By Amna Mannan / The Wire
New Delhi: Hanan, a 23-year-old master’s student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, proudly wears a hijab. She says she has observed that friendships and self-esteem often take a hit due to the prejudices held by others. “When you’re perceived as ‘different’, it’s challenging to shield yourself from the biases of society,” she adds.
Hanan has noticed such prejudices impacting people in both formal and informal settings. People frequently harbour preconceived notions about Muslims based on their appearance alone. She has personally experienced hostility directed at her in various situations, including with judges in competitions and with job recruiters. Additionally, she has observed that teachers sometimes overlook the presence of Muslim students in their classrooms.
All these experiences have had a detrimental impact on the self-esteem of Muslim youth, causing many to withdraw from public spaces.
In 2022, Led By Foundation conducted research to determine if a bias exists in the hiring of Muslim women. The results revealed that there is a distinct “hiring bias” against Muslim women in India in entry-level job opportunities, resulting in a 50% lower probability of securing such positions compared to their non-Muslim counterparts.
To address these deeply rooted fears and anxieties within the Muslim community, this author interviewed 30 individuals, all of whom belong to the Muslim community. The goal was to gain an understanding of the extent of discrimination they face and its repercussions on their physical and mental well-being. The respondents were asked five questions, over the phone and emails:
a) Could you share your personal anecdotes, feelings, or experiences that magnify your fears and anxieties as someone who is ‘visibly’ Muslim?
b) What concerns or fears do you harbour for your family members who are easily identifiable as Muslim by their appearance?
c) Have you ever considered removing your hijab or shaving your beard due to concerns related to Islamophobia? If yes, what were your reasons?
This story was originally published in thewire.in. Read the full story here