In the village of Manikganj, where gender role is often directed by tradition, Fatema’s story sets an example of unwavering determination and resilience. With her perseverance and dedication to work, she dared to dream beyond societal expectations. For the past 22 years, at Ayesha Abed Foundation, her skillful hands have been shaping pieces of wood into beautiful home décor.
Fatema’s story started in the corridors of a BRAC school, where she heard about an opportunity that could facilitate her earning money. With her family struggling to make ends meet, she made the choice to step into work, where she can bring financial support with a purpose. She discovered that she will be learning the wooden craft work of making frames for writing called “slet”. She chose to work in this section despite it being a heavily male-dominated work line in Bangladesh.
22 years ago, when she started working at Ayesha Abed Foundation (AAF) under Aarong, the centre manager sent her to Dhaka for woodwork training. With time, she excelled in this section and found her passion in making pieces of wood into crafts. Unlike other women in her community, she chose to remain unmarried and devoted her life to her work and the well-being of her family.
Fatema said that she would never marry, having observed the cruelty of marriage in her sister’s life. When she was younger, she saw her sister being brutally treated by her husband on numerous occasions. Now, in her 40s, she said that she keeps an eye on vulnerable women around her. Whenever she learns anything suspicious arising around her, makes herself to be there to seek the cause of commotion instantly to ensure no woman is mistreated.
In the present days, despite having troubles due to her gender identity; criticism for riding a bicycle, she still chose to be on her own. Instead of buckling under harsh words, she turns all the criticism into hard work.
With her hard work and determination for over two decades, she not only shaped the wood pieces but inspired other women to see the opportunity for work. Her preference for work in a section typically dominated by men represents a narrative of perseverance, self-dependency, and rebellion against social norms.