I never really realized the challenge of being a woman until I was in high school. Back then, I couldn’t go on dates unless my youngest brother accompanied me, and the whole evening was focused on pleasing him rather than my date. But my brothers never had such problems.  Afterwards, I couldn’t go to the university of my choice for fear that my mind would be infiltrated with liberal ideas, but my brothers travelled to other countries to study. Later, when my marriage crumbled, I was expected to act like a dutiful and loyal wife, in other words, a martyr. But no one asked my husband to do the same thing. It was only when the “shackles were removed” and I took control of my own life without any interference from anybody that I began to realize the power of being a woman.

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