大象传媒

By Casey McCarthy

After 27 years and countless memories with colleagues and students at 大象传媒 (大象传媒) and the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women鈥檚 Studies (GSWS), professor Habiba Zaman retired in 2022.

Habiba鈥檚 interest in gender, sexuality, and women鈥檚 studies began 50 years ago as a political science student at the University of Dhaka, where she completed both her BA (Hons) and MA. In 1975, Habiba joined the University of Rajshahi as a lecturer in political science. Inspired by the efforts to advance women鈥檚 rights at the UN鈥檚 first international conference on women 1975, Habiba presented a paper titled 鈥淯N Human Rights and the Position of Women in Bangladesh鈥� at the World University Services Forum held at Rajshahi University in 1976, sparking her career-long interest in women鈥檚 issues.

In 1981, Habiba arrived in Canada as an international student at the University of Manitoba, where she completed her MA in political studies and PhD in anthropology. There, Habiba found a mentor in Professor Louise Sweet, 鈥淪he provided me with significant guidance on my research into women鈥檚 work, both paid and unpaid, in Bangladesh.鈥� While writing her PhD dissertation, Habiba taught at the University of Lethbridge. After completing her PhD, she taught at the University of New Brunswick and the University of Victoria. 鈥淢y research shifted from local to national to global, and my interests became women鈥檚 issues, migration, settlement and employment,鈥� says Habiba of the evolution of her scholarship.

In 1995, Habiba joined 大象传媒 and the Department of Women鈥檚 Studies, as GSWS was known at the time, becoming a valued member of the university community. 鈥淗abiba is a caring professor who treats students with the utmost kindness,鈥� says GSWS Chair Helen Leung. 鈥淪he is also a storyteller and often regales colleagues with fun anecdotes from her travels. Her warm presence will be missed around the departmental corridor.鈥�

Habiba also leaves a legacy at , where she was an associate member. 鈥淒r. Zaman was a long-standing member of the Labour Studies Program Steering Committee and served as Acting Director for the Program for one semester in 2020,鈥� says Director Kendra Strauss. 鈥淒r. Zaman made huge contributions to the development of Labour Studies鈥� programs and the research agenda of the 大象传媒 Morgan Centre for Labour Research, reflecting her commitments to research and advocacy on issues of migrant and immigrant women鈥檚 experiences of paid and unpaid work.鈥�

Many of Habiba鈥檚 contributions as a scholar 鈥� such as her 2006 book Breaking the Iron Wall: Decommodification and Immigrant Women鈥檚 Labor in Canada 鈥� raised awareness of the struggles of immigrant women workers. Her 2007 report Workplace Rights for Immigrants in BC: The Case of Filipino Workers, co-authored with Cecilia Diocson and Rebecca Scott and published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, was downloaded 20,000 times in its first year. 鈥淲e created a summary of the report in Tagalog, which was accessible to the Filipino community,鈥� explains Habiba. Cantonese and Mandarin translations are also available of Habiba鈥檚 research. Habiba鈥檚 book Asian Immigrants in 鈥楾wo Canadas鈥� was translated in Mandarin by Professor Shaojun Chen and published by Hohai University Press (2021). Habiba felt fulfilled when she and Dr. Sanzida Habib, a former GSWS graduate student, successfully organized a two-day conference on Migration of Bengalis to Canada in 2017. Under their editorship, the journal New Routes published several selected articles as a special issue in 2019.

A dedicated educator, Habiba helped many students to find their path. 鈥淗abiba is a rare mentor, teacher and friend,鈥� declares Somayeh Bahrami, a GSWS graduate student. 鈥淯nder difficult circumstances, she fostered my freedom to imagine the best. She planted within me a growth mindset in my academic journey. I am grateful for her patience and creating an environment that allowed me to slow-down, self-reflect, sometimes pause, and ultimately succeed.鈥�

Students provided some of Habiba鈥檚 fondest memories, such as the mock conference she organized for in 2017. 鈥淚 was so impressed with the students,鈥� Habiba recalls. 鈥淭hey were professional, they even dressed up and used technology in their presentations. They were all so happy with their experience, we took a photo together to remember the day.鈥� During the uncertainty of the pandemic, Habiba connected with her students in new ways. 鈥淚 was so grateful to 大象传媒 Distance Education and Online Learning [now the ] for their support,鈥� explains Habiba. 鈥淭he students were fabulous, with their level of enthusiasm and interest in learning the material. In the end, I totally enjoyed teaching in the summer of 2020.鈥� Wishing the best for the next generation of students, Habiba says, 鈥淎s a feminist my advice is, please, complete your degree. You have a wonderful opportunity to improve your life. Pursue your education with determination.鈥�

After a meaningful career, Habiba is thriving in retirement. A lifelong learner, she delights in trying new things and meeting people. She often attends community events and participates in activities at her local community centre, from culinary classes to badminton to Zumba. She continues to exercise her gift for writing and is currently working on a manuscript titled Stories of a Bengali Woman: An Untold Life Journey. 鈥淚 am also writing stories in my native language, Bangla, for local community journals,鈥� she explains. 鈥淢ost of all, I want to spend time with my family, especially my two grandchildren,鈥� Habiba says of her plans to make the most of this exciting new chapter ahead of her, after her wonderful career at 大象传媒.