Power of My Wing!!
By; Lubna Ali
We have all heard the saying “behind every successful man there is a woman” and we can change it to say,“Behind Every Successful Person is someone supporting them”.Let’s clarify that my definition of a successful person is not someone who has a prominent career, money or a fancy job designation, rather a successful person is who is an optimistic, who is always there to help people and shows empathy towards all.
Today’s world is full of evils such as dishonesty and betrayal, which is a fact and no one, can escape this brutal reality.Stepping out from this evil we need a person in our life that acts as our support system and is someone we can rely on at all times. I relate with women, as I myself am a woman and feel the pain of young girls to be as delicate as sweet birds who need encouragement. Both genders and people belonging to different cultures need support, freedom and care in order to meet their goals and become the best versions of them. Let us look at birds too- their mothers feed baby birds until their wings are not developed and the moment they gain strength to fly, they are encouraged to do fly. If the encouragement did not give, they would probably spend the rest of their lives in the nest and never learn to fly in their life.
Even the animals need encouragement, so what makes the world think that we women are exceptions? Without making an over-generalization woman are often discouraged to obtain higher education and work outside of their homes. Our wings clip at the moment we show any indication of flying away and this is a common cultural practice in our region. I barely escaped this cultural practice because I am bless with a supporting father and wise brothers. They were my support system (read: wings) or as I like to call them “Power of My Wings” that has allowed me to become what I am today. Their trust on me was the key by which my self-esteem rose and provided a steady foundation for my personal and professional development. During the early years, my brothers tried to make all possible arrangements for me and I am glad for their support as the initial road to make a career unless it was hard and rocky. There were concerns that if I stepped outside the home, I would become too independent, and no longer be the meek little girl with no voice. However, my brothers had my back and for their kindness, I shall be always grateful.
If my father and brothers had not supported me then I too would have been like the countless girls with broken dreams or a bird with clipped wings. They gave me confidence and trust with which I was able to fly away to achieve my dreams with the full knowledge that the nest I left behind will always be my safe place.
In order for women to become successful in Pakistan, they need the support of their male family members. We women in Pakistan are already mustering the courage to be step over the cultural barriers but these barriers will not disappear if the men of the family do not step up in their roles.Let us help your Golden Bird which is symbolic of all the girls that need our support and make them feel proud for you and for our Pakistani nation. Women can do so much more for the progress and development of Pakistan but they need the opportunity to serve their nations. Only then, we would be able to witness the changes in society as we wish to observe in Naya Pakistan. In the past, the Pakistani females’ workforce comprised of only 23% yet this percentage has increased in the past 20 years but the rate growth rate is very slow. Within our Pakistani culture, the male is the traditional head of the family and therefore, women need to be consciously encouraged to pursue their dreams.
The writer is CEO of Digital Essential Pakistan
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