my thoughts: this story for me highlights why the whole ISLAM ISNT A RACE jibe is a front, but also illustrates the social construction of race. Its assumed that this white woman, because shes Muslim, must not actually be white and must be Syrian or someat; which then makes her subject to abuse even though, in reality, shes white. Given the social construction of race, I think its apt to call this racism. Because of how Muslim is interpreted in the current context (slipstream of the war on terror, rise in austerity racism as Bat calls it, rise of fascism in Europe etc) as racial foreigner and therefore as bad, this womans Muslimhood (if thats an appropriate term) racialises her. Hence, its totally apt that that Islamaphobia is understood as a form of racism, as - like this story shows - the construction is Muslimhood and Islamaphobia seems inextricably connected to racial assumptions. At lest in the current context. What are peoples thoughts on this? Too simple? Not quite right? Its surely this thought that underpins really good pieces like this Islam is not a race is a cop out piece (theguardian/commentisfree/2013/sep/20/islam-race-richard-dawkins)
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 17:49:26 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015