Feature: Egyptian women make their way in male-dominated jobs

In a conservative society like Egypt, women are often expected to stay home taking care of kids or to apply for some jobs more "suitable" for them, such as teacher, waitress or cleaner.

However, in this male-dominated society, the Egyptian women nowadays can also be successful in men careers with more confidence and independence.

On the yearly International Women's Day, women continue to fight for their rights and contribute to the progress towards gender parity.

FEMALE BUTCHER

"I have been working as a camel butcher since I was 10 to help my father earn more money," said 52-year-old Howaidah Mahmoud.

Howaidah, who is famous on the market with her butcher shop "Emperor of Camel Meat," told Xinhua that she has inherited this career from her father and her grandfather.

"Camel butchering is my family's career, I could never escape my fate," she said while mincing some meat for a lady.

Howaidah, who used to wear men accessories like rings and watch, said "I feel happy at work, and working helps my family."

She has two sons and two daughters as well as 10 grandchildren. She now owns three shops for camel meat in the highly populated area, Basateen of Cairo, with five to six male assistants.

"I always encourage my sons to be independent and have their own career," she said, adding that "women should work and share the responsibility with men."

BODY BUILDER

For Kholod Essam, 27, who is a captain and a trainer for body building and fitness, life is not only for money and marriage.

"I have been training on body building and fitness for five years because I dream to join a world champion and achieve good rank," she told Xinhua at her training club while shaping her muscles.

"I think I am the only girl who dreams to have big muscles in Egypt," she laughed and told Xinhua, "now I take the professional training two hours a day and six days a week, this schedule makes my life simple."

In an Islamic society, women are not allowed to expose the body, not to say showing them to the public, which makes the body building a male-dominated sport.

"To be honest, I have faced some problems," she said, telling Xinhua that "all the time, I'm surrounded by men during the training times, and always be stared, which makes me feel embarrassed."

"Also, my parents and friends don't support me, they always tell me that the muscles will reduce my marriage opportunities," Essam said with a little shyness.

"But I love the feeling of being strong, so I work in some clubs to earn money to pay for the training and I will continue," she said.

"My dream is also simple. I want to be the 'iron lady' in Egypt," she said with a confident smile.

FEMALE PLUMBER

While women and men believe they are equally able to attain positions, or earn money from the same channels, plumbing in Egypt has always been restricted to men only.

However, Seham Moghazy, 63, living in Darb al-Ahmar of Cairo, broke the traditional taboos.

"I started to think about earning money after divorce 13 years ago and I was with four children," Seham told Xinhua.

"Men are considered the leader and source of income for the family," she said. "I joined classes for sewing, cooking, but the income was not enough and I don't like the jobs."

Seham then decided to join the plumbing training classes and find herself suitable for this muscle-dependent job.

"At the beginning, my classmates looked at me as a weird old lady, but I asked them to give me a chance," she told Xinhua, "and then I graduated with a certificate at 49 years old."

Seham was very indomitable and has strong willing to succeed.

"It was a dream for me and I insisted to overcome all obstacles. I remember the first time when I went to fix some plumbing, I was so happy and I earned 80 pounds, which was more than enough for me," she said.

Gradually, more and more people started to hire her, especially the women at home alone who preferred a female plumber for safety.

"Thirteen years have passed and now I saved lots of money and owned a shop for plumbing tools," she added.

"When I was young, I thought my husband is the pillar of the family, but now I understand that, people should help themselves and women should be themselves," she said. Endit