Essay Sample on Immigrant Populations: How Social Groups Are Represented in Popular Culture

Introduction

A social group refers to people haring the same identity, belonging to a similar profession or are bound by their roots. Each social group has its norms which identify the group and creates that sense of belonging. How social groups are presented in the popular culture reinforces the stereotypes associated with the social group. Throughout the history of America, stereotypes have been used to advance discrimination, racism, and biases, which can affect the group. Immigrant populations such as African Americans, members of the Islam religion and the Hispanic population have been subjected to stereotyping. Even though there have been efforts to address negative stereotypes, they still find themselves in popular culture, particularly the media. How the popular culture presents Muslim women seeking their identity in America continues to be problematic to the group in search of self-identity and personal freedom.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Religion provides a perfect way of spreading negative stereotype against a social group. The recent violence that is experienced globally across the world has been associated with religion. There is a stereotype that Muslims are violent and support terrorism. Even though some acts of terrorism have been linked to religion, it is not true to say that all Muslims are violent. The immigration rules in America permitting asylum to immigrants from war-torn countries, especially women, have not saved Muslim women from the stereotype. Sana Amanat is a classic example of a Muslim woman who found it difficult to be accepted in the American culture(Chatterjeen.p). The strict religious demands that require Muslim women to identify themselves in a way has restricted their self-discovery. The popular culture tends to perceive women who go against religious expectations to be rebellious. The stereotype that Muslim women are rebellious continues to cause problems to women serving in the public sector.

The stereotype that Muslim women should be submissive has affected the participation of Muslim women in public issues. The widespread beliefs that women should not lead but support their families have seen Muslim women being ridiculed, opposed, and a smear campaign initiated to scuttle their progress. The popular culture in America, particularly social media, has seen Muslim women occupying leadership positions being opposed in whatever they propose. The case of Ilhan Omar sent social media into a frenzy because of her stance and views on governance (Padden n.p). Unlike the other democrats who are not criticized much because of a similar stance, Omar has seen her ethnicity scrutinized and religious background questioned. It is how the popular culture presents the woman that has seen all manner of words targeted to their women in leadership.

The popular culture additionally presents these social groups as people who are intolerant to diverse opinions. The criticism that has been directed to Muslim women has seen them fighting back for recognition and an end to the perception. Instead of celebrating their efforts to address the stereotype, they have been castigated as intolerant to varied views. The intolerance can be said to be discriminative since other women from other social groups are not treated similarly (van Es12). Besides, the fact that Muslim women are immigrants who obtained their citizenship in ways that have been questioned further alienates them from how women should be treated. American has often been deemed as a country that respects the rights of all people, but popular culture continues to focus on issues that undermine inclusivity.

The popular culture has further denied Muslim women the opportunity to enjoy personal freedom. The U.S. constitution has been improved with amendments to grant individuals more freedom. The journey of Muslim women towards self-discovery has involved breaking rules, routines, and religious expectations. It is expected that they wear hijabs whenever they are in public places. However, women that have broken this norm are perceived differently in society (van Es 5). Despite being considered as rebellious, they are thought to have underlying issues that need closer observation. Anamat was the woman who broke these barriers and was often perceived to be different from other women. The fact that popular culture does not celebrate the struggle for women to self-discovery particularly where there are religious barriers, it continues to act as an obstacle making it harder for Muslim women to receive fair treatment in the society.

Conclusion

In conclusion, popular culture continues to have an influence on cultural issues in society. Despite the existence of different social groups, how popular culture presents these groups determines if it is a hindrance or provides the right support for the group to achieve their goals. Muslim women continue to face negative stereotypes that are supported by popular culture. The attitudes of the public towards how the media addresses their issues will continue to cause problems to members of this social group. Their desire to enjoy personal freedom, find their identity, and participate on sensitive issues of governance can be achieved if the narrative of popular media is changed. The social group should not relent in agitating for social inclusion in society. Their efforts to change the stereotype of the popular culture will help address this underlying problem.

Works Cited

Chatterjee, Anamika. How Marvel Editor Sana AmanatSaved Comic Book Fans from Stereotypes. Khaleej Times, February 17, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.khaleejtimes.com/people/how-marvel-editor-sana-amanat-saved-comic-book-fans-from-stereotypes

Padden, Brian. Ilhan Omar's Defiance Resonates with Muslim-American Activists. VOA News, July 25, 2019. Retrieved from https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-politics/ilhan-omars-defiance-resonates-muslim-american-activists

Van Es, Margaretha A. "Muslim women as 'ambassadors' of Islam: breaking stereotypes in everyday life." Identities (2017): 1-18.