Islamophobia is a graded category with degrees, not an all-or-nothing attribute
Evidence
In addition to identifying the three core components of Islamophobia, it is necessary to stress that Islamophobia is not what cognitive psychologists refer to as a classical set (Lakoff 1987: 6, 21)13 that allows coding of objects in an unambiguous and egalitarian manner as fully inside or outside a category with a fixed boundary (such as U.S. senator). Instead, it conforms more closely to notions developed in fuzzy-set theory of a graded category (such as tall people), where Islamophobia is not an all-or-nothing proposition (Zadeh, discussed in Lakoff, 1987, pp. 21-22; Ragin 2000). Some attitudes or people clearly count as Islamophobic, and others clearly do not count. In between, there are varying degrees of Islamophobia. — Erik Bleich, What Is Islamophobia and How Much Is…, 36
In addition to identifying the three core components of Islamophobia, it is necessary to stress that Islamophobia is not what cognitive psychologists refer to as a classical set … Instead, it conforms more closely to notions developed in fuzzy-set theory of a graded category (such as tall people), where Islamophobia is not an all-or-nothing proposition … Some attitudes or people clearly count as Islamophobic, and others clearly do not count. In between, there are varying degrees of Islamophobia. — Erik Bleich, What Is Islamophobia and How Much Is…, 36
Categorization
- DEFINE: Introduces the fuzzy-set/graded-category framing borrowed from Lakoff and Ragin that anchors the whole measurement project.
- corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Erik Bleich, What Is Islamophobia and How Much Is…, 36
- XREF: connects to: Islamophobic presumption attaches to anyone perceived as Muslim, regardless of belief or practice. — A. Hussain, N. Meer, Framing Muslim Integration, 473; Islamophobia is measured by prejudice’s prevalence, consistency, and intensity — Erik Bleich, What Is Islamophobia and How Much Is…, 37; Anti-Islamic and anti-Muslim attitudes are distinct but overlapping targets of prejudice (+5 more)
Broader Connections
- Islamophobia is an ideological construct with real consequences, not mere discourse
#expands(0.80) — Carl W. Ernst, Islamophobia in America_ The Anatomy of…, 582 - Islamophobia is structural racism rooted in empire, not religious intolerance
#expands(0.80) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 91 - Islamophobia is manufactured by interlocking professional interests, not spontaneous prejudice
#expands(0.75) — Peter Morey, Islamophobia and the Novel, 275