Over 30,000 Muslim women in the UK and beyond have taken to Twitter, announcing their accomplishments in retort to comments by Prime Minister David Cameron regarding their ‘submissiveness’ and need to learn English.
In an article for The Times (UK), Cameron discussed what he called “the flawed idea of separate development” in British society, allowing Muslim women to exist in a sphere outside “our liberal values.” He insisted that, unless Britain’s approach to integration improves, practices such as FGM, forced marriage and radicalisation will prevail. And - attracting widespread criticism - he placed Muslim women in the forefront, suggesting that their not speaking English might make young men more susceptible to extremism.
Cameron writes in The Times: “Think about the young boy growing up in Bradford. His parents came from a village in Pakistan. His mum can’t speak English and rarely leaves the home, so he finds it hard to communicate with her, and she doesn’t understand what is happening in his life. At the same time, as a teenager he is struggling to identify with Western culture. Separate development and accepting practices that go against our values only emphasise differences and can help prompt the search of something to belong to. When that happens, the extremist narrative gives him something – however ridiculous – to believe in.”
Though a £45 million language programme was cut only last year, the Prime Minister has announced £20 million funding for English lessons for the 22% of Muslim women in the UK who do not speak English. Raising concerns about social isolation, gendered oppression and extremism, Cameron added: “It’s no surprise that sixty percent of women of a Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage are economically inactive.” For those women who fail to keep up with their language learning obligations, the Prime Minister has threatened deportation.
This last point has been criticised even from within his own party. Sayeeda Warsi, one-time member of Cameron’s cabinet, told the BBC: “I think to threaten women and say to them that ‘unless you are of X standard [at English] we will send you back, even if you have children in the UK who are British and your spouse is British’ is, for me, a very unusual way of empowering and emboldening women.” She added, “For us to singularly point out that British Muslim women don’t speak English and that therefore leads directly to radicalisation, and therefore only they should be taught English, is a very odd way of pursuing an integrated approach to community cohesion.”
What really sparked outrage on Twitter, however, was a comment the Prime Minister is alleged to have made in private, linking radicalisation to the “traditional submissiveness of Muslim women.” Shelina Janmohammed – writer and Muslim women’s activist – took to Twitter to challenge Cameron’s generalisation. “I responded in the most British way I could,” she says, “with sarcasm.”
“Actually, my husband runs my Twitter feed because I can’t speak English #traditionallysubmissive,” she mockingly tweeted, adding “I bought a sports car and published a book (in English and eight other languages). I must be doing this wrong.”
A flurry of tweets ensued from Muslim women using the hashtag ‘#traditionallysubmissive’. The tweets detailed lists of accomplishments including PhDs, sports achievements, multilingualism, community activism and high-flying careers.
“My mum was so #traditionallysubmissive she left home to go to med school in 1960s Pakistan,” tweeted Asmaa Malik. “Thanks to her, I’m a journalist and a professor.”
Fizma Azlman – who was re-tweeted by Harry Potter author JK Rowling - posted: “Muslim women are not a problem that needs solving. #traditionallysubmissive @David_Cameron,” and listed her experience of 22 years working in the National Health Service (NHS), as a community activist and volunteer - as well as knowledge of five languages “AND English.”
Muslims make up 5% of the UK population, yet the Twitter storm comes in the midst of what Janmohammed has called “an increasingly hostile environment for Muslim women,” including increasing Islamophobia and racist attacks. While the National Union of Teachers has spoken out against the statement as “alienating” for many staff and pupils, the chief schools inspector has recently warned that schools could be failed if they allow girls to wear full face veils. Indeed, Muslima – a global online exhibition of Muslim women’s art and voices – has conducted research into Muslim women’s portrayal in the media, reporting an obsession with dress, generalisations and stereotypes such as victimhood and oppression.
Dr Sukaina Hirji, who organised the Twitter storm, argues that oppression of women is indeed a vital issue in any community – not only amongst Muslims – and should be tackled head on. She acknowledges that misogyny occurs in all walks of life, but takes issue with it solely being associated with Islam, which she says “condemns” such violence.
Christian academic in interfaith dialogue Dr. Craig Considine also contributed to the Twitter debate, saying: “Far from being #TraditionallySubmissive, women in Islam have held some extremely important positions.”
Janmohammed said “of course English lessons are welcome for those who struggle to speak the language.” but was concerned that the dominant narrative was “framing Muslim women as an ‘extremist’ problem,” rather than powerful citizens. “The early women we look back to as role models are the wife of the Prophet [PBUH] Khadija, who was a businesswoman, and Fatima el Fikhri, who founded the first university. Today we have women like Tawakkol Karman and Malala Yousufzai.”
And of course, here in Britain we also have Nadiya Hussain – winner of the hit TV show ‘The Great British Bake Off’. How much more British does it get?
