Nishta Dhanesar
WGS 205-W Final Paper

Throughout history, America has been developed into a country that is considered to be the land of opportunity and freedom. It is believed that coming to America brings about a renewed sense of hope and a the strong desire to attain the “American dream”. America is often viewed as a safe haven and protector for all that is corrupt in the world, including mistreatment in other countries. Overtime, especially “since September 11, 2001, Muslim men have been subjected to remarkably cruel treatment in the name of stopping terrorist activity, whereas Muslim women have been considered victims of Islam and patriarchy” (Sheth 455). Due to this traumatic event in United States history, Islam has been viewed as a threat and as a result, the white man’s burden …show more content…
Through their efforts, these white men are represented as the protector and savior of brown women. However, in this paper I will argue that through the white man’s burden, Americans attempt to civilize the supposedly backward countries through saving brown women from brown men, which ultimately leads to a loss of culture and drives a wedge between American women and women from the Global South.
Through attempting to liberate women of color from their current conditions through processes such as unveiling campaigns, Americans push these women into forceful acclimation and Westernization rather than liberation. After September 11, 2001, the public representation of Islam has been considered a “threat or potential insurgence to a dominant discourse or regime” (Sheth 457), especially in America. The reason behind the wearing of the burqa has been misconstrued such that “the problematic characterization of the veil lies in the assumption that women should not want to veil unless they are being coerced, under false consciousness, or