We’re not entirely sure as to what British Prime Minister David Cameron said in a private conversation, but it sure rattled the not-so-timid Muslim women of UK.
What Happened
There was trouble in paradise when Cameron announced a £20mn fund to provide English lessons in homes, schools and community facilities. The money will be used to target “specific communities” identified by a review into segregation conducted by the government’s “troubled families” unit.
I’m not saying there’s some sort of causal connection between not speaking English and becoming an extremist – of course not. That would be a ridiculous thing to say.David Cameron on BBC Radio 4
The UK government says that 22 percent of Muslim women living in England speak little or no English. Cameron suggested the fund will help in changing that so that these women are less isolated within the British society, BBC reported.
A report in The Telegraph reads that Cameron privately suggested that some young men are also vulnerable to radicalisation due to the ‘traditional submissiveness of Muslim women,’ as they don’t speak out.
But, if you’re not able to speak English, you’re not able to integrate and you may find, that you have challenges understanding what your identity is and you could be more susceptible to the extremist message that comes from Daesh (also known as ISIS).
Social Media Reactions
All this led to #TraditionallySubmissive, where women – 30,000 and counting – from the UK and elsewhere expressed their frustration over stereotyping and their disapproval of Cameron’s comments on Muslim women in England.
We Have a Voice
Mr Cameron, you picked the wrong battle. Ranging from working women, educated professionals and homemakers, all these posts made strong arguments that Muslim women work in various fields, they are diverse in culture, they have multiple achievements and most of all, they have a powerful voice.
#TraditionallySubmissive was used to voice the fact that Muslim women and women in general, are not all damsels in distress that need saving. They’re powerful in their own way and cannot be reduced in any society to ‘submissive victims.’
The ball is in your court now Prime Minister.
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