Alma: A Muslim woman-by religious rules-should be only a homemaker. But Bosnian women work. It's not like Algeria or some other place where they're fighting for basic rights. We should help the women of Kabul. Bosniak women are an inspiration for women all over the world.

Amna: When I went into technical engineering, I was told, "That's for men, not women." They said I'd never finish, but I did-and graduate school too. Still, women, hold themselves back-women themselves! We've got to be tough! [She pounds the table, smiling.] We girls have to be ten times better than boys to be recognized as equal. Fortunately, that's possible.

Mirhunisa: Balkan men say my work is men's work. Well, if it's men's work, what does that make me? And how do I know how to do the job?

Emsuda: At some point women just have to take over situations and make decisions. We've got to take responsibility.

Biljana: Every woman will tell you: if women were ruling the country, there would never be a war.

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When over five hundred women gathered in June 1996 in the capital of Bosnia, they called their conference "Women Transforming Themselves and Society."