Natasha Khawja || Community Profile

A new series Girls of the World will be introducing is our community member profile. Every month we'll interview and share a new woman's story. Together we can celebrate one another and learn from each other's amazing experiences. This month I had the pleasure to get to learn a little bit about Natasha Khawja. Below is our interview.

Q: What’s your name?

A: Natasha Khawja. Q: How old are you?

A: 30. Q: Where were you born?

A: Dallas, Texas. Q: Where do you live now?

A: Los Angeles, CA.

Q: Where were your parents born? When did they move to the US?

A: My parents were born in Pakistan. They moved to the US in 1989. They now reside in Toronto, Canada. Q: Being a child of two immigrants, how has this impacted your childhood and where you are now?

A: Being a child of immigrants had its pros and cons. Work ethic is the biggest thing my parents instilled in me. They lead by example because as immigrants, they had to work twice as hard to prove their position in this country. The biggest cons: like the pro of them working hard, it was also a negative. As a child, I never understood why my parents each had two jobs and were running in and out to take care of my 3 siblings and I. My parents worked a lot more than my friend’s parents who had been born here. There was also this unknowing guilt you develop as a child of immigrants. A sort of fear that gets instilled because we are reminded time and time again that we may not belong in this country because we are “different”. Well into adulthood, I work extra hard to shake that feeling and remind myself I deserve the same opportunities as the next American citizen. Another con of growing up as a child of immigrants was the hardships my parents had to face to try and obtain green cards and securing their positions in America. Then there’s the work you put in to finding balance of being Pakistani but also American. You set out on a path of self discovery a lot earlier than say your peers because you want to try and maintain your cultures core values while also showing patriotism to the country your parents now call home.

It’s important to note that after years of trying, my father was not able to receive a green card in America and was facing deportation. My parents applied for citizenship of Canada in 1999 where they moved our family in 2000. I can honestly say I am so thankful for all of the pros and cons because it taught me to be a fighter, a dreamer, and a doer. I’m in LA as an actor and creating films that will represent those that share the visions, plights, struggles and triumphs that my parents and the children of immigrants face.

Q: How did your parents help to make you the strong woman you are today?

A: My parents had a dream. An "American Dream". Through sheer determination and hard work they came to America and raised good citizens. They taught us to do the right thing. Growing up and witnessing these two people with 4 kids who spoke broken English at the time taught me to get up everyday and move forward regardless of what may be going on around me. Their stories and their hard work made me want to pursue a career in entertainment so I can be a face for those that were told they can’t or they don’t belong. I am proud to be here today as the child of Mohammad and Shaista Khawaja who had a bigger dream for their family when they were growing up in Pakistan. Dare to dream. This is the lesson I hold dearest to my heart thanks to my parents.  Q: Have you experienced misogyny or sexism in your everyday life? How? How have you tried to stop this?

A: I had to chuckle (at this question)... because I experience it every day. Unfortunately, this was something prevalent in our culture and I had to stand up and break the norm. I left home 8 years ago in pursuit of my dreams. Women don’t usually leave home unless they’re married which I am not. My day job is predominantly males and I am told often I can’t do things like lift something heavy for example. I got in the gym and started lifting weights to show them otherwise. I’ve been told numerous times in my life to be quiet and sit there because that’s a woman’s place. Wrong. I refuse to adhere to that. I refuse to accept there is anything in this world a woman can not do. We are strong and powerful. My mom was always an example of a strong woman because she broke the norms of where she came from and I aspired to have her strength. I also work hard to read and educate myself so when someone comes to me with the “you’re a woman so you shouldn’t...” I have facts to back up “I’m a woman so I absolutely can!” Q: What does “Feminism” mean to you? Do you consider yourself a feminist? How has the women’s rights movement impacted you?

A: Feminism to me means equality. It’s a word that represents strength and holds power. I absolutely consider myself a feminist because I’ve had to fight a lot of gender stereotypes to get to the place I am now. Being the daughter of Pakistani Muslims was and is always something I take pride in but some things needed to change. No, my role as a woman is NOT to just get married and have kids. Marriage and motherhood are beautiful, beautiful things but I refused to let them be the only things that defined me as I’d been told in my culture. The women’s right movement impacted me deeply. As someone who has faced sexual harassment, been told I’m not good enough because I’m a female, or the only way I’d get a job was to “maintain” myself like a lady, I felt a sigh of relief when women started to band together to form the women’s right movement. We needed to be heard. We needed there to be change. I became less afraid to speak out when I felt I wasn’t being treated the same as males or being pitted against other females because of society’s expectations on women.  Q: What does Girls of the World’s motto, “Be Strong, Be Beautiful, Be You” mean in your eyes? How can you inspire others around you to embrace these three qualities?

