<text>  An Egyptian widow lived her life as a man for 43 years so she could earn enough money to support her children and grandchildren, it has been revealed. Sisa Abu Daooh, 65, was six months pregnant with her first child and living in a highly conservative community in the city of Luxor when her husband died. Unable to support her family as a 21-year-old single mother and unwilling to marry a man she didnt love, Abu Daooh decided to shave her head, dress herself as a man and seek employment - first as a brick-maker and then as a shoe-shiner once she got older. Scroll down for video . Most devoted mother: Over the weekend Sisa Abu Daooh, 65, left even met Egypts president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi right to receive an award marking 40- years of self-sacrifice . Free from the threat of sexual harassment, Abu Daooh enjoyed her life as a man so much that even though she has now revealed her true gender, she says she will continue to spend the rest of her life as a man . Free from the threat of sexual harassment, Abu Daooh enjoyed her life as a man so much that even though she has now revealed her true gender, she says she will continue to spend the rest of her life living and dressing as a man. My brothers wanted me to get married again...all the time they kept bringing new grooms to me, she told Gulf News Egypt. However Abu Daooh decided she could not marry somebody she didnt love and set about shaving her head and purchasing loose-fitting male clothing in order to become the breadwinner herself. The decision shocked and angered her family, but Abu Daooh ignored their pleas to remarry and instead set herself up as a brick-maker. By her own account she was as strong as 10 men in her 20s and 30s, but as she got older her strength began to fade and she started a new business, this time as a shoe-shiner. Sacrifice: Pictured left is a woman believed to be Abu Daoohs daugher. The mother pictured right was just 21-years-old and six months pregnant with her first child when her husband died . No other option: Unable to support her family as a 21-year-old single mother and unwilling to marry a man she didnt love, Abu Daooh decided to shave her head, dress herself as a man and seek employment . Abu Daoohs decision to live as a man was made purely so she could support her young daughter. When a woman lets go of her femininity, its hard. But I would do anything for my daughter. It was the only way to make money. What else could I do? I cant read or write - my family didnt send me to school - so this was the only way, she said. She had initially planned to give up the disguise as soon as her daughter married, but unfortunately her son in law fell seriously ill shortly after the wedding and was unable to seek employment. As time went by she grew to enjoy spending time around men and drinking at the local male-dominated cafes without suffering she kind of sexual harassment she claims she would have experienced if she was living openly as a woman. Despite this, Abu Daooh says she never actually lied about her gender and never denied being a woman if she was asked. She also says that a large number of people in Luxor always knew she was a woman and called her by a feminine name - and that the disguise was largely to avoid attracting abuse or prejudice from strangers or people who did not know her well. Now Abu Daooh has been given an award for her sacrifice, with Luxors local government naming her the citys most devoted mother. Over the weekend she met Egypts president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to receive an award marking 40-years of self-sacrifice. 