NirvanaFunClub

Jul. 2018.

Amina is a girl in her early twenties that lives and works in Paris. Her whole family, nuclear one (mom, dad and siblings) live in France. She is working as a financial administrator in a small, but not insignificant, film production company that produces, mainly, documentaries. 

She has a bubbly personality and is smiling very often. Majority of her co-workers find that enjoyable, especially when she is answering the phone, or having a business conversation, either internally or with the company’s clients. “Good for the company’s morale”.

Having such a happy and carefree personality, it is surprising to find out the story about the abrupt termination of her swimming carrier. Couple of years before working in production Amina was a swimmer. During her middle school (collège), approximately up until the time she started her high school (lycée) which is usually at the age of 15, in France. She really enjoyed swimming, she just “adore faire de la natation”. She even won a couple of medals competing.

But, she isn’t swimming anymore.

Her mom told her that it is not prudent to wear a swimming suit in public after a certain age. Amina was presented with a choice: she could either continue to swim and pursue her passion in that or she could respect her family’s values.

Amina, and her family are a part of a muslim community, they share its traditions, beliefs and a way of living.

How did she feel about it?

She was heartbroken, swimming was fun, made her happy, but at the end she realized that being a part of her community is more important to her. She likes to obey the rules and she would very much like to be seen as someone who is prudent. That is why she granted her mother’s wish and luckily, very soon after that, she started high school, and found joy in studying. Growing pains?

Amina was born and raised in France, easygoing, open and friendly. Looking and behaving like any other girl her age. The only difference about her is her devotion to the community that is a bit different. Unlike the world around it. Going to school, working and living in Paris, having to deal with all those tourists searching for the Parisian „joie de vivre“, with all its fashion, food, hedonism, ‘libertinage’ and freedom.

‘Libertinage’ as explained by a French person: freedom to love emotionally and physically who ever you want and desire without any limitations. You can be with one or as many people that want you, at the same time, without any boundaries. It is free, it is honest and it is liberating.

Amina’s choice seams other worldly, even unfair.

Amina is a young girl with a strong head on her shoulders and even bigger vision about how she wants to live her life and what group of people she wants to be surrounded with. It is, in the end, her own choice, that she is not imposing on anyone nor is she taking away from anyone else.

If it is unfairness and oppression we are talking about: her mom, by being her mom and raising her, didn’t leave her much choice in the matter. She is her provider, her caregiver, but so are all of our parents. We are all raised in a private churches, under personal religions of our parents/our guardians/our protectors/our security guards. Amina’s mom has suggested the path, explained the situation and Amina accepted.

What choice did she have?

What choice do any of us have?