CMEPF: Studying Antisemitism & Islamophobia: Comparisons, Contrasts and Parallels
The Cambridge Muslims in Europe Postgraduate Forum will reconvene on Monday 1 February to discuss research on Antisemitism & Islamophobia. The main research presentation will be given by Maryyum Mehmood, a PhD Student at King’s College, London. This event is part of a series featuring visiting postgraduate speakers discussing their research and its wider academic context, organised by Cambridge Muslims in Europe Postgraduate Forum and kindly sponsored by the Centre of Islamic Studies. Newcomers are welcome; we kindly request that you contact the organisers (cjjm3@cam.ac.uk / md618@cam.ac.uk) in advance. Further details are below.
Introductory Article:
Nasar Meer, ‘Semantics, scales and solidarities in the study of antisemitism and Islamophobia’
Nasar Meer, ‘Semantics, scales and solidarities in the study of antisemitism and Islamophobia’ 2013
Reference, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Routledge
Presentation Abstract:
Research exploring the effects of xenophobia is often categorised under the umbrella of multiculturalism studies, and most often there is little, if any, engagement between different forms of xenophobia. Following calls by experts in the field to widen scope of the discourses into Antisemitism and Islamophobia, this study seeks to highlight the underlying similarities and differences in terms of the respective reactions they generate. A further nuance of this study is that it investigates both Antisemitism and Islamophobia through the target’s lens, i.e. the reactions of Jews and Muslims towards being members of scapegoated or suspect communities. Essentially, I aim to put forward this notion of ‘accommodation’ as the most effective form of acculturation for both groups or communities. Accommodation, amongst other things, entails balancing all aspects of one’s identity, and the process of negotiation is discussed in detail in this presentation. It is hoped that by offering insight into the accommodationist response, we can simultaneously learn more about Antisemitism and Islamophobia discourses, and offer a deeper understanding of the current assimilation vs isolation debates.
Biography
Maryyum is an ESRC Doctoral Student and a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London. Maryyum’s thesis explores Antisemitism and Islamophobia through the target’s lens. Her research focuses on responses to religious and racial stigmatisation, and prejudice against Muslims in contemporary Britain and Jews in Weimar Germany, respectively. Her other research interests include identity politics, sectarian violence and South Asian security trends. Currently, she contributes to a range of research subjects in academic journals as well as international media outlets. Maryyum tweets @marymood.