A: Ah, this put a smile on my face. Be strong: be fearless. Go forth in your journey without fear. You have the strength within you, you just have to reach inside and use it to your advantage. Be Beautiful: be the best you in all its glory. Just be because that is where your beauty lies, ladies. Connecting back to the first one, be strong because that is a friend of your beauty. Be you: you are more than enough. Be unapologetically you! In all that you’ve been put here to be, shine sisters. You’re so special and being you will help to make this world a better place. And we need you! Q: When you were growing up, did this sexism and/or gender stereotypes play a role in your growth? How did it? Did you notice it happen to anyone around you?

A: (Sexism) Absolutely played a role in my growth. I had to fight extra hard to protect my dreams. I have female family members who were guilted into arranged marriages while their brothers were not. I know women who were not allowed to do things or encouraged to be their best selves whilst the males around them were. There was a spark inside me early on that desired and longed for equality.  Q: Has anyone inspired you (famous or friend) to make a change and get involved in the women’s rights movement?  If so, how did they do so? If not, do you think you could inspire someone else? How would you do so?

A: I garner inspiration from almost every woman and girl I meet or read about. Some of my biggest inspirations are: My mother who left an arranged marriage where there was abuse and raised her 2 kids as a single parent until she met my father. Oprah. Need I say more when this name is mentioned? Mukhtar Mai who I recently learned about through an opera that was centered around her. Mukhtar is a survivor of gang-rape as an honor revenge and went on to become one of Pakistan's most prominent rights activists. Malala Yusafzai, a young girl fighting for her right to education in Pakistan when she was shot by the Taliban. Jada Pinkett Smith has been one of my biggest influences in life. Hearing her speak in interviews inspired me to want to help bring about change and help others live their best lives.  These powerful women listed here are just the few I could think of off the top of my head. I am truly moved and changed from every encounter I have with women from all walks of life. 

Q: In the age of everything electronic, how do you think social media has impacted feminism and women’s rights?

A: I think social media has given women a platform to speak out and be unapologetically themselves. It has allowed women to not only express themselves but to share their stories with others and inspire change. Being a strong woman is no longer looked at as a bad thing but encouraged and welcomed. Social media has allowed us to have open and honest conversations about things that need to change leading us to fight for women's right and no longer be afraid to say loud and proud we are feminists, we are our sister's keepers and we refuse to accept your opinions or put your limitations on us. Q: Unfortunately sexual assault and rape (culture) is a large part of many women’s daily lives, have you noticed this in your life and community? Have you done anything to help? What do you think you could do to stop this?

A: I've always felt the urge to help protect others. Maybe it's the fact that I'm an older sister. Who knows. But specifically when I am around young women in the workplace, I've found myself standing up for them when males who are older and should know better try to take advantage. It's the unfortunate reality that we as women face in our everyday lives and communities. We can't be "too nice", we have to be careful how we dress, sit and converse. To me, it's all been excuses made to protect the bad behavior of those that should be faulted for the way they prey on others. I think we are going in the right direction of speaking about it. We can not change things we don't know about. I believe we need to encourage and PROTECT other females to speak out about their experiences and not be afraid. We also need to teach them that it is NOT their fault and they shouldn't be made to feel so. We shouldn't have to change who we are to fight off harassment or rape.  Q: If you could leave a message with young girls reading this, what would it be?

A: My message would be this: To the young girls reading this, you are powerful beyond measure. You are strong, beautiful and carry a light within you that this world needs. Love yourself unconditionally. Educate yourselves. KNOW you are worthy and put on this earth to live out your purpose. Do not let anyone ever diminish the light that is you. Surround yourself with those that will help you grow. Love and support each other. You are your sister's keeper. When one of us wins, we all win. You are unstoppable. Go forth and remember that there is NOTHING on this earth that you can not do. I'll be rooting for you.  Q: Is there anything else you would like to share? A: (Yes,) If I may add, to all the young boys, love the women and support them. Together we can achieve so much more.  Natasha's story, not only about her brave parents, but about her perseverance should inspire us all to act and stand up for what we believe. Thank you tremendously to our first and amazing interviewee!