This is a slideshow for my study on the Islam religion, homosexuality and women in China. I chose a Muslim community in my own hometown, Hebei province, China, to conduct the study, as well as interviewed and researched people in that area. I wish to expose Islam and Homosexuality in a new setting (i.e. Asia, China) and compare it to what we learned in class.
It was very interesting to see the rigidity that exists in China when it comes to Islam. It was also interesting that you were not able to find re-interpretations of religious texts. I liked seeing the perspective of a queer, Muslim, Chinese woman through your interview; I really felt for her and what she might be experiencing with her intersectional identities. It was interesting that she felt she couldn’t come out because of the social roles of women in China and not necessarily for religious reasons, as she was not super involved in the religious world (since women cannot do so). Additionally, I appreciated the discussion of Islamophobia and Homophobia and how these forms of discrimination play into each other and affect people. It was interesting how in China Islamophobia is not like it is in the US, but rather, it is a more accepted population. I loved that you included a section on how this could improve moving forward and what can be done about this!
I really enjoyed your presentation and the incorporation of an interview from a Muslim woman in China. I think the added layer of having someone who has directly experienced this paired well with all of your research. I was surprised that she said her religion only impacted her a little, and found that gender roles seemed to have a larger impact. I didn’t realize that women weren’t allowed to go to mosques or participate in the rituals as much. I also thought your comparison between islamophobia in China versus the US was important. As someone who’s grown up in America, I hadn’t thought about how 9/11 wouldn’t create the same impact in other countries as it has in the US. Your project was really informative and gave me a new perspective!
I thought framing your presentation as a question of which factor was most harmful to LGBTQ people in China was a really interesting approach that allowed you to really dig into the heart of the question and analyze the culture around sex and gender in China. The incorporation of the interview gave it a personal edge that really emphasized your points and was a wonderful addition to the project. It’s interesting how your interviewee found that the social influence outweighed the religious influence for her in terms of her lesbianism. This was a great presentation!
I found it really interesting that there are similarly anti-LGBTQ attitudes among Chinese Muslim communities as American Muslim communities given that China didn’t experience the post 9/11 Islamophobia in the same way. In The LGBT Inclusion Project they spoke about how 9/11 and the American public’s reaction to it caused some Muslim communities to reject an ideology perceived as being pushed on the community by outsiders. I wonder if a similar thing is going on in China amidst a wave of Islamophobia. I also really liked how you highlighted strict gender roles as a source of anti-LGBT sentiment.
It was fascinating to learn about homosexuality in China. I liked seeing how a queer, Muslim, Chinese woman’s perspective on things. I thought it was interesting that Chinese Muslims didn’t experience Islamophobia the same way others did when 9/11 happened.
I’m so grateful you shared this topic with us! I feel as though so much of the class, myself included, did not know the experiences of queer, Muslim, Chinese people and the impacts of these marginalities. Digging into the culture surrounding gender and Islamophobia was also great context for this project. I would be curious to see if these cultures were similar/different to other areas in China/Asia as a whole.
Knowing nothing about homosexuality and religion from China, I learned a lot in this presentation! It’s interesting to see the interviewer’s response. What shocked me the most was that she felt pressure to marry because all of her peers were doing it, but when looking at how young she was I was startled! This was such a fascinating project!
Your presentation was very eye-opening, I am sure most of us knew a very small amount about China and their culture and traditions, so understanding homosexuality through Chinese view on religion was very insightful. Growing up surrounded by Western culture it was very interesting seeing how Islam is viewed in a place where 9/11 never took place or where islamophobia is not at the same level.
I really liked learning about cultural and religious differences in China. I think that I wasnt fully aware of religious presence and perception so having education in this is very important not only for me but other people like me who havent given must though to religious and societal perceptions of people in the world.
This is such an interesting project! I am so glad that you were able to shed light on the culture surrounding homosexuality in China. Your project was extremely informative, and the interview you conducted was fascinating. It was really interesting to see the religious culture of China compared to the American norms, especially in regards to Islamophobia and the treatment of Muslim queer people. You did a lovely job on your project, and I really enjoyed your presentation!
Your slideshow was very informative and I think that the interview you conducted complemented your research really well. I did not consider how Islamophobia may look different in China because of a different history and this was so fascinating to learn – I really enjoyed your presentation!
I thought that your project was very well done! I liked how you provided an interview, it helped put all of your information into perspective. To be honest I didn’t know much about this topic but I found your analysis to be thorough and telling about how homophobia and islamophobia are translated in China.
You picked a very unique topic to study because being a Muslim in China comes with its challenges, but identifying as a queer individual adds another layer that makes things more challenging. Talking about both Islamophobia and Homophobia in a country that is not densely populated with either group is very important. The interview you did also added another layer of reality to your topic.
This was a really interesting topic that doesn’t often get talked about over here in the US. It was great you were able to interview people so they could share their own experiences. Glad you pointed out that 9/11 did not have a big impact on Islamophobia in China, as it can be easy if you’ve lived in the US your whole life to make broad assumptions, when that’s really not the case. As a side note, as a non-Mac owner I can’t open your keynote file on my laptop. For accessibility reasons I’d suggest uploading a PDF instead so it’s easier for everyone to view.
Thank you for your project! I fully went into your presentation not knowing a ton about China and the various forms of religions that they could potentially participate in. Very quickly, I realized that there is so much intersectionality in China. Though I know there are queer people all over the world, it can be difficult especially if your religion isn’t as accepting (which most aren’t). The interview was incredibly helpful in hearing the first person perspective of someone who had to face these challenges.