Subtle and Overt Forms of Islamophobia: Microaggressions toward Muslim Americans

Authors

Kevin L. Nadal, CUNY Graduate CenterFollow
Katie E. Griffin, CUNY John Jay College
Sahran Hamit, CUNY John Jay College
Jayleen Leon, CUNY John Jay College
Michael Tobio, CUNY John Jay College
David P. Rivera, Columbia University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

Abstract

Previous research suggests that microaggressions, or subtle and covert manifestations of bias, are commonplace in the life experience of people of color, women, and sexual minorities. However, there is a dearth of research focusing on microaggressions toward people from religious minority groups. Using a qualitative approach and directed content analysis with Muslim American participants (N=10), six themes emerged: 1) Endorsing Religious Stereotypes of Muslims as Terrorists, 2) Pathology of the Muslim Religion, 3) Assumption of Religious Homogeneity, 4) Exoticization, 5) Islamophobic and Mocking Language, and 6) Alien in Own Land. Implications for Muslim mental health are discussed.

Comments

This work was originally published in the Journal of Muslim Mental Health. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3998/jmmh.10381607.0006.203

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.