I pondered this question when I came across the nomination stages of the Muslim Power List 2009, where we’re invited to vote for women who’ve excelled and contributed to British working life, whether it’s in the field of media, arts, business or the voluntary sector.  Such an accolade of course is long overdue, as Muslim women are often deterred from pursuing ambitious careers in favour of matrimony and family.  However, deciphering the factors that determine how powerful a woman is has proved to be a real pickle.

Is a female Muslim investment banker powerful, succeeding in a man’s world? Or perhaps a sister surgeon commands more power, saving lives on a daily basis. Or, maybe it’s our mothers, who selflessly devoted their lives to help make us who we are.

There’s no right or wrong answer, but the Power List did get me thinking.  Being a British Asian Muslim woman, I know there are certain professions which will always command more respect over others. I have a degree in English and Marketing and a PGDip in Broadcast Journalism, and I now have a fledging career in PR.  However, to most elders, and some young Desi’s, this will never have the same prestige as someone working in the field of Medicine, Accounting, or Law, despite the fact that I worked just as hard in my studies and continue to do so in my career.

The same can be said of many of my friends who followed careers in marketing or media, the latter being the very epitome of confusion for many of our parents.  Our folks tend to think that media studies involves watching a lot of TV (when in fact, we analysed movies during my A-levels), and that PR involves reading newspapers and organising glamorous events. This is because subjects such as Media, Journalism, and the arts are a new breed, yet to be embraced by much of our British Asian society, which is perhaps why you’ll see scores of Asians doctors and dentists, and only a handful of TV producers.  In fact, whilst at university, many of my peers went into their chosen fields of medicine or computing because of parental persuasion, rather than following their true ambitions.

Then there is the other reason (one that we’d rarely admit to) that many people choose conventional careers - to increase their marketability for marriage.  I hate to rinse a well-worn cliché, but it’s much easier to introduce one’s self as an Accountant rather than a Search Engine Optimisation specialist, because the former needs no explanation.  I remember rather fondly when the editor of an Asian radio station quizzed my marital status in a job interview, with a polite warning about how a career in journalism wasn’t a great choice for a young Muslim girl, as there was simply no money to be made.  He was, in fact, right; journalism paid peanuts. But I’m sure millions of other Muslim women face similar barriers to progression everyday, so it’s little wonder that the Doctor or Lawyer will always be a winner.

So in conclusion, who do you think is the more powerful Muslim woman?  The go-getting barrister, or the ground-breaking creative artworker?  Though the latter would probably get my vote, Desi society will always pick the former.

(7 votes. Average: 2.57 out of 5)