Everywoman – Your favourite moments

 

In 1996 Zeinab lost her husband in the Hezbollah-Israeli conflict in Southern Lebanon. Her daughter Amal lost a father.

 

In August 2006 history repeated itself when Amal lost her husband of two years. Now he is a celebrated Hezbollah martyr and Amal has very mixed emotions on what happened.

 

While her mother Zeinab has embraced the Hezbollah way – martyrdom -with the wish that her sons will someday become martyrs, Amal ultimately desires peace. 

 

On one hand she tells of her pride in what she perceives as his heroism but her strong sense of loss is expressed in a heartfelt wish for the violence to end for her daughter’s sake.

 

And finally we travel to the outskirts of Durban, South Africa. The continent of Africa has been ravaged by the spread of Aids and in a place where poverty and violence are rife the women have come up with their own unique solution.

Every Wednesday morning the women in the small township of Natal gather under the giant fig tree, known as the Healing Tree. There they share stories, offer support and talk about their problems.

 

The ordination of women remains an issue for many of the world’s religions, as they struggle to reconcile traditional beliefs with modern life.

 

So when Bikkhuni Dhammananda wanted to be ordained as a Buddhist nun she had to leave her native Thailand where it is forbidden for women to be ordained.

Now she has returned home and she is determined to reverse 700 years of entrenched belief that women cannot be monks.

 

In recent years many parts of the Arab world have been establishing themselves as leaders in luxury retail, with Middle Eastern women considered some of the most knowledgeable and fashion-forward shoppers in the world.

 

But a question remains – what happens when a woman wants to look fashionable and at the same time modest? Can the more traditional look be adapted for contemporary times?

The good news is that designers and retailers are starting to sit up and take note of this growing lucrative market.

 

 

 

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