Masuda Khanum, bank employee, 23 years old, single, graduate of Women's University in Naranganj, Bangladesh.

"As for my parents and family: they never said don't work or do work. Working and pursuing a career has been my decision."

In college I studied Islamic studies and social welfare. I wanted to pursue a master's but when the opportunity to take a job came first, I took it. "Let's see what working for this bank will be about," I said to myself, "I'll try it." I like mixing with the poor, being able to work with the poor and see changes in daily life, but it is not an easy job. Office work is demanding and we don't have room to fall behind. I am new here, but already I have seen that our working system makes men and women equal. We try and teach people that they are strong, that if you try, and work hard, you will succeed. We ask them, upon taking loans, that they will work hard, be honest in their work, and keep their children in school. It is a rewarding job, working with this bank, but it can also be very demanding. If [men] thought that we couldn't work, then they would be bothered. But they know that we can do the job as well as anybody else, so they would never say anything. Ten, twelve years ago, you wouldn't have seen as many women working alongside men. Women who worked were viewed as somehow bad. Today, the academic results of female students [published regularly in the papers] prove that women are excelling, even passing men. People are seeing that women are people too.... But yes, there is still a lot that needs to change; we still see a focus on women's looks, for instance, rather than on their intellect or capabilities. That will come with time.

Translated from Bengali

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