The gaze is not harmless but a powerful tool that limits the abilities of Muslim Americans to participate in society as Americans. It strips Muslim Americans of the right to respond to terrorist attacks like every other American citizen: with shock, sadness, fear, and anger. It also limits the mobility of Muslim Americans in their everyday lives by making them feel unwanted or unwelcome in public spaces. The gaze works to prevent Muslims from feeling a sense of belonging in their own country, a privilege associated with social citizenship (Glenn 2002).

XREF: Connects to Glenn (2002) on social citizenship and to broader literature on surveillance and belonging for marginalized groups.

Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, loc. 272