In an article for The Times (UK), Cameron discussed what he called “the flawed idea of separate development” in British society, allowing Muslim women to exist in a sphere outside “our liberal values.” He insisted that, unless Britain’s approach to integration improves, practices such as FGM, forced marriage and radicalisation will prevail. And - attracting widespread criticism - he placed Muslim women in the forefront, suggesting that their not speaking English might make young men more susceptible to extremism.
Cameron writes in The Times: “Think about the young boy growing up in Bradford. His parents came from a village in Pakistan. His mum can’t speak English and rarely leaves the home, so he finds it hard to communicate with her, and she doesn’t understand what is happening in his life. At the same time, as a teenager he is struggling to identify with Western culture. Separate development and accepting practices that go against our values only emphasise differences and can help prompt the search of something to belong to. When that happens, the extremist narrative gives him something – however ridiculous – to believe in.”
Though a £45 million language programme was cut only last year, the Prime Minister has announced £20 million funding for English lessons for the 22% of Muslim women in the UK who do not speak English. Raising concerns about social isolation, gendered oppression and extremism, Cameron added: “It’s no surprise that sixty percent of women of a Pakistani or Bangladeshi heritage are economically inactive.” For those women who fail to keep up with their language learning obligations, the Prime Minister has threatened deportation.
This last point has been criticised even from within his own party. Sayeeda Warsi, one-time member of Cameron’s cabinet, told the BBC: “I think to threaten women and say to them that ‘unless you are of X standard [at English] we will send you back, even if you have children in the UK who are British and your spouse is British’ is, for me, a very unusual way of empowering and emboldening women.” She added, “For us to singularly point out that British Muslim women don’t speak English and that therefore leads directly to radicalisation, and therefore only they should be taught English, is a very odd way of pursuing an integrated approach to community cohesion.”
The prime minister has announced £20 million for English lessons for Muslim women
What really sparked outrage on Twitter, however, was a comment the Prime Minister is alleged to have made in private, linking radicalisation to the “traditional submissiveness of Muslim women.” Shelina Janmohammed – writer and Muslim women’s activist – took to Twitter to challenge Cameron’s generalisation. “I responded in the most British way I could,” she says, “with sarcasm.”
“Actually, my husband runs my Twitter feed because I can’t speak English #traditionallysubmissive,” she mockingly tweeted, adding “I bought a sports car and published a book (in English and eight other languages). I must be doing this wrong.”
A flurry of tweets ensued from Muslim women using the hashtag ‘#traditionallysubmissive’. The tweets detailed lists of accomplishments including PhDs, sports achievements, multilingualism, community activism and high-flying careers.
“My mum was so #traditionallysubmissive she left home to go to med school in 1960s Pakistan,” tweeted Asmaa Malik. “Thanks to her, I’m a journalist and a professor.”
Fizma Azlman – who was re-tweeted by Harry Potter author JK Rowling - posted: “Muslim women are not a problem that needs solving. #traditionallysubmissive @David_Cameron,” and listed her experience of 22 years working in the National Health Service (NHS), as a community activist and volunteer - as well as knowledge of five languages “AND English.”
Muslims make up 5% of the UK population, yet the Twitter storm comes in the midst of what Janmohammed has called “an increasingly hostile environment for Muslim women,” including increasing Islamophobia and racist attacks. While the National Union of Teachers has spoken out against the statement as “alienating” for many staff and pupils, the chief schools inspector has recently warned that schools could be failed if they allow girls to wear full face veils. Indeed, Muslima – a global online exhibition of Muslim women’s art and voices – has conducted research into Muslim women’s portrayal in the media, reporting an obsession with dress, generalisations and stereotypes such as victimhood and oppression.
Dr Sukaina Hirji, who organised the Twitter storm, argues that oppression of women is indeed a vital issue in any community – not only amongst Muslims – and should be tackled head on. She acknowledges that misogyny occurs in all walks of life, but takes issue with it solely being associated with Islam, which she says “condemns” such violence.
Christian academic in interfaith dialogue Dr. Craig Considine also contributed to the Twitter debate, saying: “Far from being #TraditionallySubmissive, women in Islam have held some extremely important positions.”
Janmohammed said “of course English lessons are welcome for those who struggle to speak the language.” but was concerned that the dominant narrative was “framing Muslim women as an ‘extremist’ problem,” rather than powerful citizens. “The early women we look back to as role models are the wife of the Prophet [PBUH] Khadija, who was a businesswoman, and Fatima el Fikhri, who founded the first university. Today we have women like Tawakkol Karman and Malala Yousufzai.”
And of course, here in Britain we also have Nadiya Hussain – winner of the hit TV show ‘The Great British Bake Off’. How much more British does it get?