If Muslim women are to become leaders and activists, they need a more supportive environment in which to do so, according to Dr. Kathy Bullock. “Islam is not a barrier for female leaders and activists. The Qu’aran is a source of inspiration for women…It’s not Islam that restricts the roles of women, it’s the Muslim community,” said Bullock, on Thursday evening at a forum in the Sid Smith building.
Bullock, an Australian convert to Islam, spoke about the challenges and the successes of Muslim women in leadership and activist roles in a speech entitled “Female Activism and Leadership in Islam.”
“Certain cultural habits and practices say that a women ought to be modest, staying home and not venturing into the public arena. Women who venture out into the public arena are being immodest,” said Bullock.
She explained that Muslim women require support at home, especially from their husbands if they are married, in order to go out into the world and make their voices heard.
“If she does have a supportive environment, she can’t be shy about all the normal hurdles people face. She should get on the train,” she noted.
Bullock acknowledged that the cultural practices that may restrict women can be difficult to overcome.
“If you can do something about it, do it. If you can’t do something about it, say something about it. If you can’t say something about it, pray for it to change.”
Once Muslim women overcome the challenges from within their own cultures they still face external challenges, especially when they wear the hijab, or headscarf. Bullock says that racism and discrimination are large hurdles for Muslim women.
“She’ll face stereotyping, people will think she’s oppressed. There’s a questioning that Muslims do not support Canadian values,” said Bullock.
She cited a study by the activist group Women Working With Immigrant Women, which found that women wearing the hijab to job interviews were told more often that the job didn’t exist or the position had already been filled.
Interestingly enough, Bullock said she is researching the idea that the Western world may actually have had a large role in causing the cultural problems Muslim women face today.
According to this theory, as the West attempted to colonize Arabic countries during the eighteenth century, they brought with them new values, such as the idea that a women could not own property. Previous to these advances, Muslim women were property holders just like men. The second part of the theory hypothesizes that Muslim men wanted to protect their women from what they saw as invaders and forced them to stay home, which involved into the idea that a modest Muslim woman should not venture outside the home without a male escort.
About 40 people attended the talk, part of a series of discussions called “Understanding Islam” hosted by the Muslim Student’s Association.
“We want to encourage peace and communication between Muslims and non-Muslims,” said Khalidah Ali, a volunteer with the MSA.
