The Khans in Britistan

Abstract

This paper examines Citizen Khan, a British sitcom portraying a Muslim family in Birmingham, through the lens of cultural representation, alterity, and subalternity. While the series sparked controversy for allegedly perpetuating stereotypes about Muslims and Pakistanis, it simultaneously achieved wide popularity, reflecting a complex reception. The analysis highlights how the sitcom negotiates sensitive issues of identity, integration, gender roles, and intra-community hierarchies within British Muslim life. Special attention is given to the ways patriarchal authority is performed, challenged, and subverted within the family dynamic, particularly in relation to Mr. Khan’s character. By situating the sitcom within postcolonial and feminist critiques, the study argues that Citizen Khan functions as both a counter-narrative to Islamophobic depictions and a satirical exposure of patriarchal contradictions in diasporic communities.