Introducing myself and my journal: Wings under the bombs and burqah

Tanyaabbas

Wings under the bombs and burqah

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• Introduction

About Me:
As a female journalist in Pakistan, you are regularly exposed to the highs and lows of the society. Though my field of journalism (I.T) is not as aggressive and intense as say politics, you can't be a journalist – man or woman – and keep politics, stereotypes and conflicts at bay. However, one thing all journalists would agree on is the fact that gender discrimination is a ruthless combination of all three. In all honesty, I know little about all the women in Pakistan; but one claim I can make is that I know what it's like to be a woman in Pakistan. Through this community, I wish to let other people know that Pakistan is more than the place where Osama Bin Laden was allegedly found; I wish to tell everyone that the women here are more than psychological victims of religious fundamentalism, silenced under the burqah. Like young women everywhere else, young ladies in Pakistan have a vision; they have a voice. And if they find it, they have wings to fly and explore creative and competitive avenues. I say this not just for the privileged women, who are educated and who have access to resources that put them at an advantaged position. I say so also for those who walk miles in the blazing deserts of Thal to fetch drinking water for their families; who sell tissues and combs at the traffic lights; who provide services in the infamous Heera Mandi ("Diamond Market"). 'Wings under the bombs and burqah' is not just my journal for this community; it aims to be a gallery of the aspirations of young women in Pakistan.

My Passions:
Writing, cooking, blogging and sharing

My Challenges:
My integrity, my over-analytic mind and my curiosity

My Vision for the Future:
A community with transparency, accountability and memory good enough to remember and learn from mistakes made in the past.

My Areas of Expertise:
Research, technology, media studies and conflict