The green scare’s fear broadened to encompass converts, not just born Muslims

Evidence

Though none of the “homegrown terrorism” cases mentioned above lacked for sensational media treatment, the case of “Jihad Jane” caused the biggest uproar. While the Virginia case prompted speculation in the press about why five “normal” young men might be moved to fight with the Taliban, it was accepted that this was a possibility for young Muslim men. LaRose’s gender, ethnicity, and “Main Street” Pennsylvania background meant that anyone could be a terrorist. Like the McCarthy-era red scare that imagined Communist spies lurking in every neighborhood, school, and workplace, the “green scare” encouraged Americans to view not only Muslims but anyone who converted to Islam as a threat. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 502

Categorization

• XREF: Directly parallels the red scare — Kumar’s stated analogy — connecting to reader’s interest in psyche-to-state-power mapping. — connects to: Just as conversions aren’t causing massive demographic shifts, jihadists aren’t causing massive numbers of terror attacks on Western soil. Therefore, it seems clear that Western fears of both jihadist attacks stem from insecurities about Western power and the ability of Western nations to fend off terror attacks. Fears of jihad and national security rest primarily with male converts, while female Muslim converts bring about a different set of anxieties for nationalist commentators. Female Muslim converts challenge false stereotypes about oppressed Muslim women and create fear for nationalists by challenging Western societal norms of objectification of women. Objectification of women means the West hyper-sexualizing female bodies for mass consumption.; The perceived threats posed by female Muslim converts challenge false stereotypes about oppressed Muslim women and create fear for nationalists by challenging Western societal norms of objectification of women. Objectification of women means the West hyper-sexualizing female bodies for mass consumption.; White nationalist rhetoric frames religious conversion as a military tactic — Margaret Hodson, Baby Jihad, 36 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Just as conversions aren’t causing massive demographic shifts, jihadists aren’t causing massive numbers of terror attacks on Western soil. Therefore, it seems clear that Western fears of both… #expands (0.70)
• The perceived threats posed by female Muslim converts challenge false stereotypes about oppressed Muslim women and create fear for nationalists by challenging Western societal norms of… #expands (0.65)
• White nationalist rhetoric frames religious conversion as a military tactic #corroborates (0.60) — Margaret Hodson, Baby Jihad, 36
• Mass Christian conversion to Islam forced Christians to view Muslims as religious rivals #complicates (0.55) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 124