'Progressive except for Islam': profiling Islamophobia sentiment

Research has established the prevalence of Islamophobia in a cross-section of Western societies, including in Australia. A rise in anti-Muslim attitudes and experiences of racism among Muslim communities has led to research on the varied manifestations of Islamophobia sentiment. A recent study on Islamophobia in Victoria, Australia uncovered five segments of Islamophobia, ranging from a very progressive pro-Muslim stance to a strongly anti-Muslim disposition. This chapter builds on this research by focusing specifically on the three largest and non-polemic segments: Islamophobic with assimilationist tendencies, Undecideds, and Progressives who have concerns about Islam. The chapter explores the demographic attributes of these segment groups, including factors such as age, political affiliation, geographical location, socioeconomic status, and gender. Attitudinal variations are also critical, and the research looks to the role of liberal discourses, including liberal feminism, to explain the wider than expected reach of Islamophobia in liberal Western democracies like Australia. The chapter proposes key approaches and solutions to transform and improve Islamophobic attitudes, including better utilising the existing support for anti-racist action; leveraging comfort with intercultural contact to create greater exposure and education opportunities that could help reduce Islamophobia sentiment; and a focus on building trust and establishing strong leadership on this issue in order to establish a better and more sensible public discourse about Islam and Muslims.