Empowered bodies, empowered minds: Arab women who broke free from constraints and found themselves

There are various theories on how to deal with the human body. Some believe the body is mortal and fleeting, something to be neglected in favor of the mind and soul. Others, however, see nothing but the physical appearance, evaluating a person’s worth and abilities based on his/her weight, height, and features.

But why this separation? Is it a real separation, or is the human being an inseparable mixture of body and soul until death parts them?

I lost weight and realized I deserve more from life

In reality, the relationship between the body and the psyche is actually reciprocal. Each nourishes and supports the other in different ways. Many women find themselves braver in making life-altering decisions after losing excess weight or undergoing cosmetic surgery—not just because of the physical changes, but because these changes bolster their self-confidence.

In this context, Omniya Ibrahim, an activist and writer in her mid-thirties, told Raseef22, "Since childhood, I’ve been heavier than average, and by 2012, my weight exceeded 120 kilograms. I didn’t want anyone to see me until I had gastric bypass surgery, and the weight started to come off. It felt as if a fairy from the Grimm Brothers’ tales had cast a spell on me, and suddenly I became visible. Job offers began coming my way, and people started complimenting my appearance, even though I hadn’t completely changed. I was still wearing similar clothes, just in a smaller size. What really changed was me."

Omniya continued, "After losing that excess weight, I no longer cared whether others saw me or not, nor did I seek love in the eyes of others. In the past, I only felt my presence negatively—through bullying because of my appearance, for instance. I accepted bad relationships and jobs because I felt that even these modest opportunities were too much for me. But now, I see myself differently and know I deserve much more."

Dietitian and psychotherapist Irene Ikram specializes in this area, as she regularly works to resolve this clash with her patients. When asked about the nature of the relationship between the body and mental well-being, Ikram shared her perspective with Raseef22: "When a woman connects with her body and lets go of the image others have imposed on her, no longer seeking self-acceptance through the eyes of those around her, she finds stability. She begins to listen to her body and opens herself to trusting her feelings. That is when she starts caring for herself first, not out of a desire for love or approval. As her personality shifts, she rediscovers her abilities, seeing herself for the first time through her own eyes. In this process, a person returns to their original nature, much like a child who believes they can do anything before adult expectations weigh them down."

"When I lost that excess weight, I stopped caring about whether others saw me or not, nor did I seek love in the eyes of others. In the past, I accepted bad relationships and jobs because I felt that even these modest opportunities were too much for me. But now, I see myself differently and know I deserve much more."

According to Irene, the transformation that many women experience after physical changes occur often stems from overcoming the need for external validation. "The woman begins to focus her efforts on finding herself and understanding her own needs. This can lead her to make significant decisions that she had been postponing for years, such as ending a bad marriage or quitting an unsuitable job."

I realized I was beautiful, and I became brave

In other cases, a woman’s distorted perception of her body becomes an obstacle that delays major decisions. As explained in the book The Rules of "Normal" Eating by Karen R. Koenig, people may use excess weight, extreme thinness, or other perceived physical flaws as a “curtain” that blocks them from making important changes, using it as an excuse to postpone action until this "problem" is resolved.

Yasmin Mohamed, a young woman in her thirties, shared her story with Raseef22: "My weight was average until I got married and had children, after which I gained a lot of weight. During this time, my mother-in-law criticized my weight and size, making discouraging comments like, ‘You’ll never lose that weight.’ I decided to combat my depression by striving for ideal standards, but my focus on losing weight turned into an unhealthy obsession, which directly harmed my health and placed me under immense psychological pressure."

"In my twenties, I struggled with my appearance, but I later realized that the issue was with my personality, not my looks. I didn’t love myself as much as I do now due to my extreme self-doubt. I assumed others saw me as ugly, and consequently, I viewed myself the same way. However, with time and experience, I learned that there is no such thing as an ugly person—only those who care for themselves, and those who don’t. ”

Yasmin added, "My entire focus shifted to what I was eating, how I looked, and measuring myself. Around the same time, I decided to get a divorce. After that, I stopped being so concerned about my weight and instead turned my attention to other aspects of my life, like my children and my work.”

A woman’s relationship with her body image often intersects with many aspects of her life. Sometimes, a shock can lead her to make significant changes, as was the case with Aya Hassan. She told Raseef22 about why she decided to remove her hijab: "After experiencing emotional rejection, my immediate reaction the next day was to take off my hijab without any prior consideration. It wasn’t an impulsive decision, but I realized that I was doing something I didn’t love or accept, simply to gain societal and emotional approval. When I didn’t receive the expected validation, I felt that this thing I didn’t accept was consuming me alive, so I decided to remove it from my life."

Reflecting on her decision, Aya said, "I finally felt like myself. Seeing my reflection in the mirror while wearing the hijab used to sadden me, but I no longer feel that way."

These are just a few examples of women who have used physical changes as a gateway to broader transformations in their lives. They gained the courage and boldness to break free from the silent constraints of the past, affirming the saying: "When the body says, 'I can,' the mind responds, 'So can I.'"

"I became braver."

Rasha Tawfiq, an education specialist at a university, embarked on a different journey in her early forties. She told Raseef22, "In my twenties, I struggled with my appearance, but I later realized that the issue was with my personality, not my looks. I didn’t love myself as much as I do now due to my extreme introversion and lack of experience. I assumed that others saw me as ugly, and consequently, I viewed myself the same way. However, with time and experience, I learned that there is no such thing as an ugly person—there’s only someone who has learned how to care for herself to reveal her beauty, and someone who hasn’t. When I transitioned from the latter to the former, many changes occurred in my life. I had laser eye surgery and got rid of my glasses, improved my diet and health, gained some weight after being very thin, and began dedicating time to taking care of my skin and hair. A significant step I took when I turned forty was starting orthodontic treatment with a specialist."

When asked about how these changes affected her, she responded with just three words: "I became braver."

These stories highlight how physical changes have empowered some women to take bold steps and shed the silent burdens of their pasts, echoing the sentiment: "When the body says, 'I can,' the mind responds, 'So can I.'"