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Can Freedom Entitle Oppression?- A Feministic Analysis of the Veil as a Phenomenon in Secular Societies

Olsson, Kristina (2007)
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Abstract

In Europe, equality between men and women is constitutionally protected and the member states of the European Union are obliged to counteract gender discrimination within their states both according to the Treaty of Rome and the European Convention on Human Rights. Over the last years there have been several debates in Europe about whether the Islamic veil is consistent with secularity and whether banning the veil within some institutions would be to violate the freedom of religion or not. Some feminists look upon the veil as a symbol of a patriarchal structure within the Islamic community and some feminists compare the veil with a bandana. Since European women have overcome an oppression practised by the church for centuries in... (More)
Abstract

In Europe, equality between men and women is constitutionally protected and the member states of the European Union are obliged to counteract gender discrimination within their states both according to the Treaty of Rome and the European Convention on Human Rights. Over the last years there have been several debates in Europe about whether the Islamic veil is consistent with secularity and whether banning the veil within some institutions would be to violate the freedom of religion or not. Some feminists look upon the veil as a symbol of a patriarchal structure within the Islamic community and some feminists compare the veil with a bandana. Since European women have overcome an oppression practised by the church for centuries in the name of Christianity, the passivity in Europe can be interpreted as if Islamic women are being treated as second class citizens. It can also be seen as a proof of western tolerance for multiculturalism. The right to individual freedom is highly regarded in Europe, but can the freedom of religion entitle oppression against women?

Keywords: Feminism, Gender Discrimination, Islam, Secularity, Veil

Characters: 49.323 (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Olsson, Kristina
supervisor
organization
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Feminism, Gender Discrimination, Islam, Secularity, Veil, Political and administrative sciences, Statsvetenskap, förvaltningskunskap
language
English
id
1321599
date added to LUP
2007-06-12 00:00:00
date last changed
2007-06-12 00:00:00
@misc{1321599,
  abstract     = {{Abstract

In Europe, equality between men and women is constitutionally protected and the member states of the European Union are obliged to counteract gender discrimination within their states both according to the Treaty of Rome and the European Convention on Human Rights. Over the last years there have been several debates in Europe about whether the Islamic veil is consistent with secularity and whether banning the veil within some institutions would be to violate the freedom of religion or not. Some feminists look upon the veil as a symbol of a patriarchal structure within the Islamic community and some feminists compare the veil with a bandana. Since European women have overcome an oppression practised by the church for centuries in the name of Christianity, the passivity in Europe can be interpreted as if Islamic women are being treated as second class citizens. It can also be seen as a proof of western tolerance for multiculturalism. The right to individual freedom is highly regarded in Europe, but can the freedom of religion entitle oppression against women?

Keywords: Feminism, Gender Discrimination, Islam, Secularity, Veil

Characters: 49.323}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Kristina}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Can Freedom Entitle Oppression?- A Feministic Analysis of the Veil as a Phenomenon in Secular Societies}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}