There has been a lot of controversy around British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent decision to pump 20 million pounds in to English lessons for Muslim women living in Britain. In conversation, David Cameron said he feels learning English will help tackle the “traditional submissiveness of Muslim women” and in doing so, will allow Muslim women to challenge any radicalisation taking place amongst children.
The author of the highly popular novel ‘Love in a Headscarf’ Shelina Janmohamed, along with hundreds of other women across the UK, was personally offended by this portrayal and came up with the hashtag #TraditionallySubmissive to tweet professions, hobbies and views in order to counter act the view that Muslim women are somewhat passive and unable to express their opinions.
Dr Sukaina Hirji, who has been working hard to drum up support for the Twitter campaign, explained ‘I and many others have been extremely hurt by David Cameron’s article in The Times earlier this week, specifically (and incorrectly) targeting Muslim women’s apparent inability to speak the English language and loosely linking this to Radicalisation (multifactorial causes) and Female Genital Mutilation (cultural practice).’
Here are some of the best tweets from the hashtag:
Columbia grad, BBC journo, Pilates instructor, sport enthusiast and mummy. Yes, Cameron #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/LYqzPDGH8Q
— Zahra Khimji (@zahrakhimji) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/CktAoHsbc2
— Fatma Ali (@f_ali81) January 24, 2016
#TraditionallySubmissive? I don't think so @David_Cameron pic.twitter.com/ijtDJdUtg4
— Soukeina (@soukie_cookie) January 24, 2016
Submissive is most definitely not the word I'd choose @David_Cameron.#TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/DptxsiVF6Z
— Zaynab (@zay_nab110) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron we are not homogenous but we are talented and hurt by you #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/5ubQsJzOkQ
— Dr Sukaina Hirji (@SukainaHirji) January 24, 2016
#TraditionallySubmissive How's that for English speaking skills? pic.twitter.com/uQKPm3Hmzf
— Afrah Mansour (@AfrahM__) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron do I look submissive to you?! #traditionallysubmissive pic.twitter.com/mRWWVyXYAe
— Madiha Raza (@Madz_Raza) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron We shall lift up our sisters ourselves because we are not #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/JFn9RIlNMT
— Nicole Correri, M.Ed., M.A. (@Ensaniyaat) January 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/mamanabeelah/status/691322221428658176
@David_Cameron I'm a white British Muslim convert with a PhD. Senior Lecturer, TV presenter #traditionallysubmissive pic.twitter.com/jxpwy6Z41t
— Online Shia Studies (@RebecMasterton) January 24, 2016
https://twitter.com/FDayamani/status/691321478835523584
@David_Cameron #Muslim women have a voice in the UK, just ask us and we'll answer #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/cSTeGXWS6x
— Naka J Alkhzraji (@NAlkhzraji) January 24, 2016
Muslim women are not a problem that needs solving.#TraditionallySubmissive@David_Cameron pic.twitter.com/6IcG3cZSth
— Fiza Azlam (@AzlamFiza) January 24, 2016
#TraditionallySubmissive so I spend my time with refugees in lesvos Greece pic.twitter.com/XjUWuW8dLZ
— my soul (@RizviRuhi) January 24, 2016
@David_Cameron If only I couldn't speak English I'd be spared your patronising propaganda!#TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/8OiQDPuwV2
— Catherine Heseltine (@cath_heseltine) January 24, 2016
Not sure how @Number10gov comes up with his assumptions. #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/tJXG0Qs5Tg
— Leyla Habebti (@loopielala) January 24, 2016
So hey @David_Cameron here's a quick pic of me on CNBC talking mergers and acquisitions #TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/HYQ1AhCeCJ
— Suk VJ (@SukVJ) January 24, 2016
#TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/oUNtbYxY2v
— Sukaina Mandan (@5ukaina) January 24, 2016
And last but my no means least…my mum!
My mum's response to @David_Cameron…#TraditionallySubmissive pic.twitter.com/nxrKEfAMqQ
— Salim Kassam (@msalimkassam) January 24, 2016
