Doha Khan is a climate campaigner who co-founded the South Australian branch of at the age of 16. Now studying medicine at Adelaide University, she appears in the documentary airing on SBS VICELAND, which follows a group of young female Aussie activists. Here, Khan talks about subverting stereotypes and fighting for the future we all need.
My activism began in my teens. Social media and the 24-hour news cycle meant I was hearing day after day the impacts of climate change. The lack of action of governments across the world really motivated me, and the fact that I was not able to vote, even though I knew so much about the legal system, meant I was just a bit pissed off. So when there was a chance to get involved in something intended to shake up the political discourse, I leapt on it.
It was a learning curve. There was so much thinking around how we have meetings, how we schedule things, how we navigate the bureaucracy that surrounds public events – learning the laws and restrictions around protests. Navigating that as a 16-year-old with very limited experience was challenging. And learning how to change hearts and minds was another thing. Figuring how to bring people on board in a way that was not fear-mongering but inspirational and motivating took a fair bit of work.
Doha (second from left) around the fire with the women featured in new Australian documentary, ‘Women and the Power of Activism’. Source: SBS VICELAND
Being Pakistani-Australian and also Muslim-Australian, there has always been an emphasis on those values of justice and fairness. My mother has always encouraged speaking up when you see things go wrong. She never shies away from confrontation the way ethnic mums are perceived to do.
My mother has always encouraged speaking up when you see things go wrong. She never shies away from confrontation the way ethnic mums are perceived to do
I was always very proud to wear the hijab in my public campaigns and when I’d appear on the news, because that was the type of figure that I wanted as a kid. I wore it willingly for 10 years but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realised it carries a burden of representation and I have chosen to take it off out of respect for my community more than anything.
I’ve definitely faced the sexism, racism, ageism trifecta, but what pulled me through is the drive to shake up the status quo. It was more about, “Let me work harder, let me do better, let me be more eloquent, let me be more sophisticated” to subvert the ignorant stereotypes about young people and Muslim women as “submissive things”. It was a degree of stubbornness and refusal to prove them right.
The traditional environmental activism space has very much been dominated by older Caucasian males. The youth movement is very different. There are so many second-generation diverse Australians, so I find the space quite welcoming. There is a big emphasis on elevating the voices of First Nations Australians and communities of colour. Sometimes some of the more established environmental activists that are heading up some of the bigger organisations are not always willing to move over and make that space and elevate those voices on the front line, but that’s been the minority.
Dancing with a baby humpback whale in Tonga, as seen in ‘Women and the Power of Activism’. Source: SBS VICELAND
Climate change is the defining issue that faces the entire world at this moment, and it intersects with so many other social justice and economic issues that people are worried about, so it’s so important that we act on it before it is too late. As young people that are affected by it, it is our obligation.
After you spend a couple of years in the world of activism, you start to see the deeper side of the system. When I first started, it was all, “We have to show the politicians we care,” and, “Surely they’ll do something.” Now I finally understand the deep community organisation that it takes to change the politics around the issues.
‘Women and the Power of Activism’ from filmmaker Michelle Dado-Millynn. Source: SBS VICELAND
… the youth are not going to lie down and let these big corporations and big polluters walk all over their future and turn it into smithereens
I have gained new respect and understanding around intersectionality, working with different community groups, unions, First Nations groups, churches and religious organisations to bring as many sectors of the community on board.
I’d like young women that look up to me to know that you should never let stereotypes hold you back. It’s very easy to let them chip away at your confidence. I want people to understand that there is so much more to minority communities than what they think.
In the end, I’m driven by having people understand that the youth are not going to lie down and let these big corporations and big polluters walk all over their future and turn it into smithereens.
premieres on International Women’s Day, 9.30pm, Wednesday 8 March on SBS VICELAND, and will be available on SBS On Demand.
