When I was studying in UK, I worked for a project called ethnic minority school achievement. Most first generation Pakistani students had trouble doing their homework because their parents didn’t speak English and couldn’t help them. So a group of us who spoke Urdu started going to various schools after hours to help these  kids do their homework.
I met a lot of interesting girls. One was S.
She came from a very orthodox family. She wore a burka.Her father dropped her to school each morning and her brother waited for her right outside the school gate each evening. Her father even managed to keep her out of the sex ed class by telling the school authorities that “my daughter is very innocent and we don’t want you to corrupt her moral values”

When I met S, she was wearing a figure hugging top and a very short skirt ! She had so much of garish make up on her face that she looked ghastly. She only stayed back for the homework programme because she didn’t want to go back home early. 15 minutes before the program ends, she goes to the washroom, change her clothes, remove the make up and wear the burka.

She reminded me about the bird in a cage..

When I had Yaya, I wanted to raise her “free” from cultural taboos. Happily I gave consent for the sex ed classes when she was in grade 7.
Yesterday while we were having our dinner my son said ” man, we have sex ed this term”
“Oh, Poor you !! I skipped it” replied Yaya.
“What do you mean?” I asked and I heard an “oops”, followed by “darn” followed by a very sheepish smile.
“Mom” She mumbled.
I looked at her knowing very well that I had given her the consent to attend the program.
“Go on, explain” I told her.
“Well, Mom, I really didn’t want to attend it, so I ‘conveniently’ lost the consent form”

Ah.. the progress!!