Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10267/9697
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dc.contributor.authorAbdoch, Rami A.-
dc.date.accessioned2011-06-13T14:26:49Z-
dc.date.available2011-06-13T14:26:49Z-
dc.date.issued2011-05-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10267/9697-
dc.descriptionRami Abdoch granted permission for the digitization of this paper. It was submitted by CD.en_US
dc.description.abstractThe subject of Islam and Muslims has been thrust into the global spotlight by recent geopolitical events and media attention. This has illustrated the phenomenon of essentialism as it relates to understanding Muslim identity in a number of contexts. Essentialism is the act of naming or defining someone/something in absolute terms according to one‟s limited understanding of the other. Ultimately, essentialism is problematic because it is interpretively violent and stifles dialogue before it can even take place. How does essentialism affect dialogue across the “Us-Them” or “West-Islam” binaries? How is essentialism related to Orientalism? In what ways do all of these considerations bear on the structure of Muslim identity at the conscious and unconscious levels? Such questions are what drive this research. This exploratory analysis is informed by the theoretical work of Max Weber, Hans Georg-Gadamer, and Amartya Sen. In-depth interviews conducted with Muslims in Memphis highlight key ways in which Muslims understand themselves and how they think they are understood by others. The findings from this study suggest that the tendency to essentialize Islam and Muslims can be attributed in part to a lack of shared experience between Muslims and non-Muslims.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThis paper was approved by Dr. Thomas McGowan, Dr. John Kaltner, and Dr. Susan Kus.en_US
dc.publisherMemphis, Tenn. : Rhodes Collegeen_US
dc.rightsRhodes College owns the rights to the archival digital images in this collection. Images are made available for educational use only and may not be used for any non-educational or commercial purpose. Approved educational uses include private research and scholarship, teaching, and student projects. Original copies of the programs are stored in the Rhodes College Archives. In all instances of use, acknowledgement must be given to Rhodes College Archives Digital Repository, Memphis, TN. For information regarding permission to use this image, please email the Archives at archives@rhodes.eduen_US
dc.subjectHonors papersen_US
dc.subjectAnthropology and Sociology, Department ofen_US
dc.subjectStudent researchen_US
dc.titleEssentializing Muslim Identityen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
Appears in Collections:Honors Papers

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