Muslim women's new defenders: Women's rights, nationalism and Islamophobia in contemporary Australia

Abstract

In recent years, Australian nationalism has been increasingly framed against a dangerous Muslim 'other'. This paper offers a gendered analysis of this nationalism, arguing that a discourse of protecting women's rights has enabled Islam to be portrayed as inherently misogynistic and therefore a threat to Australia's egalitarian culture. This racialised paternalism was clearly articulated in debates surrounding the December 2005 Cronulla riots, a response to the alleged aggressive and misogynistic behaviour of 'Lebanese Muslim' males at Cronulla beach in Sydney. The paper shows that such discursive acts are part of a broader history of colonial feminism that legitimated Western supremacy through arguing that colonised societies oppressed 'their women' and were thus unfit for self-governance, a logic which has also been commonplace in the recent war on terror. It concludes by exploring how Muslim women themselves can speak publicly about women's rights without fuelling further anti-Muslim racism.

Acculturative Issues of Muslims in Australia

“…Muslims are more likely to be stopped and searched for security reasons, and more likely to be tried in the courts (Poynting & Perry, 2007). Consequently, media and governmental policies have contributed to the rising rates of Islamophobia, which is present in the form of unfounded fears, and prejudicial and stereotypical thinking (Bouma, 2011;Dunn et al, 2007;Ho, 2007;Kabir, 2007). There is an element of "us versus them" thinking on the behalf of non-Muslim Australians, which is tarnishing the social inclusivity and harmony in Australia (Ata, 2015;Hopkins, 2011;Poynting & Mason, 2006).…”

The Power of One on One: Human Libraries and the challenges of antiracism work

“…Another common critique is summed up in the question, 'who needs cross cultural dialogue? ' (Jones 1993, Ho 2007. The question reminds us that those who are marginalised do not need workshops in order to learn about the workings of the 'mainstream', and the benefits of conversations across difference often reflect the needs and desires of the privileged more than the priorities of those who are subjected to prejudice.…”

“…To the extent that Human Libraries confine their aims and strategies to changing personal attitudes through one-on-one conversation, the projects are and will remain typical of a shift in contemporary funded antiracism work which has seen the focus move from questions of access and equity to an increasing focus on dialogue and social inclusion. The early years of the 'war on terror' saw an upsurge in interest and funding for interfaith dialogue as the preferred antiracism strategy, alongside a decline in funding for strategies whereby institutions seek to address racism within (Ho 2007). Human Libraries can be seen as a more generalised strategy with similar aims but a broader focus, beyond relationships between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians.…”

“…Human Libraries can be seen as a more generalised strategy with similar aims but a broader focus, beyond relationships between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians. Interfaith Dialogue has been criticised for focusing on personal beliefs and attitudinal change at the expense of fundamental questions of discriminatory policies and international conflict (Ho 2007). Without connecting to wider processes of social change and transformation, Human Libraries will be open to the same criticisms.…”

'Not Another Hijab Row': New conversations on gender, race, religion and the making of communities

“…In research on Muslim women and the media and on Muslim women's networks, the organisers found a need for 'safe spaces' to discuss issues of gender, race and religion, as women's rights had been 'hijacked' in public debate (Ho 2007) and Muslim women struggled to be heard on their own terms in the media (Dreher 2003(Dreher , 2006.…”