Women overcoming challenges to assert equality

Sharmeela Rasool a shinning example for women’s forward march:

Suharshi PERERA

The story dates back to the origin of the mankind; the origin of temptation and sin. The fair creature moulded from a rib of the man for his companionship, tasted the ‘Forbidden Fruit’ succumbing to evil temptation.

Even after hundreds of centuries, the classical allusion continues to live on and the strife of the ‘fallen’ Eve to regain the ‘lost paradise’ is moving ahead, slowly but steadily.

Women have walked a long way past various cultural barricades over the centuries. She has asserted her rights considerably to create a gender neutral society but there’s a long way ahead, says Sharmeela Rasool, who hails from the Eve’s tribe, aspiring to bring about a positive change.

“History is all about ‘his-story’. Women have always been sidelined in history though they play a very crucial role in forming and nurturing life and community,” she says.

Rasool being a young, enthusiast lawyer shuns categorisation. “We all are human beings so why need categories? Our Constitution says all are equal. However, it also says women should be given special privileges because she plays multiple roles in nurturing society. I think she has to be considered ‘special’ if she chooses to contribute to the betterment of society while preserving womanhood,” she notes.

Is there a need to observe a special day (March 8) for women? “Of course”, she agrees. “Women should be celebrated every day. The world cannot exist without them. The women’s day is important to remind society of the value of women and to motivate women and others who work for them.”

Cultural perceptions are deep-rooted in our society. It has taken centuries to come this far for women to change social perceptions about them.

So if women are to reap the benefit of this day, the community should involve in the process along with resources to bring about a change. This day helps awaken her conscience to think ahead and initiate that change, the young lawyer observes.

“It is a hand in hand process. The woman has to initiate it and the community should support. Every woman is special in her own way. We need to realise our potential to choose the right path.

My religion -Islam says ‘Tie your camel and trust in God’. No one else can help if you deny your ability and potential. You should make an effort to win your way and the support by her family is supplementary,” she adds.

Rasool has strived a lot to achieve success in her life. Born to a family of two brothers and one sister and educated at St. Anthony’s Convent, Dematagoda and Visakha Vidyalaya, she moulded her talents and skills to become a promising lawyer in the country.

She fulfilled her parents’ wish and studied BSc in microbiology. But her interest rested with law which she somehow conquered. She got married just after her Advanced Levels. She did not fail to achieve what she aspired to be, with the support of her husband - a chartered accountant and her family which she calls very crucial in her success.

She is now a young mother of two - a son and a daughter. “ I love arguments, challenges and to question. Taking up law was not accidental. I lived with that seed of hope. Law is an integral aspect of life which greatly interested me,” she recalls.

General civil and criminal law treat everyone on an equal scale though there are loopholes in implementation. However, personal laws like Kandyan law, Muslim law and Jaffna law demonstrate certain inequalities, she says.

“Law ensures equal treatment and there are positive reactions in recent times to ensure maximum justice to women, within the sphere of law.

For instance, the Witness Protection Law and the Victims’ Law are at the Bill stage to protect traumatised women subject to rape and harassment.

Today a victim of domestic violence can obtain a Restraining Order from courts to demarcate the boundaries of the house while living in the same house, blocking the perpetrator from entering her area till the inquiry is over,” she explains.

Empowerment cannot be brought about only by law enforcement. Individual effort is vital. According to her, the empowered woman is one who deals with day-to-day problems successfully.

“It could be an uneducated woman in a rural village if she decides the right thing for herself and deals successfully with all difficult situations in her life. She need not be on a platform to be empowered,” she says.

She believes that media projection of women also needs to change. “Media creates the mindset of marginalisation. Only celebrities, beauticians, actresses get highlighted in media. Where are the women who earn foreign exchange, sportswomen and professionals? Why can’t we have separate columns and pages to talk about them? Why can’t they also be placed in the mainstream of news?” Rasool questions.

Rasool once appointed the Head of the Human Rights Bureau says she does not discriminate when there’s call for justice. “In certain cases men are more vulnerable. So we cannot categorise. We appear for humanity”.

She is now attached to the Asia Foundation and she is pursuing a Masters in Law from the Colombo University.

“I want to emerge a strong and active human rights lawyer to help the poor and needy. That’s my ultimate satisfaction. I work according to my conscience and that’s how I go on the right track,” she observes.

We all have thousands of dreams and hopes-career/ professional success, good education, happy family and the list goes on. But at the end of the day it all boils down to one. “Peace of mind. That’s what all women want,” she concluded.

‘Sebaliya’ up in arms

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Sri Lankan women will strike a new chord to mark International Women’s Day with ‘Sebaliya’ coming alive on March 9 in Melbourne, Australia.

