Women’s equality in the UK – A health check

7.11
7.12
• patriarchal structures and attitudes within Muslim communities
• Government policies impacting on Muslim communities.
There is fear that Islamophobia is affecting entire Muslim communities and that some are
becoming increasingly marginalised as ‘preventing violent extremism’ has become the sole
basis for the Government to invite Muslim women into civic and political arenas. 25
Case study: 26
“One of the greatest issues affecting me is the government’s constant admonishing of the
Muslim community, for either being extremist or supporting extremism.”
Support mechanisms that do exist for Muslim women to gain confidence in undertaking
employment, further/higher education, being active in civic and political life etc. are at risk of
being dismantled. Where women do find positions of power and influence it is more likely to
be in the public and voluntary sectors 27 which are facing cuts. The Government cannot rely
on women being ‘changers of society’ through sheer good will. Those already at the front-line
of providing services (voluntarily) that should really be within the Government’s remit, are
constrained by capacity issues. 28 (See Appendix: 4 for further information)
Case study: 29
“The issues affecting me and other Muslim women on a daily basis are Islamophobia,
particularly around hijab and niqab, discrimination due to race, faith and gender,
particularly when going for interviews for jobs.”
Recommendation:
Political parties should set diversity targets for increasing women’s representation
and in particular increasing the representation of lesbian and bisexual women; BAME
women; women from lower socio-economic backgrounds; younger and older women
and disabled women by 2020
Speaker’s Conference
The Speaker’s Conference report, 30 published in January 2010, made a number of
recommendations to improve the workings of Parliament and its effect on women’s
representation. We have seen progress against some of these, specifically:
• the Government held a parliamentary debate on the issue of women’s representation in
January 2012; and,
• in July 2012, MPs voted to change current sitting hours in Westminster. MPs voted in favour
of proceedings beginning earlier on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with business beginning at
11.30am and 9.30am respectively.
25. Muslim Women’s Network UK (2011) Muslim Women: Political and Civic Engagement in the UK. MWNUK, University of Warwick and The
Economic Social Research Council http://mwnuk.co.uk/go_files/downloads/MWNUK-Booklet-website.pdf
26. Muslim Women’s Network UK (2011) Muslim Women: Political and Civic Engagement in the UK. MWNUK, University of Warwick and The
Economic Social Research Council http://mwnuk.co.uk/go_files/downloads/MWNUK-Booklet-website.pdf
27. Equality and Human Rights Commission (2011) Sex and Power 2011. EHRC: London http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/key-projects/
sexandpower/
28. Muslim Women’s Network UK (2011) Muslim Women: Political and Civic Engagement in the UK. MWNUK, University of Warwick and The
Economic Social Research Council http://mwnuk.co.uk/go_files/downloads/MWNUK-Booklet-website.pdf
29. Muslim Women’s Network UK (2011) Muslim Women: Political and Civic Engagement in the UK. MWNUK, University of Warwick and The
Economic Social Research Council http://mwnuk.co.uk/go_files/downloads/MWNUK-Booklet-website.pdf
30. House of Commons (2010) Speakers Conference (on Parliamentary Representation) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/
spconf/239/239i.pdf
64 Women’s equality in the UK: CEDAW shadow report 2013