Reclaiming the Narrative: Countering Stereotypes against Muslims in Mainstream Media
“What we as Muslims have to do is learn to harness the power of pop culture as a means of reframing perceptions toward Muslims.”-Reza Aslan, renowned scholar
What does a Muslim look like? What does it mean to be Muslim in the United States? As with any global community, the Muslim community is broad and expansive. It consists of a wide range of different people, all with different geographical backgrounds and individual identities. However, stereotyping in mainstream media diminishes the expansive diversity central to the Muslim community, as described in the past article.
There is no single answer to the question, “What does a Muslim look like?”, yet very few filmmakers actually portray Muslims in a nuanced and unique way. The first step towards reducing stereotypes’ influence is the acknowledgement that there is no single Muslim or Muslim American story — Muslims, like members of any other community, are unique and their stories should transcend beyond caricatures in film and television.
The Riz Test
This article examines positive examples of Muslim representation in film and television through the lens of the Riz Test, demonstrating how positive depictions of Muslims can counter stereotyping in mainstream media.
Stereotype #1 and 2: Hollywood’s Association of Islam with Terrorism and Anger
Ms. Marvel (2013-present)
Decades ago, a Muslim superhero would have been nearly impossible to find in Western mainstream media. Perhaps one of the most deep-rooted and prevalent stereotypes against Muslims, the association of Islam with terrorism and anger continues to persist. However, characters such as Kamala Khan of Ms. Marvel subvert this stereotype by serving as heroes who protect the community, not villains.
Created in 2013, the Ms. Marvel comic series features Marvel Comics’ first Muslim character as the focus of her own comic book. The series centers on a Pakistani-American superhero named Kamala Khan (alias Ms. Marvel) who works to keep New Jersey safe from harm. The beauty of the series is that Kamala Khan is just an ordinary teenager living in Jersey City, aside from her superhero status. Kamala’s Muslim identity is neither rendered a mere afterthought nor portrayed as a burden. Rather, her faith and culture are embedded in her journey as a superhero without any association of terrorism or irrational anger.
Marvel Studios recently announced the premiere of a live-action Ms. Marvel series in 2022 and, given Marvel Comics’ undeniable popularity, Kamala Khan’s on-screen presence has the potential to promote positive Muslim representation in a groundbreaking way. Though the stereotypical depiction of Muslims as terrorists remains prevalent in mainstream media, the newfound attention surrounding Ms. Marvel represents a significant step towards better representation.
Stereotype #3: The Depiction of Muslims as Anti-Modern
Grey’s Anatomy (2017–2019)
In 2017, medical drama Grey’s Anatomy added another set of surgical interns to their show’s cast. Unlike previous seasons, however, this new class of interns featured a hijabi woman named Dr. Dahlia Qadri (played by Sophia Taylor Ali). Bold and empathetic, Dr. Qadri captured the hearts of both Muslims and non-Muslims alike, with her nuanced characterization emphasizing that Muslims have a place in modern society.
For three seasons, Dr. Qadri consistently worked to help patients and placed great emphasis on connecting with them. Dr. Qadri’s strong sense of empathy was especially evident when she chose to remove her hijab in order to stop a patient from bleeding out and save their life. In response to surprise about the removal of her hijab, Dr. Qadri commented that her hijab is “a symbol of faith, but faith is about service and compassion”, capturing the true essence of what it means to be a Muslim.
During her residency, Dr. Qadri is dismissed from the hospital after standing up to the Chief of Surgery and expressing her frustration about a mentor of hers being fired. Though it is unfortunate that such a powerful Muslim character had to leave the show, her exit is characterized by a sense of righteousness and strength that is largely unprecedented for Muslim characters in film and television.
Dr. Qadri’s ambition and passion for medicine directly counters misconceptions about Muslims being culturally backwards or anti-modern. Her dedication to serving others and knack for science set her apart from Muslim stereotypes, making her character a refreshingly positive role model for all.
Stereotype #4: A Threat on Western Lifestyle
Hasan Minhaj
From his stand-up comedy special to Patriot Act, Hasan Minhaj effectively embeds his Muslim identity and passion for politics into his comedy, raising awareness for important social justice issues in an accessible way. Minhaj’s role in Patriot Act especially opposes the stereotype of Muslims being a threat to a Western way of life, as he explores political and cultural topics at the core of Western culture without concealing his Muslim identity.
Though Minhaj does not shy away from sharing his experience as a Muslim American, his comedy routines are not solely limited to his struggle with discrimination or stereotyping. Minhaj expands his comedy beyond being solely about his South Asian heritage by analyzing broader issues such as mental health, coronavirus, and civil rights in Patriot Act.
Minhaj’s comedy is the perfect blend of his own South Asian, Muslim identity and social justice issues that apply to everyone, proving that being Muslim and embracing Western culture are not mutually exclusive.
Stereotype #5: Misogyny and Muslim Masculinity
Ramy (2019-present)
In contrast to depictions of Muslim men as terrorists or misogynists that overwhelmingly dominate mainstream media, A24’s Ramy features a male protagonist that is introspective and relies on his faith as a means for improvement, even when his efforts initially prove to be unsuccessful. Led by writer and actor Ramy Youssef, Ramy effectively deconstructs notions of toxic masculinity by giving the audience a close look at a Muslim-American’s emotional experiences in a raw and complex way that is seldom done with Muslim characters in Hollywood.
