Muslim Women In Mainstream Media
British Muslim women are changing the way they are perceived in mainstream media by being a part of it, helping to battle stereotypes to show what it means to be a true British Muslim.
Husna Wahid:
Husna Wahid is a broadcast journalist and researcher for BBC and ITV. Originally starting off in science but after spending time working for Unity Fm, a local Islamic radio station, she fell in love with the media industry and decided to pursue it as a career feeling she had more to offer and to report peoples stories. This then led her to do a production traineeship scheme with the BBC and she has been working in the media industry since.
Introduction
Husna came from a traditional south Asian family where her mother took care of the children and her father worked but she found herself taking a different path with her passion and need to tell other peoples' stories:
“I think for me, I've always a quite career-driven and yes I love being at home but then at the same time I love being out there meeting different people, and I think especially media giving people their voice and sharing stories and there's just so much there, just so much to see and I thrive learning things and meeting different people and I love meeting new people and working with different people, just speaking to people getting their stories.”
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After doing some voluntary work at her local station she was contacted by the BBC to assist them on a few projects. This then led her to do a production scheme that enabled her to train at the BBC and further herself as a media professional with them. The subject of Islam and the media has clashed but while working for the BBC she found that she did not need to compromise her faith while working, as for example, there are places for her to pray on the premises.
Journey into the industry:
Husna Wahid at Media City in Manchester
Ofcom revealed that employees from "minority ethnic backgrounds make up 13% of employees across the UK-based TV industry in 2017/18, up 2% from 2016." However, there is a significant underrepresentation of Pakistani and Bangladeshi employees. Despite some improvements, the Ofcom report shows that there is still a need for diversity in the industry to help create better and more truthful representations in the media industry.
Husna feels that Muslim women need to be more proactive in the media industry and feels that they have more to offer.
“We know what's happening in our community best, so yeah it's about getting people into the work, I think people does have that assumption that the BBC couldn't possibly for someone like me, in a head scarf, a lot people have asked me that question has anyone said anything about your headscarf or has it been difficult think a headscarf, and actually no, they want people there they want a diverse workforce, and not just on screen but also behind the scenes that we can bring them stories.”
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"The Director general of the BBC Tony Hall, came up to Salford from London and he was emphasising how important it was to get people of different faiths and backgrounds, really representing the audience, it's a multi-faith, multicultural country and if we're creating that content then we need to be there."
Husna Wahid filming a project
Single working mum and battling stereotypes:
Being a single Mum of three while balancing her career and chasing her dreams has been difficult for Husna where despite the face she puts on social media she has felt the strain.
“People don't see the days and when I come home, and I'm absolutely shattered, and you know it's really difficult.
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“I’m very passionate about this and I really want to be there and I’m just going to make it work and I did, and I think it getting that message out there to people that if you want to do something don't let anything stop you, everyone has challenges and obstacles and its just about making it work and getting through them and I think that's what builds you as well, you build that the resilience that that strength from overcoming those challenges.”
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Despite where she is now Husna had to overcome a big difficulty of becoming a single mum, making the decision at 24 to leave and start a new life. She pushed herself to go back to school and decided to pick up a biomedical degree. Unfortunately she faced another court case making it clear that it was not the right time for her to study. Despite slowly building a reputation from spending some time with Unity FM and working on small projects with the BBC, people around her had discouraged her dream due to her lack of a degree in the media industry and made suggestions of working in a local grocery store.
Husna Wahid with two of her children
“There's no shame in working in ASDA but for me it was like I want to be able to BBC now and here I am and I think that for me is a powerful message so that you can have you have those difficulties and challenges but you make it work and you can make it work, nothings impossible.”
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Along with working for the BBC she had become an advocate for domestic violence actively writing articles and speaking of her own experience to help other women and work with Gingerbread, a charity that provides help to single parents to support themselves.
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"’Ive had a lot of people ask me about how I managed my divorce, three kids, finances and work. It wasn’t easy but it’s not impossible either. I believe that by sharing our experiences it helps others relate and gives them hope. It allows them to see success as a reality for themselves too regardless of their own struggles and challenges.
"I decided to share my story in hope to inspire others. Many have said they found it beneficial and I hope it can continue to bring support to others. We are all in it together and it’s not easy but it’s the little things that can make a big difference. "
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She also hopes to grow, wanting to further push herself into the industry.
"Progression really excites me, I'm really hoping to move up in the mainstream media, I'm now doing a project with Google and that's for quite a big position there, managing production, I'm really excited about that, I'd like to develop new skills and do more courses and grow my knowledge."
"If you've got a passion for working in the media, I know some people they might not have the grades, I never had any of that, I was a singles mum, I was going through a divorce, I've got three kids, it was really difficult at that time. You don't need tons of money or qualifications, it's really led by passion and they do see that when you're in the interviews and I think it's just having that confidence to demonstrate that passion you have and that's what really shines through, so I think you should just go for it.