French Film On Sexism Accused Of "Islamophobia"

Ever since the French short film “Oppressed Majority” was republished on YouTube this year with English subtitles, it’s had more than 9 million views and continues to be an international talking point.



Not only has the film, by French director Éléonore Pourriat, inspired a recent trend of gender-flip audio-visual media provoking a conversation about everyday sexism around the world, but it’s continued coverage in international media has shed an unintended light on the political and social context of France and it’s growing culture of racism towards its Muslim and ethnic minority communities.



aside from striking a familiar chord for many female victims of sexism, it is the character profile of the Muslim and North African characters which has elicited criticism for the short video’s depiction of minority communities in France. The portrayal of the male Muslim babysitter called Nissar who wears a balaclava to signify the reversal of the Hijab has provoked criticism for the way he is assumed to be subservient and submissive to his partner reflecting a growing perception about Muslim women in French society and the associated intolerance for the hijab in French public sphere. One critic described this scene as “‘Islamophobic misogyny.”‘ The street gang involved in Pierre’s assault has also been criticized for fueling the stereotype of North African men as criminals and sexual predators.



As the saying goes, if the shoe fits it's not Islamophobia or something like that.

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