muslimfeminists:

Muslim women are not only “the other,” as we have explored in a previous post, but they are only a source of objectification and appropriation. Let me explain. Depictions of Muslim women in recent political cartoons serve mainly two purposes: they are political commentary (on terrorism, “barbarism,” extremism), and they are also a resource in the politics of fear. Muslim women are drawn in a way that encourages distrust and that alerts the observer. They are shown as hiding something behind all that clothing; therefore, they are a security concern. In an era of securitization, this is a very powerful commentary.

In addition to being scary beings, Muslim women are also shown as both weak and oppressed subjects (often by men) that have to be exposed to the Western ideal of freedom. Nonetheless, despite their weakness, they must also be controlled (we don’t want the extremists getting them first!) Both of these themes discourage the audience from thinking critically about Muslim women and encourage fear, rage or simply mockery.

-eren 

(via fuckyeahethnicwomen)