Many Muslim families are currently observing Ramadan, the month of fasting. How do we Muslim mothers manage this reflection on our own faith in the face of immense care work?
In families with young children, Ramadan is often associated with special preparations and anticipation. The home is decorated, bulk shopping is done and Ramadan calendars are bought, made or filled. The children want to get up at night for sahur, the last meal before sunrise. Mothers and fathers may celebrate this in a special way so that their children also have a festival that is tangible and visible to them in their mostly Christian to secular daycare routine. In addition to fasting itself, there are moments of prayer and celebratory, communal breaking of the fast with friends, neighbors and family. However, this month can also pose challenges for everyday family life due to altered sleep/wake rhythms, an initially lower resilience and sometimes a lack of knowledge or sensitivity in the personal and/or professional environment.
How can we practice this part of our religion and experience moments of pause without going completely beyond our own limits? Cooking practically or eating out? Help each other out? Cut back on work? Or even give up fasting ourselves? Or could we perhaps even manage to distribute care work more fairly within our partnership and (extended) family? In my opinion, a first step could be to go against rigid gender roles and taboos and talk to each other about these challenges for mothers and (caring) fathers during Ramadan.
Sina Motzek-Öz
Professor of Clinical Social Work with a focus on Participation and Intervention, Vice Dean for Transfer and Internationalization
Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences Wolfenbüttel
This is exactly what we will be talking about on May 10, 2025 in Berlin at the 100,000 Mothers Demo! We are fighting for a fair distribution of care work, for social recognition and for political changes that relieve us as mothers. Join us on the streets and let's be loud together!
May 10, 2025 - Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
#HOneHundredThousandMothers #CareWorkIsWork #EqualityNow #WeStandUp #Ramadan #MothersInRamadan