ŞÎNYAR BAYÎZ

Sulaymaniyah - Women, namely mothers, are life-givers and they are the first teachers of life. But their prominent roles are always ignored. Their efforts are ignored and viewed as second-class citizens.

Hacer Bekir, a young woman living in Sulaymaniyah, drew attention to the roles of women in their society and said, “Although women make great efforts in Kurdish society, men’s efforts are visible and women’s efforts are ignored. Although women shoulder the responsibility of housework and educating their children, their labors and efforts are invisible. If our society’s point of view towards women changes, violence against women will end.”

Patriarchal mentality

Geşbûn Elî stated that women are disregarded in Kurdish society due to the patriarchal mentality. “Because of this mentality, women no longer believe in themselves,” she said.

“Women are fighters”

Expressing her thoughts on the roles of mothers and women in society, teacher Awaz Hesên said, “The responsibility of the family and the new generation falls on women’s shoulders. However, the roles of mothers and women are always weakened in Kurdish society. A healthy community values the mothers’ roles in their society because mothers and women make great efforts. Fathers also have responsibilities, but less than the responsibilities of women. In addition, women and mothers always struggle and resist. They are always fighters. Despite that, men’s efforts and labors are visible in society instead of women’s efforts and labors.”

“Women should protect the roles they have assigned for themselves”

Emphasizing that women used to shoulder only the responsibilities at home but now they also work outside, Şewnim Mehemed said, “Women shoulder the responsibilities of housework and educating children. But their labor is invisible. Women should believe in themselves and protect the roles they have assigned for themselves.”