News cultures, security and transnational belonging: cross-generational perspectives among british Pakista

Abstract

"Muslim women have often been stereotyped as being trapped in an oppressive and patriarchal system that neither provides freedom of expression nor develops their full potential. This study addresses such 'misconceptions', highlighting the ability of British Muslim women to construct their religious, national and gender identities by engaging in lively debates and questioning what appears to be unjust. Dominant public and media discourses currently often equate Muslims with 'terrorists'. Muslim women challenge this conception by participating in news cultures and negotiating their transnational citizenship. This study shows that the religious and political cultures of families shape women's perceptions and experiences of security and transnational belonging, rather than education." [author's abstract]