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Egyptian mom wears man's clothes for 43 years to support family

A handout picture made available on March 23, 2015 by the Egyptian presidency shows Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi handing Sisa Abu Daooh, left, the motherhood award, at the presidential palace in Cairo. [Photo/CFP]

When expecting her baby at the age of 21, Sisa Abu Daooh lost her husband and financial support for herself and the baby.

It was impossible for her to find a job as in her culture it was considered taboo for women to work. She decided to dress as a man to work as a shoe shiner or construction worker and wore men's clothes for 43 years and no one recognized her as a woman where she worked.

Sisa's efforts were recognized when Egypt honored her as a model Egyptian woman. The Social Solidarity Directorate of Luxor awarded Sisa the "woman breadwinner" award to recognize her long years of work to provide for her family.