UNMIK ON AIR

29 September 2003

Attitudes towards women in Kosovo

(Martina Hofmann)

Hello and Welcome to this edition of UNMIK on Air with Sputnik Kilambi and Martin Redi

Kosovan society is in for changes. Women are becoming more independent and are no longer willing to stand back in favor of men. Many women’s associations have sprung up in Kosovo, demanding more freedom and equality. A modeling agency may not strike most people as the best way to promote women’s rights, but according to Luan Oruci, president of Kosovo’s first international model agency, it can contribute to Kosovo. After the first fashion show organized by the agency, he says, one woman has already been hired as a model in Paris. Some people might think that exposing one’s body in order to be successful is a somewhat primitive way of getting ahead – as far as Oruci is concerned, this shows that Kosovo’s young women are grasping the chance to make a better life for themselves.

Luan Oruçi: Maybe some of them are realizing their childhood dreams, and that is a big pleasure for me regardless whether they continue or not. I think that the most important thing about this event is to show the world that we are also part of it, particularly of Europe, which is ahead of us in this field. We are trying to show that our image is not as they see us, we are trying to change it, to show our beauty and that we have a big potential.

Modeling is not the way for young women to become more independent, says Sevdie Ahmeti of the Center for protection of women and children. For one thing, not everyone can become a model, she says, adding that the career as a model is an extremely short one. Women rarely get modeling jobs after turning thirty, which leaves them little time to make enough money to live on for the rest of their lives.

Sevdie Ahmeti: Are we speaking of large numbers of young women that would do modeling? NO, we’re speaking of just a few of them who are potential candidates to become good fashion models and so on. So it’s not a job opportunity that all girls could go for. Only a few can apply for such jobs.

There is also a darker side to the modeling business – reports of eating disorders, drug use and sexual abuse trafficking show that modeling isn’t just about being rich and famous. Yet many women cling to the belief that being a model means earning a lot of money. And even if only a handful actually makes it, they are willing to take their chances. Model Zijadin Korqa explains what her thoughts are.

Zijadin Korqa: What do I expect? I have prepared a lot for this job, as any model should prepare professionally. Maybe this is a crucial moment of my life; maybe it will bring some changes in doing modeling work, which is my wish.

Like in other patriarchal societies, there are problems in Kosovo when women take the initiative and decide to go their own way. Women today are increasingly refusing to be dominated by men, says sociologist Ulpiana Lama, and this is also apparent in the way women deal with their bodies.

Ulpiana Lama: Things are changing. If a man did something, the woman was always to blame. And she had to cover herself, not to expose herself, adapt to the image that was created for her. Now she has the courage to expose herself, to show her body but she also decides the limit. I expose myself but I don’t want to be taken for granted. Which is very interesting, you can approach me but I am not yours. I use my body, but in the way I want.

Tradition dictates that women are expected to take on the role of their mother, caring for the household and the husband. Women’s role in society is often passed on from the parents. Attitudes towards women, and often the way women feel about themselves are thus deeply ingrained, says Sevdie Ahmeti.

Sevdie Ahmeti: It goes from generation to generation. Those who rule are not keen to give up their roles so quickly. But that’s another subject. Everywhere, men, who are in this position of ruler will not be ready to give up these advantages. But I would go back to the role of the mother. The mother is the one that breaks the rules and builds stereotypes. Because a mother will take more care of a male child than of a female child. Or will tell her, “Go and wipe the table!, whereas to the boy, she says, “Please go outside, have fun and then come back and we will eat.” You see these are the stereotypes we are building. So mothers are largely to blame and we have to work with them. Especially, since mothers are the first teachers of our children.

The future ahead is uncertain, but postwar Kosova women are slowly starting to speak up. Maybe not knowing exactly what to demand or how to get it, but the voices of women are being heard in society. As women start earning money, they also gain independence. Ulpiana Lama has high hopes for the future, and foresees a small revolution.

Ulpiana Lama: This act of freedom is in fact an act of rebellion. An act that brings a freedom of choice, which is maybe a new concept. Women are used to being seen in a traditional role, but increasingly, they are breaking out of the old stereotypes.

For now that freedom of choice comes with a price – women rarely have that choice once they get married. But with equal rights to education, job opportunities and equal salaries, women in Kosovo will be able to demand change. As the American singer Bob Dylan once said – the times they are a changing.

That does it for this edition of UNMIK ON AIR. Thank you for listening.