Dr Eman Sharobeem has dedicated her career to advocating for women and immigrants. Born in Egypt, she was married at just 14 to a man 12 years her senior and was subject to domestic violence first hand, before being widowed at 29 with two young sons.
Rising above the most difficult of circumstances, Dr Sharobeem holds a doctorate in psychology, a master’s degree in social science, and has worked as an ambassador for the United Nations. Now, she is Director of the Immigrant Women’s Health Service, and a Commissioner on the Community Relations Commission of NSW, amongst other key roles in improving conditions for immigrants and women in Australia.
Dr Sharobeem’s tireless work led her to be a finalist for the 2013 Premier’s Award for Woman of the Year, and this year, she was selected as Australia Day Ambassador.
At a recent celebration for International Women’s Day, Rescu. sat down with this inspiring woman to find out what expert advice she has for women hoping to make a real change in their communities.
Dr Sharobeem believes that the key to improving conditions for Australian immigrants lies in integration. Particularly when it comes to addressing the dramatic shift in cultural beliefs.
‘There is a lot to be done in that field,’ she says. ‘We’re talking about changing mindsets, changing the deep cultural roots of a human being. We’re taking away an accepted act from these people and their behaviour before. For example, not only the child brides, but when we sit and explain to new migrants that Female Genital Mutilation is not actually a right practice, that it’s not a cultural practice.’
So what can we do to help? Welcome immigrants into the community whole-heartedly and help to introduce them to Australian cultural practices. It is through integration that Eman believes a true form of multiculturalism will be achieved.
‘What happened is, we developed communities in different countries – you go to Fairfield for example and you call it ‘Little Baghdad’, you go to Leichardt and you call it ‘The Italian Land’,’ she says. ‘The idea of multiculturalism is not about pockets of cultures, it’s about melting cultures’
‘Integration is not about government policies; it’s about people’s policies,’ says Dr Sharobeem. ‘It’s about people interacting with each other. It’s how to relate to other people.’
When it comes to helping women in our communities, Dr Sharobeem’s message is simple, be vigilant. ‘Act, be vigilant, don’t stop,’ she says. ‘Don’t be ignorant, attend to any issues of concern when you see it.’
‘Listen. Understand. And try to listen to unspoken words. Because sometimes people will say ‘I am fine’, and you will see the suicidal words inside. You will read the miserable life.’
Vigilance is a value that Dr Sharobeem practices in her own life, as demonstrated in a personal story that she shared with RESCU.
‘I was driving one day and I saw an argument on the sidewalk between a man and a woman,’ she says. ‘In this argument the man was raising his hand and I was sure that in one of these moves it would hit her face. I stopped the car and said ‘is there anything I can do to help you be calmer?’ He swore at me, he started to attack me, and I gradually took him physically away from her to me. I took his attention – because I’m a stranger, he’s not going to hit me first. I took him to my car, went in my car, closed the door, and he started bashing my car. I got the bashes out, I got the anger out – that’s all that I wanted to do. By that time, I was calling the police…. We all need to be vigilant.’
Despite all the darkness that she has been faced with during her life, Dr Sharobeem’s message is ultimately one of hope and positivity. She says that it is her positivity that attracts strangers to her, and helps her to create a real change in her community.
‘What we’re lacking now, as human beings, is the ability to relate to each other, to have a smile on your face when you walk in any place.’
Rescu. proudly supports the Asylum Seekers Centre, and Lou’s Place, organisations that work tirelessly to assist refugees in our community.
Image Credit: australiaday.org.au
