Education: hopes, expectations and achievements of Muslim women in West Yorkshire

Abstract

ABSTRACT It is the contention of this paper that Muslim women in West Yorkshire, like their male counterparts, place an inordinate trust in the ability of the educational system to act as a means of delivering their children from the drudgery of poverty. Although in practice there is not enough evidence to support their optimism, women of all backgrounds, regardless of their own levels of educational achievement, seek to promote their children within the school and further educational systems and are increasingly doing so for their daughters as well as their sons. In a three generational study carried out by the author, it is evident that daughters of Muslim immigrant families, though aware of intense racism and poor prospects, are doing their best to comply with these parental wishes.