Sema Çağlak

 

​DİYARBAKIR - Havva, who opened a greengrocer shop in Dicle to make a living, said: ‘’It is as if a woman came to this life only to take care of children, do housework and wash dishes. I did not accept this life imposed on women and decided to take my place in the spinning wheel of life.’’

 

Many professions in society are defined as ‘’men’s work’’ and invisible barriers are placed in front of women to work in these fields. However, women’s objection to masculine perceptions is to take part in these fields by making an effort. Havva Aksal, who lives in Diyarbakır's Dicle district, runs a greengrocer shop that we are ‘’accustomed to’’ run by men. Havva, who is 46-year-old, is not content with this and starts her university education by saying ‘’There is no age for studying’’.

 

‘I did not accept the life imposed on women’

 

Havva, who has been married for 30 years, states that her life has passed through constant struggle. “I was always trying to learn new things, I was thinking how I could stand on my feet,” Havva said and continued as: ‘’Then my family got me married. I left primary school before I got married. Afterwards, I finished high school from open education, entered the university exams and won the Faculty of Theology. Women's lives are limited to housework and children. It is as if the woman came into this life only to take care of children, do housework and wash dishes. I also did not accept this life imposed on women and decided to take my place in the spinning wheel of life. I decided to lead my own life. I may be late for society, but there is never an age to study or work.’’

 

‘We destroyed this perception in Dicle’

 

Stating that she and her aunt have wanted to do a business for five years, Havva said that they decided to open a greengrocer shop and that they had a lot of trouble when they first started. Havva said: ‘’To open a greengrocer shop, it was necessary to have a good understanding of trade. We did not know anything about trade. Because we were always at home and doing housework. Although we had great difficulties at the beginning, we started to understand the business and trade as we worked. After realizing it, we said, ‘There is nothing that women cannot do’. In addition, the greengrocer business was always seen as a male job in the society, but we destroyed this perception.’’

 

‘We built up our courage and succeeded’

 

Havva reminds that before she started her greengrocer business, she made dried vegetables and paste at home and sold fruits and vegetables from her mother's garden, as well as milk and dairy products. Stating that she had never opened a shop before, Havva said: ‘’I was not subject to any rent or fee while doing the works I have mentioned. But the grocery store I would open here would have expenses. It was going to be much different from the work I did at home, but I took on responsibility and the rest came. Yes, we still have difficulties technically, but we built up our courage and succeeded.’’

 

Finally, Havva underlines that women should follow their dreams under all circumstances, and draws attention to the fact that women are pioneers in society.