7Berkeh – Sara Delavaran: After a long week filled with studying for exams, doing chores, helping my parents and assisting others in need, I often find myself wondering “where can I go to relax, gather some peace of mind, and simply unwind?” And the only answer that consistently comes to mind is—a café.
When my friends want to hang out, chat, and spend some quality times, where do we go? Of course, the café.
Suppose it is the weekend. I want to hang out with my cousin, have some fun, share a meal, and talk. But where can we go for a change of pace? We already visited each other’s houses recently—she came to mine just two days ago, and I was at hers last weekend. Today, it feels like there’s nowhere else for us to meet except… you guessed it—the café!
A Gerashi woman deserves more than just the café. From what I know about the Gerashi women around me, they never stop moving. They are restless, constantly juggling responsibilities. They wake up early, cook, clean, raise children—and for many, that’s just the beginning. They are teachers, lawyers, doctors, working full-time jobs alongside their endless duties at home.
And yet, at the end of a long, exhausting week, there often seems to be no space for them to truly unwind, no dedicated place to relax and recharge. And even sometimes, cafés aren’t the best option. They can be crowded with men, which might make some more traditional or conservative parents or husbands uneasy or strict about women going there. The one or two women’s-only cafés in Gerash do not help a lot.
In Gerash, according to the 2016 census, the population stood at 34,469. Obviously, nearly half were women, around 16,904. Half the population. And yet, as Angela Gittens once said, “we cannot ignore half of the population.” But isn’t that exactly what’s happening?
There was a time when hope was on the horizon. A women-only park was once planned, a place designed specifically for them—a peaceful space where they could walk, exercise, and gather without worries. It was a chance to give them something of their own, a piece of the city that acknowledged their existence.
But the park never came to life. The project, despite the excitement it generated, was abandoned. Financial problems, poor planning, and other obstacles got in the way. And just like that, the idea faded, leaving behind nothing but disappointment. The women of Gerash deserved that park. They still do.
We’ve talked before about the consequences of a lack of safe recreational spaces. It doesn’t just affect leisure—it affects mental health. It feeds into depression, especially among younger women.
A city that neglects its women ultimately neglects its future. So, the question remains: will this issue ever be reconsidered? Or will half the population continue to be overlooked?
