The portrayal of Muslim women as either 'oppressed wives' or 'violent jihadis' limits the complexity and diversity of their identities and experiences. These stereotypes reduce Muslim women to roles that serve the narrative of Western superiority, failing to recognize their agency and the socio-cultural realities in which they live. This binary portrayal neglects the diversity within Muslim communities and perpetuates prejudiced views that serve imperialist interests by justifying interventions in Muslim-majority countries .

The depiction of Muslim women in Hollywood films is critical to understanding Western societal attitudes because it reflects and influences public perceptions and political ideologies. These portrayals often reduce complex identities to simplistic stereotypes, reinforcing Orientalist and imperialist perspectives that depict Muslim-majority countries as either oppressive or threatening. Such representation shapes public discourse by perpetuating biased views, thus impacting policies and general attitudes towards these cultures and nations .

Veiling in Hollywood films is depicted as a symbol of both oppression and exoticism, serving to reinforce Orientalist and imperialist narratives. This motif highlights the perceived cultural divide between the 'civilized' West and the 'backward' East. It frames Muslim women within the binary of either oppressed individuals longing for Western liberation or as symbols of resistance that threaten Western values. Such portrayals underpin Western imperialist ideologies by suggesting a need for Western intervention to 'liberate' or manage these 'oppressive' cultures .

Maryam N. Moghaddami's research reveals that the veil plays a pivotal role in shaping Western perceptions of Muslim women, symbolizing the stark contrast between the 'civilized' West and the 'backward' East. The use of the veil in Hollywood films often symbolizes oppression or resistance, reinforcing Orientalist stereotypes. This depiction simplifies complex cultural practices into binary terms, serving imperialist narratives by justifying Western interventions to supposedly 'liberate' oppressed women .

Hollywood narratives contribute to reinforcing Western imperialist ideologies by simplifying Muslim women and Muslim-majority societies into stereotypes that justify intervention. By portraying Muslim women as oppressed or as threats, these narratives suggest that Western intervention is needed to address these issues. This reinforces a perception of moral and cultural superiority of the West over the East, serving political interests by framing Western countries as arbiters of freedom and security .

The thesis employs textual and semiotic analysis as its primary methodological approaches to analyze the representations of Muslim women in Hollywood films. It leverages Edward Said’s 'Orientalism' and Amira Jarmakani’s feminist critiques as key theoretical frameworks. By examining selected films and TV shows, the research deconstructs thematic arcs like the 'oppressed wife' or 'violent jihadi', scrutinizing how Hollywood reinforces specific narratives about Muslim women .

Reducing Muslim women's identities to veiling practices in Hollywood films suggests that their cultural and personal identities are defined solely by their relationship with this practice. It perpetuates the view that veiling equals oppression or resistance, dismissing individual choices and ignoring other aspects of their lives and identities. This simplification supports Orientalist narratives by symbolizing the conflict between 'civilized' and 'backward' societies, further entrenching Western imperialist ideologies and justifying interventions .

The depiction of Muslim women in Hollywood has shifted from exoticized 'harem girls' to feared 'jihadis'. Initially, these films exoticized Muslim women as part of an alluring, mysterious Orient. Following the post-9/11 era, such portrayals morphed into depicting them as threats to Western values, embodying the 'jihadi' stereotype. This shift reflects broader socio-political changes and the intensification of Western fears regarding Islam and Muslim-majority countries, thus justifying political and military interventions .

Hollywood's portrayals of Muslim women justify Western political and military interventions by reinforcing stereotypes that serve imperialist narratives. The depiction of Muslim women as oppressed or threatening underscores a need for Western-led 'liberation' or containment, thus rationalizing interventions in Muslim-majority countries. By painting these societies as inherently oppressive or dangerous through the lens of veiling and other reductive symbols, these portrayals create a moral imperative for intervention .

Maryam N. Moghaddami utilizes Edward Said's 'Orientalism' to frame her analysis by highlighting how Hollywood's depictions of Muslim women align with Orientalist stereotypes. Said's concept helps dissect the portrayals' underlying assumptions about Western superiority and the exotic or dangerous qualities imposed on the 'Other'. Moghaddami demonstrates that films use these depictions to justify narratives that favor imperialist ideologies and highlight imbalances in power between the West and Muslim-majority countries .