Young Canadian Muslims: Islamophobia and Higher Education

Abstract

This study examined Islamophobia in Canadian higher education through the accounts of eight Muslim students in Canadian universities. Qualitative semi-structured interviewing was utilized to investigate how Muslim students report being perceived by faculty, non-Muslim peers, and student service providers. Analysis of interview data yielded six major themes: (1) difficulty in requesting religious accommodations, (2) soft bigotry through low expectations, (3) misrepresentations of Islam in mass media, (4) defensive posturing to combat anti-Muslim sentiment, (5) public emboldening of overt Islamophobia, and (6) resisting and challenging Islamophobic sentiments. The findings of this research indicate that Muslim students experience feelings of marginalization and alienation within higher educational institutions. The respondents articulated the burden of responsibility to take an active role in combatting Islamophobia.

Introduction to Special Issue

“…This special issue includes seven articles, six in English and one in French, as well as one concluding commentary in French and translated into English, that address the roles and responsibilities of universities and colleges in serving international students from Asia and highlighting the importance of connections in institutional priorities and in international students' lives. Working with Comparative and International Education/Éducation comparée et internationale to connect the fields of comparative education, migration, and ethnic and racial studies has been a productive endeavour that builds on the journal's long-standing interests in internationalization, student migrants, intercultural learning, and anti-racism (see Alizai, 2021;Beck & Lemaire, 2020;Karsgaard, 2021;Zhang & Beck, 2014;Zhang & Zhou, 2010). More specifically, this issue contributes to these fields by paying close attention to how local and institutional contexts are shaping both institutional realities and student experiences.…”