Stereotypes Of The Muslim Media And The Media

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The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 changed America and the world forever. When we hear about terrorists in the news, most often the media is referring to a person of the Islamic descent. The actions of a small group of radicals caused society to generalize about the entire Muslim community. Research done by Jack Shaheen, a professor of Mass Communication from Southern Illinois University and a consultant to CBS News, showed that the media has the ability to create false stereotypes of Muslims. The government enforces stereotypes here at home, which influence policies. During times of conflict, the media functions as the carrier of government policies. (Alexandar, Hanson, 64). Through this form of mediatization, prejudice and misconceptions about the Muslim community has risen.
The knowledge of the audience is based on the images, symbols and narratives from sources of media such as television, film, music and other media (Brooks & Hebert, 297). During times of war, government campaigns and media systems have a strong influence in creating attitudes about a specific targeted group of people. This creates influential stereotypes into the minds of the audience. Islamophobia is defined as unfounded hostility towards Muslims (Defining Islamophobia). Islamophobes believe that Islam does not share the same teachings of other faiths, and Islam is a religion of violence which supports terrorism. The media produces images of Muslims and Islam as fundamentalists, terrorists, sexist, suicide bombers, militant and undemocratic (Defining Islamophobia). Race plays a major role in the public attitude toward Islam because in society, Muslims are viewed as Arabic. Hollywood has equated Islam and Arabs with violence and evil. Arabs ha...

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Islam is a religion of peace which provides rights to men and women equally. Because of the actions of a small group of extremists who misinterpret the sacred texts of the Quran, the Muslim population is forced to live in a world of Islamophobia. In order to tackle this issue, the media needs to display stories, conduct films of every day Muslims, not of the stereotypical Arab who blows himself up. Individuals should learn about the religion and understand the context, instead of relying on content to be provided to them through a television screen. As a Muslim, I will do my part along with my peers, to show what my religion means and help break the stereotypes. Through advocacy, education, public speaking, and broadcast programs about Islam, we can show the world that we are a peaceful religion just like the other monotheistic and polytheistic religions.

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