Labour MP Naz Shah said societal structures and cultural attitudes keep vulnerable people, especially women from South Asian backgrounds, in poverty and shame [1].
Shah's argument highlights the intersection of cultural expectations and systemic failure, suggesting that these forces combine to marginalize women and prevent them from escaping domestic abuse and economic hardship.
Speaking in an interview, Shah called for a "flip of the shame" regarding the South Asian concept of *izzat*, or honour [1]. She said this shift is necessary so that women are not forced into poverty and silence [1].
Shah used her mother's personal experience to illustrate these points. Her mother killed a man who had abused her, an event Shah cited to show how the criminal justice response and cultural shame can perpetuate marginalization [1]. She said that in a modern context, her mother would likely be viewed as a victim [1].
Beyond cultural pressures, Shah pointed to the role of government and institutional failures. She said that for too long, people have lived with the consequences of a broken system that keeps families in poverty [2].
These systemic issues are reflected in the local needs of her constituency in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Shah said that the expansion of free school breakfast clubs has helped over 50,000 pupils in Bradford [3]. This figure underscores the scale of food insecurity and economic instability facing families in the region.
Shah said that breaking the cycle of poverty requires addressing both the internal cultural pressures, and the external lack of support systems that leave women vulnerable to abuse and financial ruin [1].
“We need to flip the shame of the South Asian concept of ‘izzat’ so that women are not forced into poverty and silence.”
By linking the cultural concept of 'izzat' to systemic poverty, Shah is framing domestic abuse and economic instability not just as private family matters, but as public policy failures. Her emphasis on the 'flip of the shame' suggests that social change in South Asian communities must happen in tandem with institutional reform to effectively protect women from marginalization.
