Because jihad is a non-English word, it is understandable that many Americans do not understand the word and its connotations. However, this gives rise to Islamophobia because people are afraid of what they do not know. If presented with two words, jihad and struggle, many Americans would not react to the latter, but ears would go up in response to the former. This is ironic because the two words are nearly synonymous, just in two different languages.

Asena Karipek, Portrayals of Jihad, loc. 72