Ayesha Farooq is the first combat ready female fighter pilot in the Pakistani Air Force. She has felt welcomed and encouraged by her squadron in which she is the only female. This is in contrast to the attitude of many of her relatives.
''All
too often, we women take our gender
as a liability; it is our strength’’
Sharmin Obaid Chinoy is a Pakistani film maker who has made various documentaries. Her most recent work, 3 Bahadur, follow three children who save their community from a group of thugs. This film not only makes girls feel empowered, due to the female main character, but also shows the problems people are facing. Her short documentary, Humaira The Dream Catcher, is about a young girl who has set up a school in her village and is educating women about their rights. The negative mindset concerning education of girls seems to be from the men in the village who themselves haven't had much education showing that the root of the problem is lack of resources and illiteracy due to lack of education. The problem is not as black and white as some of the western world may think.
Zahida Zazmi, first female taxi driver in Pakistan. She has been a taxi driver since she became a widow with 7 children to care for. At first she kept a gun in the car and wore a burqa to feel safe. However once she was well-established she did neither and the reaction of police at chekpoints in rural, tribal areas such as the Swat Valley has been one of curiosity and amazement rather than negativity. She makes passengers of both genders feel secure and relaxed.
‘‘I am old but my courage is young’’
Pakistan is a country that receives mainly bad press. True it has a long way to go in terms of social change and getting rid of corruption. However with so much negativity in the news we often forget the good. Things are not as black and white as they seem and the stereotype of Pakistan being a backwards country in terms of rights for women, corruption, and men's attitudes is a stereotype which shouldn't determine how we think about this country. There is much more to it than that. it is complex and beautiful and women are not the only ones in Pakistan fighting for change and equality.
