Stereotypical Voice - by Ume Habiba
In recent years, representation in movies and TV shows has become a controversial
topic. Many people feel that the majority of visual media used to lack
representation due to the selectively mainstream mindset, the creative people
behind the media, and the racial & gendered infrastructures of Hollywood. While
diverse representation has increased over the years in response to audience
backlash, the question is: has this shift been positive for minorities?
Take Muslim characters in TV shows and movies—they have often been
exclusively portrayed as terrorists, despite millions of Muslim citizens occupying
positions in every sector of society without any terrorist inclinations. This
relentless misrepresentation has quite a dangerous effect on the human mind and
the development of our psyche. One wonders if the Caucasian Canadian terrorist
who recently drove his truck into a Muslim-presenting family had been shown that
Muslims were humans just like himself, would he have attacked them? If he had
been shown that his country isn’t just for Caucasian people to enjoy, would he have
attacked them?
The West thinks that the difference in culture and norms can only be a pathway
towards terrorism. They see their culture as the only 'normal' way to be, and
anyone deviating from that narrow spectrum stands as an implicit threat to them.
Muslims as mad, bad, angry, uncivilized, irrational, dangerous, and more recently,
a security threat is an image that is embedded within most media misrepresentation
and mischaracterization of Islam and Muslims. Islam as the religion of “violence”,
and Muslims as the monolithic “other” is used by several politicians and hate
mongers alike to create prejudice and fear. As anti-Muslim sentiment grows, it is
clear that media coverage of Islam has an extensive role to play in building
increased feelings of suspicion, insecurity, and anxiety among non-Muslims and
alienation among Muslims. All facts and figures presented to Western media will
never be able to compete with the social stigma against Islam and the geopolitical
investment in it.
One distorted representation of Muslims in TV shows I want to highlight is the
portrayal of Islam as a force “restricting” characters from being who they truly
want to be. Popular TV shows like “Elite” have done this not only by portraying
the hijab as a tool of oppression but by having their Muslim characters drink and
have sex as a sign of their freedom. The most accurate portrayal of Nadia, the
show’s most notable Muslim character, was only in the first episode when she said,
“my hijab is not an accessory.” There are Muslims across the world who drink,
have sex before marriage, are gay, and more, without compromising their faith or
religious practices. We all commit sins, I do too, and there is nothing wrong in
showing Muslims that deviate from conservative lifestyles. However, it is wrong
when they are the only Muslims depicted, and thus, the only Muslims exposed to a
Western audience.
Western media has hence been best at manipulating the words of Islam in aims to
attain their best interests. Their main assertion that Muslims largely support
extremist violence is groundless based on there is evident lack of
comparative research, neglect of visuals, and a dearth of research on online media.
No one is born with hatred in their blood; while we can’t account for personal
negative experiences and how they impact people’s decision-making, we can
change what is seen on TV. Terrorism has no religion. Even Muslims who decide
to commit to a track of terrorism, I would like to argue, cite not their religion, but
their personal experiences as their reasoning.
As modern-day media has become a dominant source of knowledge of Islam and
Muslims it has also been a means to selectively decide what the West should know
about Islam and what should be hidden.
We must hence ask ourselves, what effect does this negative and inappropriate
representation or, rather, misrepresentation, to be precise, of Muslims have on the
human mind? A non-Muslim seeing Muslims exclusively play the villain would
only foster hatred towards them; seeing Islam as something that restricts us would
lead to misunderstandings and microaggressions towards their Muslim friends,
coworkers, baristas, bartenders, and more. A Muslim child seeing such
representation might internalize an unfair destiny, and feel lost navigating their
coming-of-age.
This is not necessarily subjected to Muslims alone, rather tends to expand to other
culturally, ethnically, or racially distinct groups that coexist with but are
subordinate to a more dominant group. It is, therefore, necessary that we raise our
voice in solidarity against representations that portray one-dimensional,
stereotypical, and negative views. This portrayal contributes to explicit and implicit
individual biases, therefore, increasing the need for the provision of accurate
representation in media.
About the Author:
A pompous bookworm, avid writer, a passionate feminist, with a keen interest in photography/videography are some of the ways to describe me. Writing has given a home to all the random, disconnected thoughts which run through my mind keeping me awake at night. Through it, I have been able to create something cohesive and beautiful and to touch others with my words in the process. To sum it up, it has been always been the way to voice the whisper inside me in a loud world and I hope I was able to o that with this article.
Cover image credits: The Guardian