is·lam·o·pho·bi·a
Noun
–Extreme or irrational fear of all Islamic persons.
–Extreme or irrational fear of all Islamic persons.
Islamophobia Defined
The term 'Islamophobia' dates back to the 1980s, but came about into popular discourse after the publication of the Runnymede Trust's 1997 commission titled: 'Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All', and further became a mainstream term after the attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. The study details the eight components of the Islamophobic paradigm under title in the chart 'Closed views of Islam':
The Evolution of Islamophobia
Edward Said introduced the concepts of latent and manifest Orientalism in his pioneering book Orientalism. The concept of Orientalism is formed from a structure of assumptions and tropes that create a contextual framework through which Western society perceives the 'Middle-East'. These tropes of the backward, inept, violent man and women in need of rescue by the white man are created by the Orientalist imagination that circulates within the mass media; it thus creates the common lens through which the public perceives the Muslim community as a whole.
Latent Orientalism is the abstract conceptualization of the "Orient" as a generalization of the attributes that are considered subversive to Western culture.
Manifest Orientalism is how the concepts of Latent Orientalism are manifested concretely in practical discourse through word and action.
Orientalism is central to the way that the Middle East is perceived in Western culture, particularly through the portrayal of Muslims as a homogenous image. Through portraying Muslims as a homogenous image, it creates a uniform perception of Muslims, which further reinforces the loop between portrayal and perception.
A further explanation on Orientalism can be found here.
Stereotyping, memeing, and trolling Muslims initially appears as a light-hearted joke, but these latent stereotypes can become manifest as such imagery impacts elections (President Barack Obama's religion under scrutiny), has the attention of politicians (Hearing on The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response) and impacts policy as we see with the drone attacks, not only on foreign suspected terrorists but also children and American citizens ( 'Nearly half of US drone strikes in Pakistan not against al-Qaeda', 'Are Drone Strikes Killing Terrorists or Creating Them?'). Perceptions of Muslims and Islam in social media are a glimpse at the Manifest Orientalism that escalates to allow for and excuse the idea of death and tragedy as 'collateral damage'.
The term 'Islamophobia' dates back to the 1980s, but came about into popular discourse after the publication of the Runnymede Trust's 1997 commission titled: 'Islamophobia: A Challenge For Us All', and further became a mainstream term after the attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. The study details the eight components of the Islamophobic paradigm under title in the chart 'Closed views of Islam':
- Islam is seen as a monolithic bloc, static and unresponsive to change.
- Islam is seen as separate and 'other'. It does not have values in common with other cultures, is not affected by them and does not influence them.
- Islam is seen as inferior to the West. It is seen as barbaric, irrational, primitive and sexist.
- Islam is seen as violent, aggressive, threatening, supportive of terrorism and engaged in a 'clash of civilisations'.
- Islam is seen as a political ideology and is used for political or military advantage.
- Criticisms made of the West by Islam are rejected out of hand.
- Hostility towards Islam is used to justify discriminatory practices towards Muslims and exclusion of Muslims from mainstream society.
- Anti-Muslim hostility is seen as natural or normal.
The Evolution of Islamophobia
Edward Said introduced the concepts of latent and manifest Orientalism in his pioneering book Orientalism. The concept of Orientalism is formed from a structure of assumptions and tropes that create a contextual framework through which Western society perceives the 'Middle-East'. These tropes of the backward, inept, violent man and women in need of rescue by the white man are created by the Orientalist imagination that circulates within the mass media; it thus creates the common lens through which the public perceives the Muslim community as a whole.
Latent Orientalism is the abstract conceptualization of the "Orient" as a generalization of the attributes that are considered subversive to Western culture.
Manifest Orientalism is how the concepts of Latent Orientalism are manifested concretely in practical discourse through word and action.
Orientalism is central to the way that the Middle East is perceived in Western culture, particularly through the portrayal of Muslims as a homogenous image. Through portraying Muslims as a homogenous image, it creates a uniform perception of Muslims, which further reinforces the loop between portrayal and perception.
A further explanation on Orientalism can be found here.
Stereotyping, memeing, and trolling Muslims initially appears as a light-hearted joke, but these latent stereotypes can become manifest as such imagery impacts elections (President Barack Obama's religion under scrutiny), has the attention of politicians (Hearing on The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community's Response) and impacts policy as we see with the drone attacks, not only on foreign suspected terrorists but also children and American citizens ( 'Nearly half of US drone strikes in Pakistan not against al-Qaeda', 'Are Drone Strikes Killing Terrorists or Creating Them?'). Perceptions of Muslims and Islam in social media are a glimpse at the Manifest Orientalism that escalates to allow for and excuse the idea of death and tragedy as 'collateral damage'.