Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What do you know about Islam? What stereotypes about either Islam or Muslims have you encountered? How do international and local media depict Islam or Muslims, and how do you think these depictions impact immigrants from Muslim-majority countries?

Teaching Suggestion: Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, it may be helpful to first define stereotypes and then discuss the problems inherent in oversimplifying particular people or ideas. To encourage student engagement and empathy, it might be beneficial to extend the discussion to include students’ understanding of and experiences with other stereotypes (e.g., gender, age, and body) and how they have impacted their lives.  

• In this TED Talk, Muslim scholar Dalia Mogahed explores the stereotypes she and others face as Muslims living in the United States and encourages others to choose empathy over division.
• In this article from Teen Vogue, Ashley Rahimi Syed shares the challenges stereotypes pose in relation to her own identity and experiences living in the United States.  

2. What is a stigma, and how does it work? What are the consequences of stigmatizing mental or physical health conditions, substance use disorders, or victims of abuse? What steps can people take to combat stigma?