Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- Contents
- List of Cases
- List of Abbreviations
- List of Contributors
- An Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Considerations of the “Burqa Ban” Trend: Criminalizing the Trivial or Separating National and International Law?
- PART I Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Strategy of Prohibition
- PART II Legal Perspectives: Religious Clothing, Law, and a Veil-Wearer’s Experiential Account
- Part II Legal Perspectives: Human Rights Perspectives
- Part II Legal Perspectives: National Perspectives
- PART III Responses To Otherness: Gender, Race, And The Veil Factor
- Epilogue
- Index
- About the Editors
Integration, Culture, and Gender in Swedish City Council Motions: Veils and Other Obstructions to “Swedishness”
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 December 2021
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Acknowledgements
- Contents
- List of Cases
- List of Abbreviations
- List of Contributors
- An Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Considerations of the “Burqa Ban” Trend: Criminalizing the Trivial or Separating National and International Law?
- PART I Interdisciplinary Perspectives on the Strategy of Prohibition
- PART II Legal Perspectives: Religious Clothing, Law, and a Veil-Wearer’s Experiential Account
- Part II Legal Perspectives: Human Rights Perspectives
- Part II Legal Perspectives: National Perspectives
- PART III Responses To Otherness: Gender, Race, And The Veil Factor
- Epilogue
- Index
- About the Editors
Summary
Abstract
This chapter discusses the content of motions submitted to 54 city councils in Sweden. The motions aim at a ban or prohibition of one or more kinds of veils in schools and, in some instances, in other municipal functions that define the public space. Through critical discourse analysis, the author examines a number of shared ideas of culture, gender, and integration versus segregation, democracy, and secularity in the relevant motions. However, the motions also show dichotomies in the understanding of cultures, as well as reasons for wearing veils. The author highlights their simplistic approaches, which also apply to gender equality, religion, and secularity. Furthermore, possible consequences of the representations of the above-mentioned themes and topics are addressed.
Introduction
We live in an open and democratic society. In order for this to function well, it is important to have a common respect for the openness and democracy. It requires that we can feel safe in our everyday life. It feels foreign for us that it is possible to live and act in this society if one at the same time wants to hide one's face. Openness and democracy are characterized by the right to have differing understandings, the right to demonstrate. The right to different opinions is crucial in a democracy.
So far, over 50 motions aiming to ban veils have been submitted to city councils in Sweden. The above quote comes from the first motion to the Swedish Parliament, submitted in 2009, by Centerpartiet (Centre Party) Members of Parliament (MPs). Even if the motion states both the importance of openness, the right to differ, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, and democracy, it also asks Parliament to draw a line, for where do these rights and freedoms stop? It concludes that the line should be drawn when it comes to hiding one's face, for whatever reason, in public spaces, including workspaces.
There are neither nationwide nor local prohibitions specifically formulated for face veils in Sweden. In August 2019, the Swedish government also rejected a proposal, initiated by the conservative Moderaterna party, to investigate a national prohibition on wearing veils in pre- and elementary schools.
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- Information
- Law, Cultural Studies and the 'Burqa Ban' TrendAn Interdisciplinary Handbook, pp. 411 - 438Publisher: IntersentiaPrint publication year: 2021
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