u/Value-49

Ik werk bij een bedrijf waar belangrijke posities vooral naar vrienden, familie en bekenden van het management gaan. Daardoor weet ik eigenlijk al dat er voor mij weinig doorgroeimogelijkheden zijn.

Ik ga hier binnenkort weg, juist omdat ik weet dat ik binnen dit bedrijf niet verder kom, ongeacht mijn resultaten.

Kan je hier als werknemer iets tegen doen, of mag een bedrijf dit gewoon doen? Hebben jullie dit ooit meegemaakt?

Ruben Brekelmans klaagt over Gen-Z omdat er jongeren zijn die een 3 of 4-daagse werkweek hebben. Volgens hem moeten we juist veel meer gaan werken, zelfs richting 72 uur per week.

We werken gemiddeld al meer dan ooit en door AI, automatisering en digitalisering is de productiviteit enorm gestegen. Als we met minder mensen steeds meer kunnen produceren, waarom zouden we dan allemaal nog meer uren moeten maken?

En waarom moeten jongeren tegelijkertijd meer werken en meer betalen? Jongeren betalen ook mee aan de AOW van de boomers, terwijl het helemaal niet zeker is dat zij later hetzelfde terugkrijgen.

Boomers hebben geprofiteerd van goedkope huizen, HRA, ruime sociale zekerheid en enorme stijgingen van de huizenprijzen. En nu moet er ineens van alles worden afgeschaft: WW korter, minder sociale zekerheid, stoppen met HRA en langer doorwerken.

Veel boomers gaan nog rond hun 67e met pensioen, terwijl jongere generaties misschien tot 72 moeten werken. Als 72 jaar werken echt nodig is, waarom geldt dat dan niet gewoon direct voor iedereen? Waarom pas over 30 jaar?

Waarom moeten jongeren steeds meer inleveren terwijl de generatie die het meeste heeft kunnen profiteren haar voordelen gewoon houdt? Als er offers nodig zijn, laat iedereen dan meedoen. Niet alleen de jongeren.

Ik kan me herinneren dat je rond 2018 nog studio’s van ongeveer 40 m² kon vinden voor €400-€700 per maand. Tegenwoordig zie ik voor vergelijkbare studio’s regelmatig huurprijzen van €1400-€2000+.

Dat betekent in sommige gevallen een stijging van 200% tot 400% in ongeveer acht jaar.

Ik snap dat huren zijn gestegen, maar hoe kan een studio van 40 m² die acht jaar geleden €500 kostte nu ineens €1500 of zelfs €2000 kosten? Bijna drie keer zoveel.

En vooral: hoe kunnen mensen dit nog betalen? En waar komt die enorme stijging vandaan?

I think Muslims need to stop putting reverts on a pedestal. Just because someone converts doesn't suddenly make them a role model, scholar or someone the whole community should look up to.

Being a revert in the West also puts you in a different position. You're coming from the majority culture and usually still have family, friends and connections outside the Muslim community. That's not a bad thing, but it can mean you have a different perspective from someone who grew up Muslim.

Look at Tate and Sneako. A lot of Muslims immediately started praising them because they converted. But why? Conversion doesn't erase someone's past or mean we suddenly have to agree with everything they say.

The same goes for celebrities. The Roberto Carlos conversion story was repeated everywhere, even though he later denied that he had converted. Muslims were so eager to celebrate it that many didn't even check whether it was true. He married a 'Muslim' woman, and suddenly no one is talking about this story.

I'm not saying every revert has an ulterior motive, or that reverts are spies. But we shouldn't be naive either. Some people convert because of marriage, and some may expect a Muslim woman to be very obedient or follow a very traditional idea of marriage, while their own understanding of Islam is still shallow. Others may convert for status, money, attention or other reasons. That doesn't mean we accuse people without evidence. It just means we shouldn't blindly trust or idolize someone because they took the shahada.

I see so many Somali women on social media who apostate, why is it so common among Somali women? And less so among Somali men?

I often see people complain on this sub about others having preferences when it comes to marriage. Preferences about ethnicity, race, age, caste or background are quickly judged, and sometimes people are called names simply because they reject someone.

But rejecting someone does not automatically make a person racist, sexist or hateful. Everyone has personal preferences when choosing a life partner. Attraction and compatibility are important parts of relationships, and people cannot be forced to marry someone they do not feel compatible with.

For example, it is common for women to have preferences about a man's height. A woman who does not want to date a man below or above a certain height is usually expressing a personal preference, not hatred toward shorter or taller men. In the same way, someone who prefers a partner from the same ethnic background, who speaks the same language or who shares the same religious denomination may be looking for familiarity, shared values and cultural compatibility. As long as they are respectful I don't see the fault in this.

Even from an Islamic perspective, people are not judged simply for having preferences in marriage. Islam recognizes that marriage involves attraction, compatibility, family, culture and shared values. A person is not obligated to marry someone they do not feel comfortable with. What matters is how people treat each other and whether they avoid arrogance and injustice.

At the end of the day, marriage is a personal choice. People should be free to decide who they want to build a life with. Having preferences is a normal part of human relationships and rejecting someone does not automatically make someone bad.

I find it strange how some Muslims react when someone converts to Islam, especially in the West where Muslims are a minority. Sometimes a conversion is treated almost like a major achievement or a victory with a lot of excitement and praise.

But I think we should be more careful. Converting is only the beginning of a journey. What matters is whether someone truly understands the religion, stays committed and continues practicing over the long term.

What is often ignored is that a noticeable number of converts eventually leave Islam again. The exact numbers are difficult to measure, but former converts and ex-Muslims are not uncommon, especially in Western countries. This shows that the moment someone converts it does not always tell the full story. A public declaration can receive a lot of attention, while long term commitment can only be judged over time.

We also have to acknowledge that people can have different motivations for converting. While many converts are sincere, it is also possible for someone to have other motivations alongside their beliefs, such as wanting attention, a sense of belonging, a relationship, social status or access to a certain community. This is why it is important not to judge someone's commitment only by the moment they announce their conversion, but look at their actions over a longer period of time.

Especially as a minority community in the West, Muslims should be thoughtful and not automatically see every public conversion as a success or a symbol of growth, as we saw in many cases online. A religion should not be about collecting numbers. The focus should be on sincerity and genuine commitment.

One thing I find odd is that even in progressive Muslim spaces, people still expect men to be providers. A lot of traditional gender roles are questioned, but this one usually isn't.

Women can study, work, build careers and earn their own money. Financial independence should be encouraged, not discouraged.

If both spouses work and enjoy the same lifestyle, then splitting the bills 50/50 should be completely normal. Marriage should be a partnership, not one person carrying the financial burden because of their gender.

To me, expecting men to provide by default isn't progressive. It also sends the message that women aren't expected to contribute equally, which I think is a paternalistic and ultimately misogynistic way of thinking. If men and women are equal, they should also share responsibility.