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Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End

Nilufar Ahmed Orcid Logo

Sociological Research Online

Swansea University Author: Nilufar Ahmed Orcid Logo

Abstract

A key element of the Government's citizenship strategy is the requirement that all immigrants have a basic command of English. The lack of English speaking skills has been identified as a contributory factor to much of the social unrest amongst different communities in the UK. It has been argue...

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Published in: Sociological Research Online
Published: 2008
Online Access: http://www.socresonline.org.uk/13/5/12.html
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa24923
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first_indexed 2015-11-28T01:58:00Z
last_indexed 2018-02-09T05:05:12Z
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spelling v2 24923 2015-11-27 Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End d8d2587d94adcdf31706b9efe04db909 0000-0003-4274-801X Nilufar Ahmed Nilufar Ahmed true false 2015-11-27 HPP A key element of the Government's citizenship strategy is the requirement that all immigrants have a basic command of English. The lack of English speaking skills has been identified as a contributory factor to much of the social unrest amongst different communities in the UK. It has been argued that the ability to speak English will allow immigrants to integrate better, create more cohesive communities and reduce segregation. This paper will question the emphasis placed on language proficiency in reducing segregation and discuss issues around language and citizenship by exploring the experiences of Bangladeshi women living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Drawing on qualitative interviews it will argue that while the ability to speak English may indeed enhance elements of women's lives and allow them to engage more actively in the community, there may be an over-emphasis on its role in reducing segregation. The paper also argues that learning English is not simply a matter of personal choice, multiple cultural and gendered factors intersect to sometimes limit individual's options. Within the Bangladeshi community, women's voices are the least heard, their opinions are rarely sought and it is usually the men from the community who speak on behalf of the women. This paper will show how whilst Asian men were denouncing policies to encourage learning English, women expressed a strong desire to be able to speak English, yet identified a range of obstacles preventing them from being able to learn. It is suggested that more attention needs to be paid to women's needs to help facilitate their participation in the community and aid them to achieve full citizenship status. This is turn can enable women to help create more cohesive communities Journal Article Sociological Research Online Gender, Bangladeshi Women; Citizenship; Learning English, Tower Hamlets, Immigration 31 12 2008 2008-12-31 http://www.socresonline.org.uk/13/5/12.html COLLEGE NANME Public Health, Policy and Social Sciences COLLEGE CODE HPP Swansea University 2023-06-28T14:39:29.4734332 2015-11-27T16:34:30.4179106 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Social Work Nilufar Ahmed 0000-0003-4274-801X 1
title Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End
spellingShingle Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End
Nilufar Ahmed
title_short Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End
title_full Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End
title_fullStr Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End
title_full_unstemmed Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End
title_sort Language, Gender and Citizenship: Obstacles in the Path to Learning English for Bangladeshi Women in London's East End
author_id_str_mv d8d2587d94adcdf31706b9efe04db909
author_id_fullname_str_mv d8d2587d94adcdf31706b9efe04db909_***_Nilufar Ahmed
author Nilufar Ahmed
author2 Nilufar Ahmed
format Journal article
container_title Sociological Research Online
publishDate 2008
institution Swansea University
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Health and Social Care - Social Work{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Social Work
url http://www.socresonline.org.uk/13/5/12.html
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description A key element of the Government's citizenship strategy is the requirement that all immigrants have a basic command of English. The lack of English speaking skills has been identified as a contributory factor to much of the social unrest amongst different communities in the UK. It has been argued that the ability to speak English will allow immigrants to integrate better, create more cohesive communities and reduce segregation. This paper will question the emphasis placed on language proficiency in reducing segregation and discuss issues around language and citizenship by exploring the experiences of Bangladeshi women living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Drawing on qualitative interviews it will argue that while the ability to speak English may indeed enhance elements of women's lives and allow them to engage more actively in the community, there may be an over-emphasis on its role in reducing segregation. The paper also argues that learning English is not simply a matter of personal choice, multiple cultural and gendered factors intersect to sometimes limit individual's options. Within the Bangladeshi community, women's voices are the least heard, their opinions are rarely sought and it is usually the men from the community who speak on behalf of the women. This paper will show how whilst Asian men were denouncing policies to encourage learning English, women expressed a strong desire to be able to speak English, yet identified a range of obstacles preventing them from being able to learn. It is suggested that more attention needs to be paid to women's needs to help facilitate their participation in the community and aid them to achieve full citizenship status. This is turn can enable women to help create more cohesive communities
published_date 2008-12-31T14:39:25Z
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score 11.037603

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