The Pilisarana Inc Association in Melbourne headed by Dr. Padma Herath has organised the fund-raising musical event for the Sri Lanka Ex Army Women’s Association.

This is another noble act by Sri Lankans living thousands of miles away and it is the first time the work of the Sri Lanka Ex-Army Women’s Association is being recognised in this manner.

In 2007, the Association headed by then President Capt. Victoria Lakshmi organised a commemorative event at the Ranaviru Park in Mailapitiya off Kandy to commemorate the 20 women soldiers killed in the battlefield along with all other war heroes.

There had been many commemorative events for war heroes but this was the first time in history of Sri Lanka that ex-service women gathered honour their fallen female comrades. An article appeared in the Daily News about this event went a long way and attracted our brothers and sisters in Australia.

The Sri Lanka Ex Army Women’s Association was formed with only five members who left the Women’s Corps prematurely. By the time the first batch of women soldiers completed 15 years of service to retire, the Association was ready to welcome and guide them to adjust to civil life. They are the youngest retired women in the country as none of them exceeded the age of 38 years at the time of retirement.

This is a huge challenge as they still have a long way to go with a new lifestyle after retirement unlike women who retire at the age of 55 or 60. Some of them got married and gave birth to children after retirement or their children were very small when they retired as mothers.

They were not exposed to civil society and had little or nor knowledge about the outside world and opportunities. Lack of English and computer knowledge were barriers blocking getting employment.

At the beginning most were confined to homes happily looking after their children who were neglected while serving in the Army. But the things became harder for them with the rising cost of living and bring up children. They felt the need of a self-employment project very badly.

The Association which was confined to maintain and develop the comradeship among its members and promoting values later implemented some vocational training to develop a new skill to started self employment projects to meet new challenges.

Women who retired in the field of nursing were in high demand and found jobs easily. Some others were given training on sewing, beauty culture, bakery courses, mushroom cultivation and montessori teacher training.

Scholarship schemes were launched to encourage their children and a death donation fund was also started. A number of leadership programmes were conducted for children. Looking after the families of women soldiers killed in action and commemorating them annually became a project.

Although women were recruited to play a non-combatant role they were compelled to go to operational areas.

They should be commended for facing all these challenges while playing the role of the mother and the, wife.

The Association has over 300 members and it is governed by an executive committee and project chairpersons.

In 2005 the Association celebrated its 10th anniversary on a grand scale where all the families of women soldiers killed in action were invited and given cash donations. A book titled “Private Devi” authored by the founder was launched to raise funds.

Today the Ex-Army Women’s Association has a branch in Madawachchiya for the convenience of members in Anuradhapura district and plans are under way to set up a branch in Kandy.

A branch was established in the UK comprising members who migrated to UK after retirement. Lt. Col. Janet Lawson of the British Army considered the ‘mother’ of the Women’s Corps in Scotland was given the first ever honorary membership of the Association.

The writer is the Founder President of Ex-Army Women’s Association.

Skin foods that nourish from inside and out

Tropical smoothie, papaya-mango souffle, or chocolate, anyone? No need to worry about the calories; these desserts aren¦t the kind you eat at your favourite restaurant. They¦re the kind you slather on your skin at a spa. There is a trend in using food ingredients in spa treatments and products.

Although nutrients are not absorbed through the skin, foods including antioxidants such as beta carotene and vitamin A can neutralise free radicals on the skin¦s surface and protect the skin.

Many of the food-based spa ingredients are rich in alpha hydroxy (fruit or milk sugar-based acids) that not only exfoliate the skin, but can also help lessen the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and sun damage. After consulting aestheticians, spa directors and spa product representatives, we compiled a quick list of common food ingredients you may see offered in spa treatments or skin care products.

Carrot nourishes and regenerates the skin through carotene oils. Coconut moisturises the skin. Its fatty nature provides high doses of moisture.

Chocolate hydrates the skin and leaves it feeling soft with a great glow. Coffee stimulates skin circulation, helps reduce cellulite, exfoliates, and promotes skin¦s natural healing. Honey hydrates and exfoliates the skin by helping dissolve dead skin. (This is one of the few food ingredients that actually works when applied straight out of your kitchen.) Egg whites tighten the skin.

Milk exfoliates the skin through lactic acids. (Avoid if you have dairy allergies.) Mustard warms and relaxes sore muscles.

Orange has vitamin C which helps strengthen the skin.

Papaya and pineapple exfoliate the skin through fruit enzymes. Pineapple-papaya masks are a common and powerful combination.

Sugar cane exfoliates the skin and refreshes it by helping dissolve dead skin cells.

Yoghurt has lactic acids which exfoliate the skin.

Deccan Chronicle