The Council on American-Islamic Relations is the largest American Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil liberties, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CAIR California is the organization’s largest and oldest chapter, with offices in the Greater Los Angeles Area, the Sacramento Valley / Central California, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
From August 2018 to March 2020, how often have you been bullied at school for being Muslim?
Very often (once a week or more)
29
4.54%
Often (once a month)
36
5.63%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
85
13.30%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
151
23.63%
Never
338
52.90%
26.22%
RESPONDENTS BULLIED DURING COVID-19
20.88% points drop from prior to the pandemic
From March 2020 to now, how often have you been bullied at school for being Muslim?
Very often (once a week or more)
8
1.30%
Often (once a month)
17
2.77%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
39
6.35%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
97
15.80%
Never
453
73.78%
39.46%
OBSERVED OTHERS BEING BULLIED PRIOR TO COVID-19
Consistent with 39.01% in the 2019 Report
How often have you seen another student at school being bullied for being Muslim from August 2018 to March 2020?
Very often (once a week or more)
13
2.17%
Often (once a month)
29
4.85%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
75
12.54%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
119
19.90%
Never
362
60.54%
23.13%
OBSERVED OTHERS BEING BULLIED DURING COVID-19
16.33% drop from prior to the pandemic
How often have you seen another student at school being bullied for being Muslim from March 2020 to present?
Very often (once a week or more)
8
1.36%
Often (once a month)
22
3.74%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
37
6.29%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
69
11.73%
Never
452
76.87%
29.72%
REPORTED SEEING PEERS MAKE ISLAMOPHOBIC SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
DIRECT POST AT STUDENT
How often do students at your school make offensive comments or posts about Islam or Muslims directly towards you on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram?
Very often (once a week or more)
17
2.97%
Often (once a month)
18
3.15%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
66
11.54%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
69
12.06%
Never
402
70.28%
35.68%
REPORTED SEEING PEERS MAKE ISLAMOPHOBIC SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
GENERAL POST ON ISLAM
How often do students at your school make offensive comments or posts about Islam or Muslims in general on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram?
Very often (once a week or more)
13
2.28%
Often (once a month)
32
5.62%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
72
12.65%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
86
15.11%
Never
366
64.32%
30.12%
HAD HIJAB TUGGED, PULLED, OR OFFENSIVELY TOUCHED
If you wear hijab, how often have you had your hijab tugged, pulled, or in any way offensively touched by another student?
Very often (once a week or more)
6
1.06%
Often (once a month)
6
1.06%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
11
1.94%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
27
4.76%
Never
116
20.46%
Not Applicable
401
70.72%
47.43%
REPORTED A DECREASE IN BULLYING SINCE SWITCHING TO REMOTE LEARNING
If your school has transitioned to an exclusive or partial online teaching model because of COVID-19, has this increased or decreased your experiences of bullying?
Increased
23
3.94%
Decreased
277
47.43%
Stayed the same
284
48.63%
1 OUT OF 4
REPORTED AN ADULT AT SCHOOL MAKING ISLAMOPHOBIC COMMENTS
Has a teacher, administrator, or other adult at your school made offensive comments about Islam or Muslims?
Yes
137
23.5%
No
446
76.5%
55.73%
FELT UNSAFE AT SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WERE MUSLIM
Highest % since this survey began in 2013
How often have you felt unsafe, unwelcome, or uncomfortable at school because of your Muslim identity?
Very often (once a week or more)
26
4.59%
Often (once a month)
30
5.29%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
89
15.70%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
171
30.16%
Never
251
44.27%
26.64%
REPORTED AN ADULT AT SCHOOL MAKING ISLAMOPHOBIC COMMENTS
DIRECT AT STUDENT
How often do teachers, administrators, or other adults at your school make offensive comments towards you about Islam or Muslims?
Very often (once a week or more)
7
1.21%
Often (once a month)
10
1.73%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
37
6.40%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
100
17.30%
Never
424
73.36%
27.6%
REPORTED AN ADULT AT SCHOOL MAKING ISLAMOPHOBIC COMMENTS
GENERAL ON ISLAM
How often do teachers, administrators, or other adults at your school make offensive comments about Islam or Muslims in general?
Very often (once a week or more)
6
1.04%
Often (once a month)
9
1.56%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
41
7.12%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
103
17.88%
Never
417
72.40%
19.6%
MISSED SCHOOL DUE TO FEELING UNSAFE AND UNWELCOME
Compared to 13.76% in the 2019 Report
How often have you missed school because you felt unsafe, unwelcome, or uncomfortable at school?
Very often (once a week or more)
8
1.41%
Often (once a month)
9
1.59%
Sometimes (3-6 a year)
26
4.59%
Rarely (1-2 times a year)
68
12.01%
Never
455
80.39%
25.31%
RESPONDENTS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM SCHOOL STAFF
11.32% did not receive resolution to their problem
Agree or disagree: "When I told a teacher, administrator, or another adult at my school about an issue I faced because I am a Muslim, it helped solve the problem."
Strongly Agree
53
9.38%
Agree
90
15.93%
Neutral
96
16.99%
Disagree
45
7.96%
Strongly Disagree
19
3.36%
Not Applicable
262
46.37%
1 OUT OF 5
DID NOT FEEL LESSONS ON ISLAM AND MUSLIMS WERE FAIR
Compare to 14% in the 2019 Report
Agree or disagree: "When my teachers taught lessons about Islam or Muslims, they did so in a neutral, fair, and factual manner."
Strongly Agree
104
18.41%
Agree
175
30.97%
Neutral
114
20.18%
Disagree
76
13.45%
Strongly Disagree
34
6.02%
Not Applicable
62
10.97%
32.04%
DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING THEIR MUSLIM IDENTITY
Agree or disagree: "I feel comfortable letting teachers and classmates know that I am Muslim."
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
