Compounded Oppressions: Exploring the Burden of Racism, Sexism, and Islamophobia on Muslim Female Youth

Background and Purpose
Muslim female-identifying youth within Black, Arab, and South Asian communities in Canada face compounded challenges stemming from the intersection of Islamophobia, sexism, anti-Black, anti-Brown, and anti-Arab racism. These young women experience unique struggles resulting from the convergence of multiple marginalized identities, with limited attention paid to how these intersecting oppressions shape their lived experiences. This study examines how these youth experience, resist and cope with the emotional and social toll of these compounded oppressions. The research question centers on how intersectional discrimination (racism, sexism, and Islamophobia) impacts the social and emotional well-being of Muslim female-identifying youth in Canada, and how these youth navigate and resist these challenges.

Methods
This study employs a critical ethnographic design, grounded in a Critical Race (CR) and Anticolonial (AC) framework. The research centers the lived experiences of Black, Arab, and South Asian Muslim female-identifying youth, utilizing purposive sampling to ensure representation of these diverse communities. Participants were recruited from local community centers, schools, and youth organizations. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, all informed by anti-colonial and anti-racist research ethics. Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns and themes related to the intersectionality of discrimination and its emotional and social consequences. The data waw analyzed through the lens of CR and AC theorizing, focusing on how these frameworks illuminate the gendered, raced, and orientalist aspects of the youths experiences.

Conclusions and Implications

The research uncovered several key findings, including heightened levels of anxiety, social isolation, and identity fragmentation among Muslim youth facing compounded forms of Islamophobia, racism, and sexism. These youth reported experiencing social and emotional challenges such as lack of belonging, safety and identity issues, with these issues often exacerbated by the lack of anti-racist and culturally sensitive mental health resources and support systems. Participants also shared stories of resilience, highlighting coping mechanisms such as family connections, community solidarity, religious faith, and activism. The study revealed that the compounded nature of these oppressions creates unique challenges that are often invisible in broader societal conversations, with particularly marked differences in how Islamophobia is experienced across racial and ethnic lines.