All American Muslim

[KSUViolet06]

This show brings to mind a convo I had with a HS friend regarding wearing her hair covering everyday. Being 17 years old, my belief was all "omg your hear scarf stands for oppressing women!" so I was like "Don't you ever get tired of not putting your hair down and never wearing skirts and stuff?"

Her response was something I reference a lot when people have discssions re: veiling and whether it's oppressive or not.

She said "No. Why would I want some guy looking at me like I'm a piece of meat? Ew." To her, the covering is freedom from some things.

[ElieM]

As the child of a Dutch parent and a Speech pathologist, I have an accent. I am often asked where I come from. It's interesting.

[agzg]

It just speaks to the larger point of the show, doesn't it?

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by agzg

It just speaks to the larger point of the show, doesn't it?

That was exactly my thought. I wonder if any others will be pulling out.

[Low C Sharp]

Realistically, discussions like this are not what make things substantively change. Things change when societies remove incentives and resources for keeping things the way they are; and add incentives and resources for change.

In the case of gay rights, at least, I think that TV and movies played a role in the growing cultural acceptance of gay people in the younger generation. There was a certain amount of progress that had to be made to get "Will & Grace," etc., onto the national stage, but once that happens, cultural change accelerates. Whatever the imperfections of those media images, it's a big deal that kids in every small town are aware that gay people exist, and that those gay people aren't ashamed of themselves. I believe that plays a role in the fact that young people in this country are so much less homophobic than their parents. We're a long way from happy pony land, but boy, there's been a ton of progress, and I think TV shows had their part in advancing it.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

In the case of gay rights, at least, I think that TV and movies played a role in the growing cultural acceptance of gay people in the younger generation. There was a certain amount of progress that had to be made to get "Will & Grace," etc., onto the national stage, but once that happens, cultural change accelerates.

This is a horrible example of a supposed media representation of homosexuality. But, if you insist. Yes, homosexuals are in the media which teaches us that homosexuals are here to make us laugh on sitcoms and do things like design our clothes on runways. Anything but be seen as "normal and just like heterosexuals." If you look at the representation of homosexuality in the media, you will find what is found for all minority groups.

Such media depictions of minorities (sexual orientation minorities, religious minorities, racial and ethnic minorities, etc.) on television are not what brings forth change through reducing the power dynamics of oppression and educating the masses. All those media depictions do is perpetuate stereotypes and get members of the majority to feel comfortable with minorities AS LONG AS (insert requirement for being allowed to be included). By the way, "some of my best friends are (insert group membership) and things are cool AS LONG AS they don't want (insert opportunities that members of the majority have)."

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

...kids in every small town are aware that gay people exist...

This is not true, at least not in the way that you mean it

Originally Posted by Low C Sharp

...and that those gay people aren't ashamed of themselves.

Many still are.

[PM_Mama00]

In related news, The Simpsons poked fun at University of Michigan-Dearborn and Sharia Law. The news stations interviewed Muslim students to see how they felt about it and many of them laughed and thought it was funny.