Weaponizing Arabic in the vilification of Muslims: mainstream media’s deployment of language in the reproduction of islamophobia : a dissertation in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Sara N. Mirza

doi:10.62791/19779

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Weaponizing Arabic in the vilification of Muslims: mainstream media’s deployment of language in the reproduction of islamophobia : a dissertation in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Dissertation

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Weaponizing Arabic in the vilification of Muslims: mainstream media’s deployment of language in the reproduction of islamophobia : a dissertation in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies

Sara N. Mirza

Doctor of Philosophy (PHD), University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

2021

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62791/19779

Abstract

Arabic language -- Religious aspects.

Arabic language -- History.

Islamophobia.

Islam in mass media.

Islamophobia

Arabic language -- Religious aspects -- Islam

The media remains a massive pedagogical machine that must be analyzed not only by those in the field of communication and media studies, but also by educational scholars, educators, and school leaders. The media, especially post September 11, 2001, has played a vital role in perpetuating Islamophobia, stereotyping Arabic, and vilifying Muslims. This dissertation adopts a Three-Article approach using multimodal discourse analysis of media representations at the intersection of Islam, Arabic and Muslims. Interviews are also utilized to further understand how audiences interpret selected representations. The research also investigates 1.) the impact of learning the Arabic language and possibilities of subverting Arabica phobia and in deconstructing the many negative stereotypes and beliefs about Arabs and 2.) the importance of two-way or dual-language bilingual education as a space to unlearn and tackle the intersection of Islamophobia, the racialization of Muslims and linguicism.

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Title: Weaponizing Arabic in the vilification of Muslims
Creators: Sara N. Mirza
ORCID: 0000-0002-3893-6352
Contributors: Ricardo D. Rosa (Advisor) - University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Ismael Ramirez-Soto (Committee Member) - University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Rachel Kulick (Committee Member) - University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Number of pages: viii, 153 pages
Illustrations: illustrations
Language: English
Table of contents: List of figures -- List of tables -- Chapter 1. Introduction -- Major standpoints from which the researcher draws -- The geography of Islamophobia across media ecosystems -- Importance of the study -- Methodology(ies) -- Research questions -- Researcher's reflexivity -- Scope of the study and delimitations -- Chapter 2. 9/11, Language, Islam and arrogance of ignorance -- Abstract -- Language attitudes, discrimination and linguicism -- Encoding and decoding of information -- News media, films and policies – An intertwined web -- The illusion of objectivity -- Procedure -- Discussion and findings -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3. Destigmatizing Arabs: learning Arabic, empathy and perspective -taking -- Abstract -- Overview of the study and introductions to the participants -- Raciolinguistic ideologies and the Arab-terrorist threat -- Derailing stereotypes: learning the language of the racialized other -- Conclusion & recommendations -- Chapter 4. De weaponizing Arabic through dual language immersion -- Abstract -- Bilingual education in the U.S -- The struggle of an ELL -- language rights in the U.S -- High stakes standardized testing and Its implications -- Arabic language programs in the U.S. – The current situation -- Cases of resistance: Arabicaphobia, linguicism and discrimination -- There is hope -- Recommendations and conclusion -- References -- Appendix.
References: Includes bibliographical references (pages 134-151).
Awarding Institution: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy (PHD)
Academic Unit: Department of Education
Degree in: Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
Resource Type: Dissertation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.62791/19779
Record Identifier: 9914424908701301