Surveillance of Female Muslims A Study of the Ideologies that Target Female Muslims’ Dress and Behavior

Abstract

This paper examines how female Muslims are surveilled within Western and Muslim societies. Surveillance is known as the close observation of an individual (Merriam-Webster, 1847). While it is difficult to generalize the beliefs within a certain region, there have been a great number of research articles that show how female Muslims who wear the hijab have been criticised. These judgements reflect a dominant ideology within those specific areas in Western and Muslim societies. To examine more ways that female Muslims are surveilled, I followed eight Muslim Instagram accounts for thirty days recording each post. I examined the ideologies within their posts, and relate this to previous research that discusses female Muslims’ beauty and modesty. Some posts actually discuss the issue of surveillance/judging each other, which shows how the surveillance of outward appearance does not accurately represent a female Muslim’s character or religiosity.