The Only Female Baker in Hani

This article by Medina Mamedoğlu was published by Jinha Women’s News Agency on 11 February, 2021

Adalet Narin lives in the Hani district of Amed and she is the only female baker in the district. She makes bread and creates a social space for women in the district. She makes bread by giving shape the dough kneaded by women living in the district.

50-year-old Adalet Narin lives in the Hani district of Amed (Diyarbakır) and she makes a living by making bread in the bakery she opened next to her house. She has worked as a baker for 28 years. She makes bread by giving shape the dough kneaded by women living in the district. She does all works in the bakery such as adding wood to the fire, cleaning the bakery. Women of the district knead the dough and bring it to the bakery. The women say they visit the bakery to help her. 

Adalet Narin is known by all women living in the district by opening a bakery next to her house. Despite her age, she does all works in the bakery. 

“I am very tired but I am happy to do my job” 

Adalet Narin is the only female baker in the district; she says she keeps working despite her health problems. She says she gives shape to the dough kneaded by women and makes bread. 

“I roll out the dough and give shape. After putting the dough in the bakery oven, I add wood to the fire. Meanwhile, I take out the cooked bread. I work non-stop, but I am happy to do my job. This job is my source of income. I am very tired but when I go home, I sleep with peace of mind. This bakery is a place where I earn my living. 

“We are very lucky to have a female baker” 

Zeynep Mengi, one of the district residents, says that she has been bringing dough to Adalet Narin’s bakery for years. She also says she feels comfortable when she enters the bakery because the owner of the bakery is a woman. “We feel conformable here because the owner of the bakery is a woman.

We bring dough here and make bread. We help her to knead dough; she gives shape dough and put the dough in the bakery oven. We bring dough and help our friend. As women, we come together here. Almost all women in the district bring the dough here. We are very lucky to have a female baker in our district. We have come here to have a talk and to help her for years.”