Eastern promise

We spoke to four positive role models for Asian women who have all been driven by the need to prove themselves, stretch the boundaries and shatter the stereotypes.

Many Asian women from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds are no longer content to stay at home and bring up a family. Instead they are launching high-profile careers and leading the way for future generations.

Success has been a long time coming. It has not compromised their Asian identity but consolidated it and their personal achievements are fed back into the community. They show pride in their cultural heritage and believe they have proved that there is no reason to forego their religious and cultural practices to obtain their goals.

Asian women in the county are now finding themselves in the same position as feminists in Britain in the last century, claims Dr Pratibha Gupta.

She said: "Many, many years ago it was the same in Britain. Women were fighting for equality and opportunities and moving into work. This is what is happening in our culture now."

Qualified barrister Shaheen Musaret expected a host of racial problems when she was appointed the first Asian Mayoress of Hyndburn but was surprised at the warm reception from most people.

Shaheen says she has to try much harder than her contemporaries to be accepted.

"It is a struggle," she said. "People expect Asian women to be quiet, submissive, have no rights and do not know their own mind."

She believes the problem lies in Asian culture, not the Koran of her Muslim faith.

"The Koran does not discriminate," she said. "In true Islamic families women make many decisions but the culture holds women back. For example, when I learned to drive one man thought it was not right that I should have so much independence.

"The culture is stricter in England than in India because here Asians are fighting to hold on to their identity."

She added: "Many Asian men are chauvinistic and don't like to see females doing well. I am still very Asian despite my success. I don't smoke, drink or eat non-halal meat."

Dr Gupta feels she was passed over for medical posts because she was an Asian woman. "They would reject you for the job because you had a child or baby and they expected you to be at home," she said.

She stresses the need for education and independence to her three daughters, the eldest of whom is a medical student.

She said: "My father was a director of education in India. He was a great believer in women working. The attitude of women being child-rearers and men being breadwinners is being diluted. Women are working, educated and independent."

JP Roshani Swift believes younger generations are shattering the stereotypes but says older families remain fiercely traditional

She said: "Women's needs were always suppressed. There is a certain freedom and equality now. I teach a lot of bright, young Asian girls. You still get men who feel threatened by women working but you get that in every culture."

Roshani, a Hindu, said: "Women have to work at it, speak out and not be afraid to change stereotypes. I think I deserve success. I've worked at it.

"The trick is to find the balance between a happy home and a successful job.

"I hope I am a role model for younger people."

She said: "I take the JP role very seriously. You are helping people and modifying offending behaviour."

Nagina Choudry, who is currently setting up self-help groups for Asian women, added: "It is still a male-dominated world but it is recognised now that women can do the same jobs as men and want to work."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.