Abstract

In a growing scholarly canon, one of the more obvious gaps are studies investigating the experience of male victims of Islamophobia. That which is known is twofold, most of which is largely adduced from studies investigating the experience of Islamophobia among Muslim women. The first is that Muslim men would appear to be less likely to experience Islamophobia in ‘real-world’ settings than Muslim women. And second, that the visible recognition of Muslim men—likewise Muslim women—would appear important as regards who is and who is not targeted for Islamophobia. Despite being typically less visually identifiable than Muslim women, beards and certain forms of Islamic attire would seem to have the same trigger function as the hijab and niqab.This chapter directly responds to this gap in the literature by investigating the male experience of Islamophobia in the contemporary setting of the United Kingdom. In doing so, the chapter not only seeks to improve knowledge and understanding about the male experience but so too affords additional insights into the full breadth and complexity of gendered Islamophobia. As well as exploring points of convergence and divergence between male and female victims of Islamophobia, this chapter is further contextualised by positioning the findings within the literatures relating to (Muslim) masculinities and violence. Doing so ensures it speaks to, and indeed across, different audiences and disciplines.This chapter draws on the findings from engaging 41 participants each of whom identified as being male and Muslim and had experienced Islamophobia. Having considered the existing literature, the chapter will be structured around four themes. The first considers the process of Othering consistent across all experiences of Islamophobia. The second focuses on the relationship between the experience of Islamophobia and the incidence of terrorism and military conflict both in the UK and elsewhere in the world. The third explores the changing nature of the content of verbal abuse and how this is shaped and influenced by socio-political issues and events. The fourth, addresses identification and visibility and its impact on behavioural change and self-censorship. In conclusion, this chapter reflects on how the experience of Islamophobia by Muslim men is the ‘same but different’ to that experienced by Muslim women drawing out the similarities and differences as a means of enhancing existing understanding and catalysing new thinking.