Muslim women on how they’re breaking the bias this International Women’s Day

Breaking The Bias is the theme for International Women’s Day 2022. It’s no secret that due to the universal gender inequality, there are many facets of women’s lives that are yet to be accepted and encouraged as the norm.

Be it young girls and women having access to education or the intersections of bias that Black and brown women from marginalised groups have to face, to the glass ceiling that women are constantly having to push through.

The idea of breaking the bias may on one hand feel tired, but in actuality, women living their lives to fit their needs, cares, well-being and dreams are still a reality waiting to come true for all women, everywhere.

"The real pandemic comes down to women being unable to just be"

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2022, The New Arab spoke to 10 Muslim women on how they are planning to ‘break the bias’ this year.

Be it in their interpersonal relationships, their aspirations, their wellness and identities.

But let this be first and foremost known: Muslim women continue to break any biases by simply existing.

Tazin Khan: Founder of Cyber Collective, cyber security, privacy and technological ethics platform

“The bias I face in my industry is quite standard, I think the global majority can relate — sexism, racism, microaggressions and the list goes on. I feel like the more 'impactful' bias I am breaking is more so in my community and across the Bangladeshi-Muslim diaspora"

Something I've done since I was younger (and once upon a time, was punished and ridiculed for) was say the thing everyone was thinking but no one wanted to say. Perhaps in my earlier days, I could have used more "tact" but I am so proud of the little girl that was never afraid to speak up, say what she felt like saying and pointed out the details people in my family and community hid behind.

I remember in particular, my cousin passing me a pad at a family function. She did it so discreetly and what felt like ‘in fear’. I, of course, being as dramatic as I am, loudly said: “Thank you for the pad, can't believe we're both on our period". Everyone around me lost their shit and I just laughed but also felt very confused and hurt as to why I had to hide something natural, from my dad, my brother, uncles and family members that are supposedly the closest people in my life.

Fast forward to 15 years down the line, I'm still doing the same thing. Speaking up and speaking out, hopefully with more empathy, understanding and grace but nonetheless, I use my voice. Whether it is quivering from fear or loud from whatever passion burning within me — my voice is my power and that is how I break any bias I may encounter.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied: Writer, broadcaster and author of Listen Layla and Talking About A Revolution

This year I’m breaking my own biases about what kind of person I am in friendships (not making myself too small out of fear) and in my professional life (Je suis écrivain!)

Also, believing a better world is possible, no matter what pessimistic outlook my internal bias may have.

Farzana Ahmed: Graphic Designer, Creative Consultant, and beauty in film creative

"We are all responsible for our thoughts and actions"

For me, it's been about truly leading from my place of strength and vulnerability and trying to release myself from any internal and external pressures.

Breaking bias has also been about not restricting myself in a way I show up and share my ideas without limiting my strengths and abilities within my field of design and within the beauty industry.

Genuinely understanding that there is not just one way of being a leader and in all honesty, trusting myself and my abilities is something I have been learning over the past few years and wish to continue to learn.

Nafisa Bakkar: CEO and co-founder of Amaliah, a platform amplifying the voices of Muslim women

The area that feels like the strongest link to ‘breaking the bias’ is the work Amaliah does with brands and partnerships and as a business. We started back in 2016 and we've been banging the same drum in the marketing and advertising world that communicating with Muslim women must involve Muslim women.

"There was so much fear about working with minoritised groups and really the root is bias"

There are so many assumptions about who Muslim women are by those that have rarely even sat across the table from one. And so a lot of our work over the last five years has been working with companies to help them create meaningful moments and media backed by the authentic voice of Muslim women.

It may not sound game-changing, but you'd be surprised how often a storyline or a message is being written with the aim to include an underrepresented group whilst simultaneously not talking to them about the said message.

We've seen huge change and the industry has somewhat started to catch up with the fact that minorities are in fact the global majority and Muslims are a big part of that picture with over one billion of us.

So for 2022, we are working with more brands and companies who want to go further and want to meaningfully engage. We kicked off the year working with Lloyds bank and Art Fund, companies that we wouldn't have thought we would ever be working with. We will continue having difficult conversations in agency board rooms and marketing HQs as there's still a lot of painting Muslims as a bogey man in media and advertising.

