Providing A Voice For Women
There were many challenges for young people like me, finding my way as a second generation immigrant living among mixed cultures,” says equalities campaigner Akeela Ahmed, who was honoured with an MBE for services to Muslim women in 2018. “I could see that there wasn’t any kind of awareness of, or help for, the extra barriers that women face, and especially women of colour.
“It was while working part-time with a social housing organisation that provided accommodation to asylum seekers and refugees, that my eyes were really opened to the inequalities that exist in this world.
“I started looking for ways to raise awareness of issues and to help people, especially relating to mental health and tackling sexism. Over the last 20 years I have held different roles with several organisations and charities, and advisory posts for the government while also contributing to national and international media.
“In 2014 I founded She Speaks We Hear, an online platform for women. I wanted to address the very binary stereotype I felt existed around women, specifically Muslim women.
“I felt that whenever I read about Muslim women or women from marginalised backgrounds, refugees or immigrants or women of colour, they were either presented as ‘oppressed’ or a ‘victim’ and they needed help, or that they were a threat to society, or a burden in some way.
“There was no reflection of their rich contributions to society, or the diversity of their own lives, as individuals and collectively – they were often all lumped together. So I provided this online space for women from everyday backgrounds, allowing them to talk about anything they wanted, in an unfiltered way.
“She Speaks We Hear has really grown over the years and we now also connect those women to the public sphere, whether that is media, policymakers or other organisations such as BAFTA to talk about screen representation. During lockdown we switched to doing Instagram live, interviewing women to share expertise or advice or to talk about their careers.
“It has been another way to elevate the voices of women who wouldn’t normally be seen in the public sphere, and also about giving something back to our community, too.”
Read about Akeela Ahmed and her campaigns at
www.akeelaahmed.com
She Speaks We Hear is an online platform bringing together the voices of women from all backgrounds
https://shespeakswehear.com
Veganuar y provides inspiration and suppor t for people to tr y a vegan lifestyle
https://uk.veganuary.com
Animal Aid campaigns peacefully against animal abuse and promotes cruelty-free living
www.animalaid.org.uk