Like it or hate it, nowadays pink is pretty much associated with little girls. Some argue that this is gender stereotyping, others find it cute.
Like it or hate it, nowadays pink is pretty much associated with little girls. Some argue that this is gender stereotyping, others find it cute.
It’s a cliché that probably won’t go away anytime soon, but now, thanks to the efforts of one brave young woman, the delicacy of pink has taken on a powerful new glow.
Her name is Humairah Jassat, a 22-year-old Muslim from Johannesburg.
Jassat is the initiator of South African Pink Hijab Day, which sees women wear brightly coloured head scarves to raise awareness about breast cancer, stressing early detection.
Five years ago Jassat realised that many members of her community, Azaadville south of Johannesburg, had lost their lives to breast cancer. When her aunt was also diagnosed she decided to become proactive in creating awareness about the disease.
She came across an online initiative started by American Muslims who wore pink hijabs to create breast cancer awareness through Pink Hijab Day. Jassat decided to organise a local version of the event at her school. Next, she called all the Muslim schools in the country, requesting them to do the same.
Participants weren’t just asked to wear their pink head scarves, but also to donate them to cancer patients in government hospitals. By doing this, Jassat got over 10 000 people across South Africa to wear their pink scarves and donate them to cancer wards.
“I knew that some of the women were uncomfortable with the hair loss that comes with chemo therapy and the pink scarf was a way of making them feel good about themselves,” Jassat said in an interview with City Press.
She also believes that Pink Hijab Day allows others to see Muslim women beyond the stereotypes.
She wanted people to see that “although my head may be covered, my mind is not shut, nor are my thoughts veiled.”
For her initiative, Jassat won the 2010 African Leadership Academy Innovation Prize, which rewards young leaders for the creation of a sustainable and effective venture to improve their community.
The next year she was invited to be one of the young women who spent time with America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, during her visit to South Africa.
Her calling has taken Jassat all over the country. During her travels she says she realised that many women in rural areas could not afford bras. Jassat then started the Pink Drive, where she collects bras and donates them to women in need. She also educates them about healthy living.
Ultimately, Jassat has taken a gender stereotype and turned it into a prototype of strong, independent and generous femininity.
For Women’s Day 2013, this is the type of all-round ‘girl power’ we need.
The information in this article was sourced from Marie Claire magazine and City Press newspaper websites.
