Is 'My week as a muslim' justified?

[donquixotedelamancha]

I'm watching a documentary on 4 where a Racist white woman lives with a british muslim family, while made up as if of south asian origin. The makeup is obviously problematic, but in this case I think it's justified.

I've always felt that people like the subject were very alien to me. I felt they didn't understand british values and stereotyped them a bit. In the past I've blamed them for a lot of britain's problems.

Watching the show I can't help admiring Katie's bravery and willingness to examine a different view. That isn't something I associated with Racists. The bit where she is abused while dressed as a muslim, and explains to her mum, has made me tear up a bit. In many ways they aren't so different from us.

What did everyone else think.

I was horrified at the abuse she received just walking down the street minding her own business. Just shows you how horrible people can be.

"It made me hopeful for the future."
I suggest you spend a day with the police officers I work with and you'll soon realise there isn't much to be hopeful about thanks to racism and islamaphobia and Brexit and trump and farage and boris and national front and BNP and the rise of the XRW... a lady with naff plastic nose ain't gonna change that.

And the unprecedented terrorist attacks in recent years too.

@bonfireheart

Have you watched it? I really agree with your point about your experience not needing to be justified to others. Thing is (as my tongue in cheek OP implies) I think this documentary was not really about muslims, it was about someone with very narrow views and how they dissolve when met by reality.

"there isn't much to be hopeful about thanks to racism and islamaphobia and Brexit and trump and farage and boris and national front and BNP and the rise of the XRW"

I worry for the UK for exactly the same reasons you do but, taking the long view, these people lose in the end. Each century is better than the one before. That doesn't make the price paid in the short term easier to swallow.

I think the programme is a total pile of pointless bollocks.

Surely Ch4 could have filmed an actual Muslim woman to highlight the racism and prejudice many Muslim women face daily and how it ramps up after a terrorist attack.

There really was no need for a white woman to get blacked up and then make it all about her and her epiphany.

i just think it's very clumsy, they've gone about it all wrong.

I watched it last night.

I have muslim friends both male and female. Both with those who wear the full burka and those that wear jeans and t.shirts or body con dresses and stilettos out and wouldn't dream of covering their hair, legs or arms.

Now if they had featured those that don't confirm to the stereotype it might have been a bit more interesting.

The worst form of imperialism there is. Your experience is only validated if it comes from a white person.

This sums it up very well.

The prosthetics were ridiculous. The nose, the 'tan', the whole thing was just strange. I don't know who signed that off but I can imagine had they quite literally 'blacked' her up there'd have been a shit storm.

It concerns me that many people cannot see someone else's point of view unless they are literally put in their shoes. I dont have to wear make up and a hijab to get that being shouted at on the street isn't very nice.
Does Katie have to go through that again to see what its like being elderly or disabled?

Now if they had featured those that don't confirm to the stereotype it might have been a bit more interesting.

Oliversmumsarmy Please do expand, are clothes with religious significance merely a 'stereotype'?

Surely c4 could have just asked a muslim how they felt.
Why does a white woman experiencing what muslims feel every single day make the point any more valid? At least she can take her 'costume' off.

It's more compelling for a white woman to walk in someone else's shoes.

To have her reactions to the abuse and bigotry she experienced is more compelling - she couldn't minimise it when she was on the receiving end (even when in her heart she knew she could pull off her nose and yell 'I'm white you racist arse!')

I'd like to wear a body cam whilst I go about my business in my home town. It's always nice to get both sides of a story.

We could have a programme about Christians perhaps? But unless derogatory, its unlikely to happen.

Christians - huw could you tell though? Even the most religious civilians don't wear specific clothes. Isn't there one on now about a group of lasses who go to stay in a convent?

I'm a bit confused by people saying about they should of filmed a Muslim woman instead. That's not the point of the show ?

It's not called I am a Muslim this is my week ?

Baffeled.

We could have a programme about Christians perhaps? But unless derogatory, its unlikely to happen.
So true.,

The worst form of imperialism there is? What a massive misreading of the situation! It's about walking a mile in some one else's shoes, experiencing a different lifestyle to challenge ones limited beliefs. A Muslim Pakistani woman dressed up as a Muslim Pakistani woman is hardly going to do that. I'm sure there will be more to follow like my life as a pensioner etc. It certainly wasnt racist but it was shallow and dull.

But why put on the make up and 'black up' in the first place? Is it because the Muslim community would view her with suspicion if she didn't look like them?
But if she had walked down that street dressed as a Muslim but white, those thugs would have been MUCH nastier!

The worst form of imperialism there is. Your experience is only validated if it comes from a white person.

It's true I agree.

Can it ever be justified ? If it makes people re examine their behaviour ?

I actually don't agree she would have been receiving more abuse if she hadn't been made up - I.e. A white Muslim. I think islamaphobia and racism are interlinked and a white woman just isn't going to be treated as badly due to white privilege.

Why does a white woman experiencing what muslims feel every single day make the point any more valid?

I agree with this point but I was already not racist or judgemental to begin with and so certainly didn't need to watch a white woman dressed as a Pakistani Muslim for a week to make me detest the current spate of islamophobia.

IMO, that program was aimed at people who are as ignorant as Katie to begin with... although I doubt people who hold those bigoted views would actually watch it, And if they did it probably wouldn't change their opinions! Of course we can hope!

Absolutely women in my town who are white wearing head scarves or burqa get lots of abuse. I couldn't tell you it's worse than the abuse experienced by non white women dressed the same though

That's what I meant. I didn't mean white muslims receive no abuse at all just to be clear.

I haven't seen this sorry, but what justification did the programme give for her being disguised as a black woman? What was the point?

Pumperthepumper She wasn't disguised as a black woman.