing application, livening up a living space and making it appear more welcoming. Unfortunately, people are still a tad reluctant when it comes to investing in the trend, seeing as how wallpapers are believed to ephemeral. “People build houses to last longer. Therefore, cosmetic architecture or motifs that we had earlier last longer than wallpapers.”

In terms of popularity, Asad agrees that

wallpapers are on the rise. “Stripes are really popular in wallpapers these days and they’ve always been. One should choose theirs intelligently, keeping in mind whether they are going to add paintings or windows or not. You could go with pastels or something really bold and loud,” he said.

“The right kind of wallpapers will dress the room as though for a party.” He also suggested opting for wallpapers that can be pasted on an entire wall, as opposed to those with borders, for a more natural look.

Adeela Akmal is a freelance writer. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Mass Communication. She tweets @AdeelaAkmal

• Wallpapers don’t last long in moist environments. It is advisable to stick to regular paint for bathrooms, kitchen and any other rooms that may have water seepage.

• To keep your wallpapers safe from scratches and stains, always be very careful when moving furniture.

• If wallpaper does get stained, you can wipe it off with a regular sponge.

There are also some washable varieties available in the market which makes life a whole lot easier.

• If you are going to have wallpaper in your personal room, try to pick one that depicts your personality and what you love. Be daring with your space!

You can experiment with different ideas and even mix and match any type of furniture that you like.

• Most people go for neutrals as these colours do not clash with the furniture.

• You can have something from the classics, printed and even textured depending epending on what theme you are going for.

PHOTOS: SAHER QADIR

Design by Eesha Azam

Domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, OCTOBER 18, 2015

By Arooj Waqar

Cottage cheese rolls

Make your own cottage cheese The ideal 10-minute snack

It may be available in the local markets but there is nothing like homemade cheese, whatever type it might be. Why not save up on some cash and prepare your own cottage cheese? It’s quick, easy and delicious to taste. Read on to find out how!

Ingredients: • • • •

Pasteurised skim milk 1 gallon White vinegar 1/2 cup Salt 1 and 1/2 tsp Heavy cream 1/2 cup

Ingredients • • • • •

Green chilies 2 Cottage cheese 2 cups Carrot (chopped) 1 Salt Black pepper

PHOTO: AROOJ WAQAR

Method: • Pour the skim milk into a large saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-heat.

• Once the milk is done, take it off of the stove, add in the white vinegar and stir for about a minute or two. This should cause the curd to separate from the whey. Once done, cover the pan and allow the mixture to rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes or so.

Method • Mix the chopped green chilies, carrot, cottage cheese, salt and black pepper in a medium-sized bowl to prepare the filling.

• Line readymade roll strips and fill them up with the cheese mix.

• Seal each roll with egg and deep fry until it becomes goldenbrown in colour.

• Serve warm.

Note: You may freeze the rolls for later use as well.

• Pour the mixture into a colander lined with a small towel, allowing it to drain for about five minutes. Once the liquid has passed through, gather the edges of the towel, rinse it under cold water for four to five minutes or until the curd has cooled completely. Be sure to keep the mixture moving throughout.

• Squeeze the cloth as dry as possible before transferring it to a mixing bowl.

• Add salt to the curd and mix, breaking it up into small, bite-size pieces.

• If you wish to serve the cheese immediately, stir in the cream. If not, store the curd in a container and place it in the refrigerator, adding the cream whenever you wish to use it.

Yield: 2 cups Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 5 minutes SOURCE: WWW.FOODNETWORK.COM

Woman of the week 8

Ready,

Set,

trainer Fitness

Go.

Being a woman is no easy feat.

You aren’t just burdened by the preconceived social notions regarding your gender but also have to face the derogatory comments thrown at you all the time. At times, women — irrespective of their age, aren’t safe even in their own homes!

Over the years, the emergence of the World Wide Web and social media has made it even harder for women to feel safe. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre’s Internet and American Life Project, almost 35% of teen girls have been forced to block or unfriend a person whose flirtation tactics crossed a line and made them feel uneasy. On the other hand, it was found that only 16% of boys reported the same issue. And what was worst was that the harassment shockingly came from people the victims knew personally!

In Pakistan, there may be a lack of accurate statistics to gauge the impact of cyber harassment, but the problem is, unfortunately, very prevalent. From the average internet-user to female celebrities, all have been subjected to the trauma. For instance, earlier this year, actor Mawra Hocane was harassed over Twitter for expressing an opinion that differed from that of her followers. The 23-year-old Mawra, therefore, was compelled to delete her tweets in order to put an end to the online bashing. Therefore, you should take measures to surf the internet safely.

The following pointers can guide you through an awkward cyber situation: Recognise the situation for what it is: Online harassment is also referred to as cyber-bullying. As upsetting as it can be, recognising the problem is extremely important, as opossed to ignoring it.

Engaging with the bully will only make matters worse as they feed off their victim’s misery and pain.

Make a copy of the message, photo or video to use as blackmail: Copy the URL of the specific webpage the harassment is happening on.

Then screenshot the webpage, just in case you need evidence against your harasser in order to get them reprimanded.

Contact the website operators: You can do this either by phone, email or perhaps a contact submission form that the website has online.

Request them to take the content down immediately and if necessary, keep repeating your request until the website has done the needful.

File a report with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA): If the matter gets out of hand, allow the National Response Centre for Cyber Crimes of the FIA to take over. Don’t be let down by the trouble you may have to go through in the process.

SOURCE: ABCNEWS.GO.COM

Design by Eesha Azam