Changing Stereotypes of Arab and Muslims That Link Them to Terrorism And Extremism - Essay Example

Changing Stereotypes of Arab and Muslims That Link Them to Terrorism And Extremism Not all Muslim women wear headscarves and neither do all Muslim men have long, unkempt beards. The number of Muslims living in the United States is far greater than the number trying to become terrorists. In addition, it is important that Americans find out that Muslims are regular people with common dreams and aspirations. They do have far better things to do than dream up daily plans of world domination. I believe it is our media’s responsibility to straighten up the Muslim image in publics minds, by giving a voice to the real Muslims of America. Everyone has a tendency to stereotype in order to simplify his or her lives. Stereotypes are the maps of the world and aptly demonstrate the very human need to categorize. People like to stereotype to serve a fundamental need to preserve their own safety and well-being. Therefore, people end up making presumptions about persons and groups that say how they will end up affecting these people. However, sometimes that need transforms into a vehicle to elevate one’s own status as compared to the stereotype group. Muslims and Muslim-Americans are currently experiencing this very phenomenon. After the attacks of September 11, Muslims and Arabs have been subjected to increased scrutiny and racial profiling at airports. In a poll carried out by the Boston Globe, 71 percent black people and 57 percent whites expressed the belief that Arabs and Muslims should be put through special, intensive security checks before they are allowed to board airplanes. ("Terror fears hamper,”) It is considered quite acceptable and even necessary to hold Muslims without any explanation and then subject them to hours of questioning and even arrest without a cause. The American civil Liberties Union is sorting out many lawsuits of the kind. Mike Gallagher, a Fox News radio host has even gone on to say that, "It's time to have a Muslims check-point line in America's airports and have Muslims be scrutinized. You better believe it, it's time." (Cowan, 2001) ("Fox news airs,”) In a sixth grade social studies book, the Muslim culture is portrayed as oppressive and patriarchal. The book displays pictures of camels, tents and veiled women. The authors say that Muslim girls do not go to school and women cannot own property. At the end, the authors ask, “Would you like to be a Muslim woman in Middle East?” There are many examples like this one, of stereotyping Muslims based on the culture and traditions prevalent in one country. (Shaheen) It is a glaring assumption to presume that Muslim women all over the world are oppressed, helpless creatures. They are usually portrayed as vague, shapeless people clad in a burqa, covered from head to toe standing silently behind a man. Muslim women are submissive and silent. How does this compare to the reality of Muslim women’s lives? In actuality, a majority of Muslim women do not look like that. Yes, many do cover their heads and dress modestly but it is out of choice for most Muslim women. The Afghan-Pashtun style, head-to-toe burqa is only prevalent in Afghanistan and border areas of Pakistan and has just as much cultural importance as religious. In addition, Muslim women are active participants in their familial and societal lives. Their biggest difficulties are those of any women from a developing nation; namely poverty, lack of education, cultural boundaries, war related troubles and other social problems. Yes, some of them may be linked to practice of Islam and many cannot as Muslim women share issues with many women of other faiths all over the world. Their lifestyles depend on where the Muslim woman lives. Her problems are dependent on her family’s cultures and traditions, economic class, whether she lives in an urban or rural environment and her own level of education. These are a complex set of factors and cannot simply be reduced to the presence of a veil. (Shaheen) (Hussain , 1999) This stereotype, that Muslims are a backward, abusive race with no regard for human or women’s rights, needs to be broken primarily. People need to be awakened to the wider truth about the gender-related practices of Islam in order to soften its image in other areas as well. The only way to change this stereo type is to provide the masses with the necessary information. Studies and research needs to be conducted on Muslim women not in the strict context of religion but the historical and socio political impact also needs to be considered. (Shaheen) Another deep-set stereotype is the one portrayed in movies. The Hollywood industry managed to stereotype Muslims decades before the 9/11 tragedy. Movies shape opinions of Americans and many people all over the world and Hollywood has always portrayed Arabs as the turban-wearing troublemakers. Muslims are usually the “others”; people from a different race, class and origin. According to the media, the diverse Arab world is populated solely by bearded mullahs, sheiks with harems full of women and belly dancers. A more recent addition to this image is the uneducated and unattractive burqa-clad woman a few steps behind her bearded husband. These images have robbed Muslims and Arabs of a human face as they are constructed to frighten the viewers. This portrait does not depict the rich culture and history of the people; neither does it do justice to the hospitality and generosity of these people. There were 15 to 20 movies depicting Arabs as the bad people on American cable in the 1990’s. The trend was started pretty much a a 100 years ago with Mark Twains “Innocents Abroad”. He described “Mohammadeans” as “sinfully ugly pagans” and “ravaged savages”. Hollywood adopted the view with The Sheik in 1921 portraying Arabs as brutal proponents of slavery and promiscuity. Later on in the 1970’s, the promiscuous sheik became the oil-rich sheik and finally in the late 1980’s the terrorist sheik. The result of not challenging this blatant stereotyping