'Feeling comfortable and respected'

Nasiriyah café manager reflects on respect for working women in the city

2024-09-27 | 18:20

NASIRIYAH— For over a year, Marwa Hussein has confidently managed a large hall in the “Akad Al-Hawa” café in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar province. She expressed gratitude for the respect she has received from the city’s residents, emphasizing that she has never encountered harassment during her time working at the café.

“The people of Nasiriyah, known for their cultural sophistication, do not view women in the workforce as controversial,” Hussein told 964media. “In civilized societies, working women feel comfortable and respected in their workplaces, without any harassment or inappropriate remarks.”

The young manager, in her twenties, oversees the needs of hundreds of daily customers, demonstrating focus, patience, and composure. Most patrons at the café, located on Baghdad Street in central Nasiriyah, are poets and intellectuals, which, according to Hussein, makes her job easier due to their politeness and respect.

“Working in the café is like any job that women can perform and excel at,” she said. “I work eight hours a day, managing all the hall’s orders, welcoming customers, and ensuring their requests are met.”

Hussein added that she feels very comfortable in her role, and from her first day on the job, she hasn’t received any inappropriate comments from customers.

Ali Kazem, the café owner, shared with 964media that the café has become a hub for poets, writers, and even politicians, due to its central location and spacious setting. “Since the café opened, it has attracted many notable figures from the governorate,” he said.

Recently, the café was featured as a filming location for an episode of a local television series, Dhi Qar Welcomes You: Heaven and Hell, which has been airing for several weeks.

Customer Hassan Abbas praised the café’s peaceful and traditional atmosphere, saying, “After work, I enjoy coming here to relax, meet friends, and welcome guests from other governorates.”

Another regular, Ali Al-Mansouri, noted that the café’s inclusive environment supports both men and women working together, which he described as “a healthy and progressive trend.”