We've seen with the Ukraine war how brands can have a huge cultural influence with a flurry of brands divesting, showing solidarity and creating real-life impact. And I think this should be applauded in its own right and simultaneously questioned to ask why now, why this?

Essentially I work and am situated in a world where bias and other things, including racism, Islamophobia and white supremacy, largely dictate who gets a seat at the table and who is worthy of being spoken to. I understand I have access to this sphere and so will continue to use my influence in this space to actively challenge biases people, companies and organisations hold of Muslim women.

Hafsa Issa Salwe: Host of the Mind Pretty Soul podcast

"The bias I’m breaking is that life goes downhill after 30"

I’m here to say that’s absolutely not the case. I’m the most intentional I’ve ever been about my life and after a great career in beauty marketing, I’m pivoting as an aesthetician. A completely new beginning as I embark on this new decade in my life.

Lamisa Khan: Co-founder of Muslim Sisterhood, a creative arts and event platform by and for Muslim women

"Life shouldn’t be about breaking biases or changing people's perceptions"

I’m tired of creating work that is for an external gaze. With Muslim Sisterhood, all the work that we do centres our community first and caters to the representation that we need.

We don’t want to make compromises on our values and beliefs to pander to anyone else and I guess that’s a refreshing outlook to have in this industry.

Mishti Ali: Journalist

“This year, I’m breaking the bias by continuing to be loud and proud as a queer Muslim woman of colour"

The bias against women inherent in our society is amplified for marginalised groups within an already marginalised group: women who aren’t straight, trans women, women of colour, disabled women, women who are homeless or living in poverty. The list goes on.

My work as a journalist mainly focuses on what happens in the lives of those who exist at these intersections. I see it as an opportunity to help tell these stories, which are so often misrepresented or simply left out of the mainstream narrative.

The physical manifestations of community around International Women’s Day, such as marches, remind us that we aren’t alone. Being seen and heard all year around makes sure that we don’t forget it.

Alya Mooro: Writer, podcast host and author of The Greater Freedom: Life As A Middle Eastern Women Outside Of The Stereotypes

This year, I have extended my stay in Cairo, the place of my heritage and as being a woman of the Arab diaspora, that itself has broken many biases for me.

Even the internal bias many of us mistakenly swallow that living in the West equals being freer (understandably freedom means different to everyone) when I've been feeling very free and welcome to be myself in all the ways, that is especially in my Egyptianness. 

There are a lot of work opportunities that are coming based on my merits and talents whereas in comparison, in London, it felt like I was ticking a diversity box.

Salwa Rahman: Creative director, creative and influencer

"I'm breaking bias by existing"

I know it’s an ambiguous statement but I don't think it’s fair to have to justify a specific thing that I'm doing that is breaking a conception of me that I didn't create.

Me doing anything as humanly as possible and doing anything as authentic as myself as possible is breaking the bias because the stacks as visible Muslim women are already against me.

Nabila Shiraz: Senior Digital Marketing Manager 

Being an authentic, single, 30-something Muslim woman and merely existing in the Western world today is already a battle in itself. For me, breaking the bias is being fully comfortable with my existence and heritage and rightfully taking the space that is mine – not just in the professional capacity, but in the real world too. 

"Women in the workplace are still very much overlooked and underappreciated in their expertise"

As someone who’s dealt with that throughout my whole career as well as fighting the infamous imposter syndrome I feel that I have a responsibility to share my experiences, empower women, support and educate them, especially those who are just starting in their careers – and that conversation always begins with talking about money.

It also means, that I no longer allow these microaggressions to slide. From correcting the emails that spell my name incorrectly to gently stopping those who speak over me during meetings.

I’m taking these small wins and setting an example for those who will follow in similar footsteps. And I know that 22-year-old Nabila would be ever so proud of 32-year-old Nabila today.

Dounya Hamdan, host of Unswtnd + Unfltrd podcast

“Every woman has a story that has changed her life forever and for the longest, our voices have been muffled by society"

The way in which I’m choosing to break the bias is through storytelling. This particular medium of expression allows us to deeply connect with one another and it has the power to create a sisterhood built on trust, validation and the notion that you are not alone in whatever it is that you’re facing at this moment.

Tahmina Begum is a freelance journalist and editor. 

Follow her on Twitter @tahminaxbegum