Author: Mairim Febles Pérez*
This research was conducted to improve the relationships between Muslim students and students from diverse backgrounds at the Agrarian University of Havana "Fructuoso Rodríguez Pérez”, Cuba in 2013. In order to achieve this objective, the fundamental characteristics of Islam as well as the primary reasons for the misinterpretation of Muslims. The role of the media as for stereotyping was emphasized based on the analysis of concepts regarding its social representation, dimension and structure. Three research techniques were used: Drawing, Semantic Differential and Free Words. These methods were associated with the objective to characterize the social representation of the Muslims in a Cuban university environment. The results obtained revealed prejudice and stereotyping of Muslims due to the misinterpretation of the customs and traditions of Islam. Hence, recommendations are made to develop an understanding, acceptance and respect for the Islamic culture and its followers by encouraging efforts directed at socio-cultural transformation on the university campus.
Keywords: Media, negative role, stereotypes, drawings, Muslims.
*MA. Social Studies of Religions, Researcher of Religions, Department of Socio-Religious Studies, Center for Psychological and Sociological Research (CIPS), Havana, Cuba. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