can be dangerous. This tendency reminds of the 1940’s trend in Nazi-inspired German movies in which Jews dressed very differently from real life in yarmulkes and robes, wanted world domination while killing innocents and lusting after virgin blood. (Shaheen) Sensitizing writers, producers and actors can counter this stereotype to the reality of the matter. Filmmaker George Lucas of the Star Wars fame talked to Time Magazine about what artists can “teach” with their creations. He is critical of some of his own work in which Arabs and Muslims have been stereotyped as terrorists. So, all is not lost yet. Independent movies and documentaries are beginning to explore the intricacies of the Muslim religion and culture in order to educate people of the amazing beauties hidden in this civilization. In a 1992 documentary called Lacy, the narrator says, “when Europe was still in the dark ages the Fertile Crescent entered a glorious phase in its culture. In the universities and Libraries of Baghdad, Babylonian astronomy, Hindu mathematics and Chinese science were passed on. The triumph of the west was made possible y a flood of ancient learning and science from Islam.” (Shaheen) More than the big budget studios, independent filmmakers are doing their part in uplifting the Arab/ American Muslim image in the minds of American viewers. From the romantic heroes to crime fighting air force officers, Muslims are finally getting representation in American media. Media needs to understand that it has the power to shape attitudes and outlooks. Instead of depicting pointless violence, audience needs o be shown resilient and virtuous characters they way they occur in real life. Movies need to become a medium of uplifting the society instead of dragging it down to the gutters. (Shaheen) Vilification of any race, religion or class is wrong. However, many do not promote the stereotypes on purpose. It is perhaps best to approach the individuals’ promoting these stereotypes and establish working relationships. Journalists, writers and moviemakers have to make a conscious effort to spread the peace-loving side of Islam to the world. Muslims believe in and observe integration regardless of class and race. In addition, Muslims just like people of other religions do. Christians fast during lent, Jews fast on Yom Kippur, Hindus and Buddhists have the most elaborate rituals regarding fasting. In addition, the purpose is the same for all, to discipline soul and enhance the connection to God. Proper dissemination of these and similar ideas will dispel any myths of Muslims being moon-god worshippers. (Shaheen) Muslim religious leaders need to be better acquainted with reporters in order to get their words across to a wider audience that consists of people from all faiths and occupations. Journalists also need to be better educated in religious affairs in order to better understand religious affairs. (Shaheen) The Arab Spring is a recent example of how Muslims have so much more to offer than their typical stereotypes. Youth makes up 55 to 70 percent of the population in Middle Eastern countries. They are observant of world affairs and have been fearless advocates of freedom and peace in their countries. Previously these young people were called the lost generation, as they were prime target for recruiters from Al-Qaeda and other jihadist organizations. Now, they are the miracle Facebook generation who have fearlessly fought and overthrown brutal regimes. They live in the same world as us and demand same things from life; namely freedom of expression, rights of political participation, better employment opportunities and an end of corruption. None of these demands has anything to do with their religion, and everything to do with the dream for a better life for themselves and their families. They are why Europe and United States need to start taking Muslim Integration seriously by tapping the huge potential of Muslims who just want to live like the rest of us. (DeLong-Bas) (Archic, Belkin, Blanchard, Ek & Mix) Only when these stereotypes are broken successfully, will we be able to enjoy the richness and beauties offered by the Muslim American culture. Firstly, the media should understand that it represents the Muslims to the rest of the country and this representation should be taken seriously. Popular media is already catching on with several T.V shows depicting the everyday lives of ordinary Muslims. News media also needs to display the no- terrorist stories that show a more human side. Finally, in order to break the Muslim stereotype, Muslim also need to engage with the media and public in order to build a better public image. References Archic, K., Belkin, P., Blanchard, C., Ek, C., & Mix, D. Congressional Research Service, (n.d.). Muslims in Europe: Promoting integration and countering extremism. Retrieved from website: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL33166.pdf Cowan, C. (2001, October 01). Terror probe changes face of racial profiling debate read more: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,35521,00.html DeLong-Bas, N. (n.d.). The new social media and the Arab spring. Focus On-Oxford Islamic Studies Online, Retrieved from http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/Public/focus/essay0611_social_media.htm Fox news airs suggestion for 'Muslim-only airport line. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2006/08/16/fox-news-airs-suggestion-_e_27366.html Hussain , S. (1999). Breaking stereotypes two generations of Muslim women. Centre for Women's Development Studies. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.pk/books/about/Breaking_stereotypes_two_generations_of.html?id=eAEqAAAAYAAJ&redir_esc=y Shaheen, J. Arab and Muslim stereotyping in American popular culture. Georgetown University. Retrieved from http://www12.georgetown.edu/sfs/docs/Jack_J_Shaheen_Arab_and_Muslim_Stereotyping_in_American_Popular_Culture_1997.pdf Terror fears hamper u.s. Muslims’ travel. New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/01/us/nationalspecial3/01traveler.html?_r=2 Read More