Shenaz Hossain, mother of two, landlord of family's three story office spaces.

"Yes, I still cover my head when I walk around this town, that is out of choice...."

Women today are doing everything alone. It's not like there isn't a tradition of women leadership here. Look at our prime minister, the heads of our political parties. Maybe they are not perfect leaders, but you do not see a woman leading, say, America. My husband has been out of the country [on and off] for 13 years but I have no problem doing everything alone—life, children, career. Day to day, I run this household. I rent the top floor of this building to Pubali Bank, the second to Grameen Bank, and I also manage care of the family's potato farm. I see to it that my children are taken care of and that I remain active. Yes, I still cover my head when I walk around this town, that is out of choice, but [the head covering] doesn't stop women in Bangladesh today from doing everything.

Translated from Bengali

This online exhibition was created in December 2001. To reach Fariba Alam, email her at faribaalam@yahoo.com