Some criticize Ramy for its imperfect protagonist; however, Ramy’s confusion about his identity creates a humanizing depiction that strongly opposes stereotypes typically found in mainstream media. The audience may quickly become frustrated with how self-serving and ignorant Ramy can be, but Ramy Youssef points out, “We don’t want this work to be instructional…it’s about asking questions.” Though witnessing Ramy make dozens of mistakes can be frustrating at times, ultimately, the complexities of his journey are refreshing compared to the one-dimensional characterization typically afforded to Muslims on-screen.
In a 2019 interview, Youssef explains, “What this show looks at is what does it mean to be a man? …He has this idea of what it’s like from his uncle and from his father. There are all these different ideas of how you should be and how you should behave.” Ramy’s sensitivity and introspection draw a sharp contrast to common depictions of Muslim men as misogynistic, as he vents to his friends about his worries and actively seeks ways to grow from his mistakes. By presenting a variety of distinct perspectives within the Muslim community, Ramy breaks down the stereotypes and assumptions of the audience through its three-dimensional, introspective portrayal.
In contrast to The Big Sick, Ramy delves into the complexities of its Muslim characters as opposed to relegating them to mere caricatures. Ramy’s sister faces frustrations produced by double standards and fetishization; his father struggles with his place in a post-9/11 world; his uncle faces internal conflict regarding his queer identity; and his mother deals with the anxiety sparked by the citizenship process. Each of these characters have unique views on faith, politics, and their identity. In Season 2, the show also explores the unique struggles faced by black Muslims, adding further complexity to the show’s depiction.
Through its acknowledgement of the diversity of Muslims, Ramy is able to take a bold stance against stereotypes in the media and depict Muslim male sensitivity in a noteworthy way, allowing it to recently become the first Muslim American sitcom to be nominated for an Emmy.
Stereotype #6: The “Oppressed Muslim Woman”
The Bold Type (2017–2020)
The Bold Type’s portrayal of hijabi women draws a sharp contrast to that of Elité. As opposed to the hijab being painted as a sign of oppression, The Bold Type characterizes a Muslim woman’s decision to wear a hijab as a choice.
In preparing for her role as Adena, Actress Nikohl Boosheri reflected, “…I thought, ‘Okay, then with this character, it has to be more about her freedom to choose, her freedom to express herself how she pleases and how she pleases that day.’” Boosheri’s core understanding of a woman’s choice to wear a hijab results in a much more accurate and sensitive portrayal of Muslim women compared to Nadia in Elité.
However, as co-star Aisha Dee recently pointed out, The Bold Type is not exempt of problems in terms of representation. Dee revealed that “there have never been any queer Black or Muslim writers in the room”, calling The Bold Type’s diversity into question.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Last summer, Spider-Man: Far From Home was praised for its exciting special effects and compelling character development, but what truly makes it striking was the diversity of its cast. Particularly, one of Peter Parker’s classmates in the film was the first hijab wearing character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), played by actress Zoha Rahman.
Though the MCU previously promoted Islamophobic notions in the Iron Man trilogy, their inclusion of characters such as Rahman’s and Kamala Khan from the Ms. Marvel comics (and future series) reveals a new era for the studio characterized by diversity and cultural acceptance.
Rahman shared, “They [Marvel Studios] are realizing that the climate is changing around them and they have to cater to it…This is the world that we live in and this is our audience, and we want all our audience members to feel included.” Unnecessary attention is never brought to Rahman’s character: just like any other student, she embarks on an exciting summer trip and enjoys all of the sights that Europe has to offer.
Rahman may have had a relatively minor role in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but the impact of seeing a Muslim student on-screen with everyone’s favorite webslinger remains far from small.
Looking to the Future
“What we are advocating for is human portrayals of Muslims on film and TV — and that comes with all the wonderful nuances of being flawed characters and complex characters, with personality flaws and traits that everyone has.” -Shaf Choudry, co-founder of the Riz Test
It is promising that Hollywood seems to be more open to portraying three-dimensional Muslim characters, however, even the best examples of Muslim representation in mainstream media are not yet perfect.
Overall, the most effective way of improving Muslim representation would be to include more Muslims in the production of films and television shows. For example, the producers of the live-action Aladdin and Counterpart actress Betty Gabriel consulted the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) to ensure that their depiction of Muslims was accurate. Having more Muslims on board would allow for more sensitive portrayals of Muslims as opposed to continuing to perpetuate stereotypes.
Given that many of the better examples of Muslim representation’s time frames overlap with some of the worser examples, it would be rudimentary to claim that the depiction of Muslims in mainstream media has improved over time. Hollywood still has a long way to go. But complex characters like those featured in pieces such as Ramy and Ms. Marvel provide hope for the future of Muslim representation in film and television.
Film and television can be a powerful and entertaining way to learn about different cultures, making accurate representation particularly crucial in the 21st century.
