An Analysis of the Portrayal of Muslims in the Western Media: A Case Study on British Media

Abstract

Media is a powerful outlet that shapes the views of society. The British media is one such example, and it has its spotlight on Muslims. Despite there being a plethora of media representations of Muslims, academic research analysing the portrayal of Muslims is significantly lacking. This is particularly the case when it comes to the many effects that these representations have on Muslims. The relevant available media and literature on this topic were reviewed and critically appraised to determine how Muslims are portrayed in the British media. Additionally, links between these portrayals and Islamophobia were established, the effects of media portrayals on Muslims were assessed, and, more importantly, solutions to this growing and concerning problem were discussed.

Muslims continue to be portrayed in a negative and misleading manner in the British media. They are portrayed, among other things, as terrorists, irrationally angry, backward, a threat to Western values, misogynists, and oppressive. The most prevalent of these stereotypes is that of a radical Muslim who is keen on waging Jihad (holy war) against the West. This stereotype often presents violence as an inseparable part of being Muslim, resulting in Muslims being depicted as violent and aggressive. Another prevalent depiction is that of oppressed Muslim women, who are portrayed as victims of domestic violence, dominated by men, accepting of inequality, and rejecting women’s rights. Muslims are also portrayed as insignificant others in the community who are different from non-Muslims and as secondary, unwanted citizens.

The consequences of these negative representations have included an increase in Islamophobia globally, with 47% of all hate crime targets in England and Wales being Muslims in 2020. There is continuous, unfounded hostility and unfair discrimination against Muslims. Muslims are excluded from political and social affairs, leading to feelings of insecurity and marginalization within British society. The overall implications are harmful to Muslims and affect them in every sphere of life, including education, employment, and general well-being.

A four-step approach is proposed, consisting of understanding the issue of Muslim misrepresentation in the British media, researching it extensively to determine its scope and raise awareness, deconstructing the misrepresentations, and reconstructing new, positive, and accurate representations of Muslims. This can be achieved through means such as mass societal education about Islam and Muslims, with the aim of aligning dominant media narratives with the true teachings of Islam. This paper seeks to raise awareness and encourage further research into this neglected but vital topic. The proposed solutions are essential to the well-being of the Muslim community and society at large and aim to help create a more just and inclusive environment that values all its members.