An Egyptian woman who disguised herself as a man for 43 years in order to make a living for her daughter after the death of her husband was honored Tuesday by the government as the “ideal mother” of Luxor governorate.

The Social Solidarity Directorate of Luxor said it was awarding the “woman breadwinner” award to Sisa Abu Daooh for her years of hard work providing for her daughter and her grandchildren.

The 64-year-old Abu Daooh lost her husband while she was pregnant and after giving birth, she found herself without an income. Her situation was complicated by a local culture opposed to women in the work place, which forced her to dress as a man and work outside the home to support her baby daughter Houda.

She worked making bricks and polishing shoes in the street among other jobs. Eventually, she married off her daughter to a man who later fell ill and couldn’t work. So, being a resourceful woman, Abu Daooh kept up her work as the breadwinner of her family.

She donned a local “jilbab” – a loose, full-length robe with wide sleeves – as well as a white turban, or sometimes a men’s hat known as a “Taqiyah” and black masculine shoes.

“I preferred working in hard labor like lifting bricks and cement bags and cleaning shoes to begging in the streets in order to earn a living for myself and for my daughter and her children,” she said.

“So as to protect myself from men and the harshness of their looks and being targeted by them due to traditions, I decided to be a man … and dressed in their clothes and worked alongside them in other villages where no one knows me. She added that she worked in an array of jobs, from “polishing shoes, to construction to agriculture.”

At the moment, Abu Daooh says she is polishing shoes, which earns her a “decent income.”

Her daughter Houda said: “my mom is the one who still provides for the family. She wakes up every day at 6 a.m. to start polishing shoes at the station in Luxor. I carry the work kits for her as she now advanced in age.”

Abu Daooh gave thanks to those who had helped her along the way.

“Thanks to everyone who has helped me. I hope to see Egypt in a better situation.

http://kokofeed.com/2015/03/19/inspiring-see-why-woman-who-disguised-as-a-man-for-43-years-is-honoured-in-egypt/

Tell me something..

We have our own honourable too: Alamieyeseigha. Our president's role model

She deserve the honour/award!

what are you ladies waiting for?? thats your age mate out there hustling

She is totally deserving of the award! It takes a lot of courage to do that!
Shout out to the runz girls in the country,i hope u can learn something from her...

Wow... This is quite sad
So does the award ensure that she doesn't have to embark on such strenuous activity in order to fend for her family?

I mean, will the award provide the family the needed steady income?

If not, then Nigerians have NO right to complain about our government!

Wow! For 43yrs?

She has become a man be dat, she can never be a woman again

Mother's love

Much respect to the woman for the resourceful thinking. Just want to add that her appearance and face made it possible.

Imagine if she was endowed like Mercy Johson, how would it be possible

Moral lesson: Every disappointment is a blessing

The wickedness of the male dominated world
Why does a woman have to go through this in the 21st century?
That is the sad aspect of this story

babyosisi:
The wickedness of the male dominated world
Why does a woman have to go through this in the 21st century?
That is the sad aspect of this story

.

Gbam!!..500 likes

So inspiring!

babyosisi:
The wickedness of the male dominated world
Why does a woman have to go through this in the 21st century?
That is the sad aspect of this story

Its quite pathetic.

She's indeed a strong woman.

Meanwhile, why is her daughter not following in her footsteps. Her and her husband are really dumb for living off hand outs of her mother's efforts

^^^^^
The daughter probably has to take care of her disabled husband and children plus act as 'wife' i.e housekeeper, cook for her mum.

Nuffin greater than a mothers luv

Wow I'm touched

So there are places where women are still not allowed to work.?

The world still has a long place to go

babyosisi:
The wickedness of the male dominated world
Why does a woman have to go through this in the 21st century?
That is the sad aspect of this story

If you go there to talk about women liberation, it is the women over there themselves that will pounce on you.
Abeg make them enjoy their fate.
If they want to do something With their lives, no be person go tell them.

krall:
what are you ladies waiting for?? thats your age mate out there hustling

Agemate? Abi ur mama agemate?

SagePerv:
A real woman.

Not like all these baby women parading Nairaland, calling themselves feminist. And all that shít.

Be a real women. Influence the world around you.

It's actually funny,...just noticed it...this story clearly supports the picture pasted by Yacdoctora in one of her thread...and u just confirmed it...see as u call her "real woman"

SagePerv:
A real woman.

Not like all these baby women parading Nairaland, calling themselves feminist. And all that shít.

Be a real women. Influence the world around you.

Feminist are also changing the world.

Open your eyes and your mind and stop conforming to popular beliefs that feminists are "society's problem".

If not for feminist, your (potential) daughters won't have as much rights as they do (will).

Your understanding and/or definition of "real woman" is arbitrary.

cococandy:


If you go there to talk about women liberation, it is the women over there themselves that will pounce on you.
Abeg make them enjoy their fate.
If they want to do something With their lives, no be person go tell them.

You dnt hv to go far, come to the north, the average hausa woman sees the man who allows her to work as being "wicked" and "lazy"...yet they are the ones who complain most when he gives them #50 for "kayan miya" (ingredients for soup)

Agrika:

You dnt hv to go far, come to the north, the average hausa woman sees the man who allows her to work as being "wicked" and "lazy"...yet they are the ones who complain most when he gives them #50 for "kayan miya" (ingredients for soup)

Lmao. Ok na. That's why they will accept any rubbish to remain catered for.

babyosisi:
The wickedness of the male dominated world
Why does a woman have to go through this in the 21st century?
That is the sad aspect of this story

Bad governance.