Much of what is known
about Islam and Muslims in Western societies is derived from the mass media.
This includes newspapers, magazines, radio, television, films, books and
websites. In the book titled Islam and
Contemporary Civilisation, Rane (2010:136) positions mediated Islam as a
dilemma and notes that the aforementioned “sources have particular power and
potential in modern society.” They give meaning to issues and events covered
and thereby have the potential to influence the public’s opinions, attitudes
and beliefs. In the absence of first-hand experience, the mass media also
generally become a primary source of information (Rane 2010: 136).
Since 9/11, there has
been increased media and government scrutiny of the Muslim population (Ciftci
et al 2013: 26). The American public’s attention has increasingly focused on
Arab and Muslim Americans since this date. Although Islam dates back more than
1400 years and has had roots in Western nations for many centuries, interest in
Islam and Muslims prior to 9/11 incidents in America was minimal (Ahmed &
Amer 2012: 3). 9/11 therefore led to an increased visibility of Muslims and
interest in Islam (Ahmed & Amer 2012: 3).
Despite the increased
interest in Islam, the average person has very little knowledge about the
religion and its followers (Ahmed & Amer 2012: 3). Following the attacks,
the media played a major role in creating negative attitudes toward Muslims by
disseminating misconceptions and misunderstandings about Islam (Ahmed &
Amer 2012: 10). According to Amri and Bernak (2013: 46), “right-wing media
figures have smeared the image of Muslims and Islam and make no apologies for
their Islamophobic views and beliefs.” For example, it portrays Muslim males as militant,
aggressive fundamentalists with violent tendencies (Ahmed & Amer 2012:
274). According to Ahmed and Amer (2012: 274), Muslims are often presented as
foreign “enemies of freedom, tolerance and pluralism.”
Although Muslim beliefs
and ethnic sub-cultures are heterogeneous, Islam is often perceived as a
monolithic group (Ciftci et al 2013: 23). Muslims are therefore negatively
stereotyped and subjected to significant interpersonal and structural
discrimination (Ciftci 2013: 23). Take the wearing of the hijab for example. In Western societies, the wearing of the
hijab is often misrepresented in the media (Tabassum 2005: 63). The image of a
Muslim woman in hijab is used to demonstrate an encompassing negative
stereotype (Hassan 2010: 2). It advertises the view that Islamic hijab wearers
are adherents of a religion that promotes anti-Western values such as
indiscriminate violence and gender oppression (Tabassum 2005: 63). So, these
Muslim women are practicing a minority religion in countries that do not
understand it (Williams & Vashi 2007: 271).
The media may have a
detrimental impact on the stereotypes non-Muslims develop as well as on the
psychological health of Muslims themselves (Nadal et al 2012: 30). The negative
representation of Islam in mainstream media can increase levels of anxiety and
stress for Muslim people and alienate them from society (Ahmed & Amer 2012:
274). These negative images on the news or in fictional television shows may
therefore impact on Muslims’ self-esteem and identity (Nadal et al 2012: 30).
It is therefore necessary
for the media and other institutions to be much more vigilant in preventing
these types of stereotypes from continuing in order to promote optimal mental
health for Muslim people (Nadal et al 2012: 30). Being victim of such overt
discrimination on a consistent basis can have an additive effect on one’s
mental health (Nadal et al 2012: 32).
References
Ahmed, S. & Amer,
M. (2012). Muslim Mental Health: Handbook
of Mental Health Issues and Interventions. New York: Taylor and Francis.
Amri, S. & Bemak,
F. (2013). “Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors of Muslim Immigrants in the
United States: Overcoming Social Stigma and Cultural Mistrust.” Journal of Muslim Mental Health 7 (1):
43-63.
Ciftci, A., Jones, N.
& Corrigan, P. (2013). “Mental Health Stigma in the Muslim Community.” Journal of Muslim Mental Health 7 (1):
17-32.
Nadal, K., Griffin, K.,
Hamit, S., Leon, J., Tobio, M. & Rivera, D. (2012). “Subtle and Overt Forms
of Islamophobia: Microaggressions toward Muslim Americans. Journal of Muslim Mental Health VI (2): 15-37.
Rane, H. (2010). Islam and Contemporary Civilisation:
Evolving Ideas, Transforming Relations. Melbourne: Melbourne University
Press.
Tabassum, R. F. (2006).
Listening to the voices of hijab. Women's
Studies International Forum, 29 (1), 54-66. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/10.1016/j.wsif.2005.10.006
Williams, R. H. &
Vashi, G. (2007). "Hijab" and American Muslim Women: Creating the
Space for Autonomous Selves." Sociology
f Religion, 68 (3), 269-287. Retrieved from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20453164
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