A note for Western media
As a Muslim girl growing up in a world dominated by Western media, I am constantly aware of how rarely I see people like myself represented on screen. And on the rare occasion that I see Muslims being depicted, their portrayals often reinforce harmful stereotypes. We are depicted as villains, victims, or background characters, almost never as the complex individuals we truly are.
The problem is not just the absence of Muslim characters – it is the way that their presence, when it does occur, is framed within narrow, reductive narratives. Muslim women, in particular, are often shown as oppressed or submissive, confined to traditional roles. If they are portrayed as empowered, their empowerment is typically seen as a rejection of their faith, reinforcing the idea that Islam and liberation are mutually exclusive. These portrayals fail to capture the diversity within Muslim communities and ignore the fact that Muslim women, like women of any faith, navigate complex identities that encompass both religion and personal freedom.
One of the most frustrating aspects of this underrepresentation is the contrast between what I see on screen and the reality I know. The media tends to focus on extremes, showing only the most radical or conservative versions of Muslims. In doing so, they erase the middle ground where most of us live. I come from a family where faith is important, but so are education, independence, and self-expression. My friends and I talk about everything from school and social media to our goals and ambitions. Yet, none of this is reflected in mainstream films or TV shows, leaving the impression that Muslim girls are a monolith.
This lack of representation has very real consequences. When Muslims are only shown in negative or limited ways, it affects how non-Muslims perceive us. The constant barrage of stereotypical images fuels Islamophobia, creating a culture of fear and misunderstanding. It becomes easier to dehumanise a group of people when you’ve never seen them portrayed as fully realised individuals. For Muslim youth like me, this absence of positive representation can also lead to feelings of alienation. It’s hard to feel a sense of belonging when the world around you doesn’t acknowledge your existence or constantly misrepresents you.
What’s particularly disheartening is that media has such a powerful role in shaping public consciousness. It has the potential to build bridges, to foster empathy and understanding between people of different backgrounds. But when it comes to Muslims, Western media has largely failed in this regard. Instead of offering accurate portrayals, it has relied on outdated tropes and lazy storytelling. This isn’t just a problem for Muslims – it’s a problem for everyone. When media falls short of reflecting the true diversity of the world, it diminishes our collective understanding of each other.
As a Muslim girl, I long for the day when I can turn on the TV or watch a movie and see someone who looks like me, whose experiences reflect my own, without the baggage of stereotypes. I want to see Muslim women as doctors, artists, athletes, and leaders, not just as victims or extremists.
