Stereotypes of Muslim Women in the United States: Media Primes and Consequences

This book explores the perception of Muslim women in the United States, highlighting the overlooked and increasing hate and aggression they face. It discusses how media stereotypes influence public perceptions and lead to aggressions, and proposes interventions to mitigate prejudice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 15 June 2022
Publisher: Lexington Books

This book delves into the often overlooked perception of Muslim women in the United States, facing both neglect in research literature and heightened hate and aggression due to their religious and gendered identities. Guided by data from three original experiments and theories of priming and media effects, Alexis Tan and Anastasia Vishnevskaya explore how media stereotypes of Muslim women shape public perceptions and subsequently lead to aggressive behaviors towards them. This groundbreaking work contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating that both verbal and visual symbols in the media can activate implicit prejudices, which can be controlled by individuals who self-identify as social liberals.

The authors propose a multifaceted approach to address the harmful consequences of prejudice towards Muslim women in the United States. They suggest both media and intrapersonal interventions as means to counteract these biases. Media interventions involve promoting accurate and diverse representations of Muslim women in the media, while intrapersonal interventions involve fostering empathy and understanding among individuals.

This book is of immense value to scholars in various fields, including media studies, communication, religious studies, gender studies, and cultural studies. It provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics between media, stereotypes, and prejudice, and offers practical solutions to promote inclusivity and understanding in society. By shedding light on the experiences of Muslim women, this book contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities and promotes the need for collective action to address these issues.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793628350