This paper analyses the representation of Muslim women in American and Canadian media. First of all, the paper highlights the representations of Muslims as a whole, followed by an analysis of the representation of Muslim women in particular.
The paper also discusses Muslim women’s identities and the veiling practice from their perspectives. Taking into consideration the limitations of previous studies, the paper then proposes various tools or lenses to help with thinking about the identity of Muslim women. Lastly, the paper outlines the positive and negative outcomes of media (mis)representation. Critical analysis has been used as a methodology to uncover oppressive discourse and portrayals when constructing “the other.” Edward Said’s postcolonial criticism of the “Other” and Agenda Setting Theory influenced the theoretical framework.
Table of Contents
1. The Logic of Research Analysis
2. Theoretical Framework
3. Overview of Muslim (Mis)representation in the Media
4. Who is the Muslim Woman According to Western Media?
5. The Muslim Woman from the Standpoint of Msulim Women
6. Looking Through a Different Lens
7. Negative and Positive Outcomes
8. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines how Western media, particularly in the United States and Canada, constructs the identity of Muslim women through stereotypical portrayals, aiming to challenge these depictions by providing alternative perspectives from Muslim women themselves.
- The persistence of negative media stereotypes regarding Muslim women
- Application of postcolonial criticism and Agenda Setting Theory
- Discrepancy between media narratives and the lived experiences of Muslim women
- The significance and perception of the hijab within Islamic traditions
- The influence of corporate and political agendas on media representation
Excerpt from the Book
Who is the Muslim Woman According to Western Media?
Literature analysing both visual and printed Western media concluded that there are seemingly endless misrepresentations of Muslim women. Muslim women are typically portrayed in American and Canadian media as one of three characters. The first character is the mysterious sensual belly dancer. The second is the oppressed Muslim woman wearing a veil, victimized by the males in her family and by society. The final character is the militant Muslim woman dressed in military clothes and operating as part of a terrorist cell (Said, 1981; Kutty, 1997). The most common characteristics attributed to Muslim women revolve around being backwards, exotic, and part of a barbaric religion (Said, 1979). Wilkins’s (1997) research analysed 230 U.S. press photos and added “passive,” “victims,” and “impersonal” to the list of stereotypes.
Summary of Chapters
The Logic of Research Analysis: This chapter introduces the methodology, utilizing critical analysis and postcolonial criticism to examine how oppressive discourses construct the "other" in Western media.
Theoretical Framework: This section establishes the foundation of the study, incorporating Edward Said’s concepts of Orientalism and the Agenda Setting Theory to explain how media shapes public perception.
Overview of Muslim (Mis)representation in the Media: This chapter documents historical and contemporary stereotypes of Muslims in Hollywood films and print media, tracing the prevalence of negative characterizations.
Who is the Muslim Woman According to Western Media?: This section categorizes the specific, limited archetypes—such as the belly dancer or the oppressed victim—that the media frequently uses to represent Muslim women.
The Muslim Woman from the Standpoint of Msulim Women: This chapter shifts the focus to how Muslim women define themselves and their relationship with practices like the hijab, contrasting internal perspectives with external media interpretations.
Looking Through a Different Lens: This chapter suggests alternative ways to understand the lives of Muslim women, emphasizing scholarly works and new media platforms that bypass traditional stereotypes.
Negative and Positive Outcomes: This section analyzes the consequences of media misrepresentation, ranging from real-world discrimination to the emergence of counter-narratives by Muslim women in digital spaces.
Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes the study’s findings and reinforces the objective to challenge the monolithic image of the "veiled victim."
Keywords
otherness, misrepresentation, the veil, Muslim, identity, Orientalism, Agenda Setting Theory, Western media, Islamophobia, stereotypes, gender, postcolonial criticism, cultural representation, feminist perspective, media bias
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing the representation of Muslim women in American and Canadian media, identifying how these representations often rely on stereotypical and biased narratives.
What central themes are explored throughout the work?
Key themes include the construction of "the other," the role of media in shaping political agendas, the misrepresentation of the hijab, and the disconnect between media portrayals and the actual identities of Muslim women.
What is the main goal or research question of this study?
The primary goal is to challenge the stereotypical image of Muslim women as passive, oppressed victims and to provide a more nuanced understanding based on indigenous and feminist perspectives.
Which scientific methodology is applied in this research?
The study utilizes critical analysis and postcolonial criticism to uncover the power dynamics and oppressive discourses present in Western media portrayals.
What does the author cover in the main body of the work?
The main body examines historical stereotypes in Hollywood, quantitative analyses of newspaper coverage, the significance of the veil from Muslim women's perspectives, and the positive potential of new social media platforms.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Essential keywords include otherness, misrepresentation, the veil, Muslim, identity, Orientalism, and media bias.
How does the media use the concept of "the other" regarding Muslim women?
The media uses this concept to draw a distinction between "modern" Western women and "backward" third-world women, thereby justifying Western intervention and modernization efforts.
Why does the author advocate for looking at Muslim women through a different lens?
The author argues that traditional Western media fabrications are distortive and that consulting scholarly works and direct accounts from Muslim women provides a more accurate and respectful reality.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Afnan Qutub (Autor:in), 2017, The presentation of muslim women in the media. Saving muslim women from their misery, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/354709
