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This week’s news has, naturally, been dominated by the historic triggering of Article 50. But my attention was diverted on Tuesday when I saw a picture of two of the most powerful political women in Britain: Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May, important women doing important jobs. As I clicked on the link I saw the headline and was disappointed to see a reference to ‘leggsit’. I thought to myself of all the things that could be said about these two leaders the writers went for, what felt to me, a sexist comment. I was as disappointed when I was then told to ‘get over it’ as though any adverse reaction to the headline was inappropriate. Sexism and gender inequality isn’t only manifest in all kinds of media; it’s present in different ways throughout our lives. In my own faith tradition I often remind myself of a verse in the Qur’an when God gives a clear message to the angels ‘I am going to create a human of clay: when I perfect it in every way, and blow into it of my spirit, all of you should bow down before it.’ God is clear: women are not created from a man but in their own right as human beings and with agency. Muslim women’s lives are different to the perception others may have of them. Islam and the role of women is a contentious issue for many people. Topics such as clothing, education and roles at home, around being a wife or mother, can attract negative stereotypes. I find these pejorative views risk limiting women further. Man made rules can give us the impression that they are made by God. This irks me, it’s far too convenient to blame God for our shortcomings, especially when we reduce women to the domestic sphere. Less is talked about the women I meet in the course of my work and personal life. The strong, vibrant women who are building societies and communities across our country and who have a sense of responsibility for what happens to us all. They take action when they feel injustice, in fact we’ve seen some of these examples just this past week when women of all faiths and none stood together at vigils, on bridges and raised tens of thousands of pounds in a matter of days to support the victims of last week’s attack. The women I meet in all sorts of situations are the beating heart of that which is good in our world. They’re not afraid, but instead take up the gauntlet and challenge traditions that reinforce gender oppression and push women to the periphery of society.