28 research outputs found
'They make us feel like we're a virus': the multiple impacts of Islamophobic hostility towards veiled Muslim women
Within the prevailing post-9/11 climate, veiled Muslim women are commonly portrayed as oppressed, âculturally dangerousâ and âthreateningâ to the western way of life and to notions of public safety and security by virtue of being fully covered in the public sphere. It is in such a context that manifestations of Islamophobia often emerge as a means of responding to these âthreatsâ. Drawing from qualitative data elicited through a UK-based study, this article reflects upon the lived experiences of veiled Muslim women as actual and potential victims of Islamophobia and examines the impacts of Islamophobic attacks upon victims, their families and wider Muslim communities. Among the central themes we explore are impacts upon their sense of vulnerability, the visibility of their Muslim identity, and the management of their safety in public. The individual and collective harms associated with this form of victimisation are considered through notions of a worldwide, transnational Muslim community, the ummah, which connects Muslims from all over world. We conclude by noting that the effects of this victimisation are not exclusively restricted to the global ummah; rather, the harm extends to society as a whole by exacerbating the polarisation which already exists between âusâ and âthemâ
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"Looking back, I wouldn't join up again": the lived experiences of police officers as victims of bias and prejudice perpetrated by fellow staff within an English police force
Women, ethnic minority and LGB police officers often experience prejudice, disadvantage and exclusion within police forces because of their perceived 'otherness' in a predominantly white, heterosexual, male organisation. In the context of an increasingly diverse service, the paper argues that the concept of intersectionality is important in order to understand the experiences of police officers who encounter bias and prejudice because of their multiple, intersecting identities. Drawing on data from qualitative interviews with 20 individuals based in an English police force, the paper examines their occupational experiences of bias, discrimination and exclusion perpetrated by their colleagues and supervisors. Utilising Hirschman's (1970) 'exit, voice and loyalty' model, the paper analyses how police officers are affected by, and respond to these experiences. Taken together, these arguments lay the foundation for future work to further understand the experiences of police officers as victims of bias and prejudice due to their multiple, intersecting identities
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We fear for our lives: online and offline experiences of anti-Muslim hate crime
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âEvery time it happens, you question continuing as an officerâ: the experiences of police workers as victims of hate crime
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Nottinghamshire police: experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) police officers as victims of hate crimes/incidents (externally) and of bias and prejudice (internally)
This qualitative study investigated the occupational experiences of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) police officers working in Nottinghamshire Police. Using 33 individual interviews and 5 focus group interviews, the study explored BAME officersâ experiences of hate crimes/incidents âexternallyâ (e.g. from members of the public, suspects and offenders) and of bias and prejudice âinternallyâ within the force (e.g. from work colleagues and supervisors). The findings suggest that externally, the majority of participants experienced hate crimes and incidents on duty because of the intersectionality of their police identity and personal identities. Internally, the majority of participants experienced bias and prejudice from their colleagues and supervisors because of core aspects of their personal identity, namely race, religion and gender. However, it is important to point out that the size of the sample in this study is small, and also, it is not statistically representative to allow for generalising the findings. The report offers a list of recommendations for addressing, managing and reducing the problem both externally and internally. The report also outlines the actions taken by Nottinghamshire Police to address the identified problem. Building on the current findings of the study, it is imperative that further research is conducted in order to examine BAME officersâ occupational experiences further and evaluate the effectiveness of current actions put in place by Nottinghamshire Police to address the identified problem
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Islamophobia: an evidenced-based approach - a briefing paper prepared for the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on British Muslims
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A working definition of Islamophobia: written evidence submission prepared for the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
Drawing on our research and empirical findings from qualitative interviews and focus groups with both Muslim and non-Muslims, in the UK, we believe that a new working definition of Islamophobia is much needed. Our findings show that for those that have experienced Islamophobic hate crime because of the intersections between gender, race/ethnicity, appearance and space are often ignored within the criminal justice system. From being verbally and physically attacked, threatened and harassed as well as their property being damaged individuals have experienced a spate of online and offline hatred. These incidents usually happen in public spaces, on trains, buses, shopping centres as well as workplace â often when other people were there yet did not intervene. Attacks against participants also take place near mosques or areas with high population of Muslims. The impacts upon victims included physical, emotional, psychological, and economic damage. These experiences are also damaging to community cohesion and lead to a polarisation between different communities. Our recommendations for a new working definition of Islamophobia are based on participantsâ views and opinions for tackling this problem and the need for policy-makers to be better informed about how to deal with the problem. We make the case that the new Hate Crime Action Plan, which has incorporated ideas around intervention, should also include our working definition of Islamophobia as a means to provide better services
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A working definition of Islamophobia: a briefing paper prepared for Rt. Hon Anna Soubry MP and Wes Streeting MP
Drawing on our research and empirical findings from qualitative interviews and focus groups with both Muslim and non-Muslims, in the UK, we believe that a new working definition of Islamophobia is much needed. Our findings show that for those that have experienced Islamophobic hate crime because of the intersections between gender, race/ethnicity, appearance and space are often ignored within the criminal justice system. From being verbally and physically attacked, threatened and harassed as well as their property being damaged individuals have experienced a spate of online and offline hatred. These incidents usually happen in public spaces, on trains, buses, shopping centres as well as workplace â often when other people were there yet did not intervene. Attacks against participants also take place near mosques or areas with high population of Muslims. The impacts upon victims included physical, emotional, psychological, and economic damage. These experiences are also damaging to community cohesion and lead to a polarisation between different communities. Our recommendations for a new working definition of Islamophobia are based on participantsâ views and opinions for tackling this problem and the need for policy-makers to be better informed about how to deal with the problem. We make the case that the new Hate Crime Action Plan, which has incorporated ideas around intervention, should also include our working definition of Islamophobia as a means to provide better services