In this assignment, we were required to prepare a formal essay in which we identified and explained three or more aspects of our identity. Next describe how media is either an extra, distinct component or how it has contributed to the other factors stated.

        My identity as a Muslim Bangladeshi female has been profoundly influenced by the intricate combination of religion, gender, and ethnicity, and the media’s portrayal and representation of these factors have a significant impact on my sense of self, perceptions, and social interactions. Terrorist in a hijab, Indian girl with bushy brows, Bengali American, these are the labels that have followed me from high school and earlier. Being a female Bangladeshi Muslim growing up in America is a challenging situation; you have to strike a balance between adhering to your religion and coping with societal demands to fit in on a daily basis. Although media has a significant influence on how it impacts me, my identity is largely shaped by my religion, gender, and ethnicity.

             Since the day I was born, religion has played a significant role in who I am. Many Muslim women view adhering to the Islamic dress code and donning modest clothing, such as a headscarf, as a way to show their faith and sense of identity.  As a hijabi, I’ve always felt like I can’t fit in with society’s norms because of the way I appear. People saying “You look better without it on” made me doubt whether I wanted to continue being a hijabi. Muslim women have encountered harassment, been fired from jobs, and various types of discrimination because of the hijab. Due to their exposure, Muslim women who wear the hijab are more at risk for discrimination and have been more frequently the focus of abuse in the years after September 11. I have to stand behind the pole in the train station whenever I go out as a Muslim woman to prevent being harassed. I have to be always alert of my surroundings since hijabis have frequently been pushed into train tracks. Occasionally, the media has promoted stereotypes about hijabi women, which can result in misunderstandings and biases. Others believe that I feel forced to wear it. Even if there are incidents like these, concentrating just on them might feed the myth that all hijabi women lack freedom. Terrorist assaults have reportedly been linked by several media outlets to hijabi people. Because of how the media depicts hijabi women, becoming one was really difficult, but I had to persevere because this is who I am and always will be.  

            Gender plays a significant role in my identity, particularly in a Muslim Bangladeshi family. For example, I’ll begin by talking about my mum. She moved here 20 years ago, but she has never worked a day in her life since males are the protectors of the family and women should stay at home. She motivated me to work hard in life to be financially independent. As a woman, the family must maintain a good reputation, yet if my brother did anything bad outside, no one would mention it. Media affects my gender because as I indicated earlier, I am an Engineering major and when I revealed the news to my male relatives they chuckled and asked “Do you know how hard it is”. Because I am a woman, they have low expectations of me. Furthermore, the media, advertising, and social media, frequently promote beauty standards that emphasize physical attractiveness and body size. It is difficult for me as a woman to be covered and modest because this is not the norm of beauty standards in our generation. However, I learned that being covered made me more confident in myself and that anyone who is interested in interacting with me is drawn to me because of my inner characteristics. Furthermore, images of women with hairless or manicured skin have elevated aspirational beauty standards. Women may feel obligated to meet these norms in order to avoid social humiliation or condemnation. When I was younger and didn’t know how to shave, I was ridiculed because of my thick hairy arms, which are inherited from my Bengali ancestors. It greatly strengthened me and taught me not to be influenced by other people’s opinions and to pursue what makes me happy.  Being a female in general is difficult, but growing up in a conservative Muslim home with little independence has taught me to be self-sufficient. We live in a changed era, and Muslim women must be regarded seriously. 

           Finally, I will discuss how my ethnicity has molded my identity and how the media has influenced it. Because Bangladesh is so close to India, many people mistook me for an Indian. They are surprised that I do not smell like spices and that I have a decent sense of fashion. South Asians are frequently portrayed in the media as “smelly,” “not their type,” or “not attractive.”  Our food was usually mocked, and we were nicknamed “curry eaters,” but now I’ve noticed a trend on tik tok of people attempting “Butter chicken,” “biryani,” and “samosas,” all Bengali traditional cuisine. As time passed, the media highlighted the positive aspects of my culture. We exclusively ate from halal gyro carts while I was growing up, but now halal cuisine restaurants are widely available and non-Bengalis like the food as well, which makes me proud of my culture. When I was in elementary school, I was embarrassed to bring my lunch out in front of my friends since it smelled strongly of spices. Henna is well known and popular across many cultures, yet when I was younger, people used to remark, “Ew what’s on your hand, it looks scary.” Furthermore, Bangladesh is a third-world country, and the media portrays us as impoverished and unappealing.”Through my six-day trip, I believe Bangladesh is a country of great hospitality,” according to https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/. The locals, wealthy and poor alike, were extremely kind and accommodating to tourists…” This influenced my identity since it shaped me into a compassionate, sociable, and chatty individual. Additionally, most branded garments, such as polo shirts, are labeled “Made in Bangladesh.” The majority of items originate from Bangladesh, yet the media believes we have little effect on society. Overall, being Bengali has molded my identity in several ways.

             In conclusion, gender, religion, and race have all interacted in powerful ways to influence who I am as a person.  My perspectives have been opened up by positive and varied media portrayals, which impacted my identity. But there have also been issues with negative depictions, prejudices, and biases in the media, which has led me to interact with media critically and to fight for more accurate and respectful representations. My identity isn’t stable; it’s always changing, shaped by my experiences, my interactions with other cultures, and the ever-evolving media. 

CITATIONS (APA FORMAT):

• Bangladeshis among the world’s most friendly and hospitable people. (2022). Vietnamnews. vn. https://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/1441036/bangladeshis-among-the-world-s-most-friendly-and-hospitable-people.html
• ‌Mueller, B., Rashbaum, W. K., & Baker, A. (2017, October 31). Terror Attack Kills 8 and Injures 11 in Manhattan. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/31/nyregion/police-shooting-lower-manhattan.htm