Representation of Muslim characters living in the West in Ontario’s language textbooks

Abstract

This study examined how Muslims living in the West were represented in English language textbooks in Ontario, Canada. The review showed that Muslims were consistently placed in inferior and dependent positions in relation to ‘white folks’ by focusing on their origins in violent and backward societies, their cultural deficits, social ineptitudes, conflicted identities, and low-status jobs. It is suggested that textbooks should encourage critical literacy by including a wider, more accurate range of depictions of Muslims in western societies to combat stereotyping.

Keywords:

• textbooks
• representations
• Islam
• Muslims
• colonialism

Acknowledgment

The author would like to thank Marie McAndrew, Bechir Oueslati, Lisa Quirke, and Nashwa Salem for their contributions to this work. This project was funded by the SSHRC Standard Grant.