Bateson, G. (2010) An Ecology of Mind: The Gregory Bateson Documentary (1).
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youtube.com/watch?v=vnL0ZB1SzZY (accessed 20.02.20). Bendell, J. (2019) Deep adaptation. Presented at Sleepwalking into the Anthropocene: The New Age of Anxiety, 19.10.19, UKCP event, London. Burnham, J. (2017)
https://www.cfssw.org/sites/ default/fi les/atoms/fi les/problems_possibilities_ resources_restraints_a_versatile_pprractice_ map_by_john_burnham.pdf (accessed 05.03.20). Castelloe, M. (2018) Coming to Terms With Ecoanxiety, Psychology Today, https://www.
psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-me-in- we/201801/coming-terms-ecoanxiety, (accessed 03.03.20). Coward, R. (2019) A Crucial Role. New Psychotherapist, 72: Autumn. Grantham Institute (2019) How Can Taking Action on Climate Change Make all our Lives Better?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qR- ZgJ5oww (accessed 06.03.20). Grantham Institute (2020) Nine Things you can do About Climate Change
http://www.imperial.ac.uk/stories/climate- action/ (accessed 05.03.20). IPCC (2018) Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°c Approved by Governments. https://www.ipcc. ch/2018/10/08/summary-for-policymakers-of- ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c- approved-by-governments/ (accessed 03.03.20). Hickman, C. & Staunton, T. (2019) We are all fully vulnerable to the climate emergency. New Psychotherapist, 72: Autumn. Jayne-Rust, M. (2019) Eco-psychology. Presented at Sleepwalking into the Anthropocene: The New Age of Anxiety, 19.10.19, UKCP event, London. Jennings, N. (2019) The co-benefi ts of climate
action. Presented at Sleepwalking into the Anthropocene: The New Age of Anxiety, 19.10.19, UKCP event, London. Macdonald, D. (2018) cited in Carrington, D. (2018) What is biodiversity and why does it matter to us? The Guardian,
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Beki Brain works as a systemic family therapist at an inpatient CAMHS clinic in Birmingham. Her interest in climate crisis activism is a relatively new, but strong passion. She was recently appointed as sustainability offi cer for the West Midlands AFT branch. Email:
beki_lb@hotmail.com
Context 170, August 2020
Islamophobia – a systemic perspective: Unpacking prejudices
and assumptions Nasif Nijabat
T is article aims to explore some of the
contributing factors of how the media in the UK talks about British Muslims, and how this may infl uence and shape our views – both personally as well as professionally. Our present time, which is arguably one of uncertainty, divisiveness and unrest, surrounding issues such as Brexit, immigration, religion and race, have leſt society feeling generally anxious, fearful, frustrated and angry about what the future holds for the United Kingdom, regardless of one’s political stance, religious views or affi liations. T ese societal discourses have brought
into question whether we are becoming less tolerant and more hateful towards diff erence. T is is emotive and suggestive language for sure, which I believe is a refl ection of the spirit of our time. Hence the importance of having an open and honest discussion if there is any hope for conceivable systemic change to occur. T e complexity in at empting to at end
to all themes surrounding Islamophobia as a societal discourse is a task I do not take lightly. My hope is to facilitate a dialogue as a starting point for this highly relevant topic and to think further about the implications this has for all professionals, particularly within health and social care. I have an acute awareness of the
contentious and emotive themes within this article and what this may trigger for the reader. T erefore, sensitivity and thoughtfulness will be a guiding factor. My intention isn’t to generalise or make
assumptions, but to provide my perspective, which is based upon my lived experience both personal and professional, in addition to a keen area of interest regarding continued research, practice and learning. My intention is to invite you, dear reader, to be systemically curious about
where your ideas surrounding Muslims in British society may stem from and also what informs these ideas, and how this then translates into your work. A guiding principle in systemic theory
is context, and how this provides the remit for meaning and understanding of a situation. T erefore, I feel it appropriate to provide a summary on why this topic resonates deeply and my invested interest in Islamophobia as a societal discourse.
Context and curiosity Amongst the many labels I choose to
defi ne myself with is that of a 40-year-old, UK born, British Asian, non-practising, liberal minded, Muslim man. I am second generation to parents who migrated with their parents from a deprived rural part of Pakistan to the UK (East London) in search of bet er life opportunities. Generally speaking, the concept of
family, from a south Asian perspective, diff ers in comparison to traditional Western notions. For example, the term family is not exclusive to the nuclear family, meaning that the structures, roles and traditions extend to aunts and uncles. Transgenerational scripts in south Asian
families also tend to put an emphasis on religion, community, class/caste, privileging of gender (men), honour and expectations. A fusion and/or blur of religion and culture is also prevalent – as was the case in my family. A dominant family belief during my upbringing was to be a good Pakistani Muslim boy. T is created great internal confl ict and shame for me, especially during my formative adolescent years. How I made sense of the cultural tension between East and West impacted directly on my emerging identity, and was the main underlying source for contention in my family.
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Islamophobia – a systemic perspective: Unpacking prejudices and assumptions
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