Muslim Women In America After 9/11

Why I Chose this Topic:

The topic I chose for this assignment was muslim women in America after 9/11. I chose this topic because it was commonly spoke about in class, and it is still a big issue in America today. I though this topic would be interesting to write about because muslim women, especially in America have been treated differently because of their religion, and because of the 9/11 attacks.

The Journal Articles I read:

The Face Behind the Veil: The Extraordinary Lives of Muslim Women in America

Muslim Women in America and Hijab: A Study of Empowerment, Feminist, Identity, and Body Image.

Identity Experiences of Young Muslim Women in the Post 9/11 Era.

What have I learned by reading these Journal articles:

By reading these

journal articles I have learned what being a muslim women in America is like now, specifically after 9/11. When terror struck the World Trade Center, and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001 American muslims were just as shocked and distraught as any other American. Although the discrimination against most muslims in America, man or women increased after 9/11, women faced more discrimination than the men. Not only did the muslim women face discrimination after 9/11, but they always have had to learn to live in an American culture that is very different from their islamic culture.
Because many muslim women wear a Hijab, they are easily targeted.

There are multiple cases of muslim women being harassed, fired from jobs, denied access to public places, and otherwise discriminated against because they wear hijab. Muslim women in America have the same rights as any other women, or human being in America. They have the right to practice their religion, to be treated equally and the right not to be discriminated against or harassed because of their religion, their gender, or perceptions about their nationality or ethnicity. However, to this day there are many people who believe muslims should not be aloud to live in

America.
In one journal article, the author mentions changes in muslim women after 9/11.

Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, women stopped covering their heads because they were worried about their personal safety. However, today young muslim children are encouraging their parents to wear the head gear more often, and a number of young muslim American women are putting on the hijab at younger ages. In the past, young women were more likely to start wearing it during their middle school or high school years. Now, it is not uncommon to see girls in the after school program who are as young as ten or eleven years old with scarves on their heads.

Another thing I learned from reading these journal articles was that not only do muslim women in America face a lot of discrimination, but they also have to adapt and live in a different culture then what they are used to. American culture is nothing like islamic culture, so the women have a lot to adjust to living in America. The children are aware that they live in more conservative households compared to the average American home, and they know that they have to dress differently. The women also realize that as women they are more respected in American than they are in a lot of Islamic

countries.

What I believe the Problem is:

The problem the muslim women in America are dealing with is discrimination. No person, no matter their religious beliefs, skin color, or gender should be discriminated against. We are all humans, and we all deserve to be treated fairly. One bad group gave muslims a negative reputation and it is very hard for a lot of America to forgive and forget, especially after 9/11. It is unfortunate that one group of terrorist changed the way many Americans view muslims, however the harassment, and difficulties these muslim women are experiencing is not fair.
According to the FBI, anti-muslim hate crimes are approximately five times more frequent than they were before 2001. Since 2001 there have been many attacks on America that involve a muslim, and I think that is why many people struggle with forgiving and trusting every muslim. For instance this past year the Islamic State-claimed attacks in Europe and the San Bernardino shootings. There is no way anyone can really control a terrorist

My Recommendations for this situation:

My recommendation for how to prevent discrimination towards the muslim women would be to promote peace and freedom of religion. Today there are many big leaders promoting peace and equality towards muslims, however I believe there needs to be more. If our president, and supports American muslim women more people may let their guard down and accept the muslim women more than they do not.