Misrepresentation of Muslim Women in the Media

Oppressed? Terrorist? Women with no rights? The twin towers? All these words have been associated with Muslims for many years, especially Muslim women that wear the hijab. The cloth that they wear on their heads have been given so many negative meanings to it, people would rather be blinded by the media and ignore the meaning of the word hijab. When we think of the word hijab, we would usually think of a scarf a muslim women would wear, which is correct. But the word hijab applies to both men and women that practice Islam to be modest and control their gaze. As the world is very misogynistic, men that dont wear their “hijab” get a pass and don’t get shamed while women do. The stereotype of “oppressed Muslim women” came from the media mixing up culture and religion together. For example, there are cultural places in the middle east that have laws for women to cover their body, those are the places that are seen as the symbol of Islam.Many cultures have a part in making Islam look “bad” or “ unfair”. Many cultural practices dont even fall into Islam and would be considered a sin.

I chose this topic because it’s one that I’ve always been interested in and doesn’t get enough attention. Especially as a Muslim women that decided to wear my hijab, I can’t stand for the wrongful ways the media has portrayed my religion, especially the women. We already live in a sexist and misogynistic world and seeing muslim women be the symbol of oppression isn’t fair. Fun fact actually Islam was he first religion and group of people to give women rights before the Europeans did. Culture and religion have been mixed up and falsely represented in the world. Muslim populated countries usually run on culture more than religion, like for example have laws for women to dress modestly. Even if tourists come they would need to cover their bodies. Why? To respect the culture that was made by the people that are following Islam. Now here’s the bad side, the media (specifically streaming networks like Netflix) Have made it seem as if the hijab is an oppressive tool used against muslim women. The scarf that they wear on their heads are “strict” or “passive”. But you see, the hijab for most women is seen as powerful, inspiring, and amazing! But we will always be put into [the three categories of being oppressed, veiled and the worst of all homogenous.] ( https://muslimgirl.com/watch-dismantling-the-mainstream-medias-image-of-the-muslim-woman/)
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And its not only the media that plays a part of this bad face of Women in Islam to be known to all, its also the beauty sense and different ways people believe women should be like. A girl from Palestine or Nigeria could be forced to wear her hijab while someone who loves their hijab moves to the USA and is pressured to take it off. “Take it off you’ll look better that way” or “Put it on and you’ll be seen as more prettier”. People have taken the meaning of the hijab and made as if it’s something to throw around. Muslim girls that choose to wear it know that it was the biggest decision in their life. There are some that took it off but still respect it while others would bash it because they felt oppressed. But they are reminded it was because of CULTURE not RELIGION.

Watching Tv and Movies everyone should know that at least one show they watched had a muslim lady (Most likely arab and black hijab) having a bomb. Or taking off her scarf to feel free. Yes many muslim women take off their scarves but thats for their life journey. Tv shows would make removing the hijab a sign of freedom aka being able to run away from a strict family and live life with her dream white boy. For example, the Netflix original show [“The Elite”] (https://nwhsjagwire.org/showcase/showcase-showcase/2019/12/08/misrepresentation-of-muslims-in-hollywood/) has a character named Nadia Shanna that removes her hijab for the sake of her lover Guzman. There is no problem with Muslim woman taking off their scarf for themselves but I will forever have an issue with media companies believing its okay to think that I would remove my scarf to feel free with a white man. They are showing a lot of “White savior” complexes on screens, saving her from being oppressed. Islam is the second biggest and growing religion in the world and stereotypes like this are still being spread and damaging the way women in my religion are seen.

I don’t have to show my hair or body to feel empowered or be a “#girlboss” I already am one. [Modesty empowers] ( https://theconversation.com/how-muslim-women-break-stereotypes-by-mixing-faith-and-modesty-with-fashion-110767) and I see beauty in my religion and faith and strive to strengthen that. I am not oppressed. I am not a terrorist. No I did not bomb the twin towers. I am a Muslim women looking and fighting for the proper rights and representations in the media, because for I am tired of being seen as less than.

Doing research for this project was definitely fun to me surprisingly and kind of saddened me. I always thought Islam was being seen as an oppressive religion was an “All muslim” problem but it mainly focused on the women in Islam. Before they talk about the men its always being talked about the headscarves, the way we dress, or our face coverings, being seen as bad, scary, and un-american. I would like to learn more about why people think like this? Why does me wearing a scarf scare people so much? Why are you scared of a piece of cloth on my head? Is the media going to change the way of how Islam is seen since it’s the second biggest religion in the world? Don’t they think it deserves more respect to its title? As my research proceeds to grow, I hope to find more answers to these intriguing questions.