Actions to Promote the Employment and Social Inclusion of Muslim Women Who Wear the Hijab in Catalonia (Spain)
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Research Questions
- What experiences of exclusion do Muslim women face in their entry and progression in employment related to the visible expression of their religious beliefs through the hijab?
- What actions are contributing to the creation of opportunities for Muslim women who wear the hijab in their entry and progression in employment?
2.2. Data Collection
- Twelve communicative daily life stories with Muslim women wearing the hijab, with diverse training and professional experiences. At the time of the study, six of the participating women had faced situations of discrimination in the workplace due to their use of the hijab, while the other six participants had had professional experiences in which the use of the hijab had not been a ground for discrimination;
- Eleven in-depth interviews with a communicative orientation with different actors involved in the fields of training an employment.
2.3. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Experiences of Discrimination Faced by Muslim Women Wearing the Hijab
3.1.1. Educational Experiences
Situations of Exclusion
In compulsory secondary education, I remember that classmates, I (had) very few. Very few. […] I had very few friends at school and high school (…) I’m talking about compulsory secondary education, it was 2001. Then there was very little information for young people about Muslim women or what the hijab meant. Then, out of ignorance and mistrust, people tried not to approach me.(Safia, Muslim woman)
Lack of Regulations
Girls who were wearing it have complained to me and, as I was already hurt by my situation (…) I didn’t want these girls to go through the same situation. […] I went with the law to schools and, in fact, in high schools for 3 years ago it is no longer prohibited. I went to the high school (and) I said: “why are they banning it?”, I wanted them to show me the regulation. That they really did not have any law, that it was simply (…) some advice for the girls.(Safia, Muslim woman).
It can’t be that I go into high school, and no one tells me anything and I haven’t had any problems and come here and tell me that [to stop using the hijab]. And they say to me: “it’s just that [there are] rules, whatever …” And then you say, “What rules?” and they (just) stare at you, they don’t tell you anything.(Najia, Muslim woman)
Difficulties during Internship Programs
I felt discriminated against because most of them [classmates] were sent to companies, right? Administration. And I was sent to the library. In the library you do not learn anything, nor to make invoices, nor to learn accounting, nor anything. Simply book lending [….]. And I felt very discriminated against then, because then a lot of people had a chance to be hired depending on which company. Obviously, in the library, when I was sent there, I knew I didn’t have any, zero opportunities.(Safia, Muslim woman)
3.1.2. Professional Experiences
Barriers in the Selection Process
There are companies that directly say that they do not accept that you wear the headscarf, they tell you that it is not part of the uniform, or that it is not part of our ethics, or whatever. A girl I know, in an interview, the interviewer compared her as if wearing the hijab was a disability, told her that she was not normal and that she does not have the same abilities as others. You really get hired as a hotel waitress or cleaner, but if it’s in front of the public. As an administrative, clerk, receptionist, they tell you no, that in front of the customer it can’t be, that customers don’t accept it, that they don’t want problems.(Zouhra, Muslim woman).
Prohibition to Wearing the Hijab in the Workplace
They tell you, ‘Of course, we want, for example, a uniform image of our customers. No one here can impose or make their ideology visible.’ As if a person, for example, carried a cross, right? […] They make these comparisons to you.(Salima, Muslim woman)
Situations of Exclusion during the Professional Practice
I’ve been told, I’ve been seen with cameras, and with producers and directors, with the director on the street for a street interview, and one of the girls said, “why did you choose this ‘moor’? Why don’t you choose me?” So, she thought, that girl, that she was better than me and I was just a “moor”, and (then) why should they hire me, you know?(Nouhaila, Muslim woman)
And then the attacks I received on Twitter or whatever, they said to me, “You’ve only been caught because of the veil.” “Damn, dude, are you just seeing the veil?” […] You’re not seeing my skills, how I talk to people, the interview show, you’re just seeing what I carry in my head, you know? They end up making you invisible.(Nouhaila, Muslim woman)
The problem is when you are with patients. There are always some cases that have a different mindset and don’t want to deal with people wearing the veil. I’ve had some cases, some people, and now I don’t visit him. I don’t do the analytics or anything.(Razan, Muslim woman)
The reluctance that there may be […] on the part of the users or patients themselves […] to be treated by people with whom they […] consider that they will not receive a treatment that provides them with sufficient confidence. Their prejudices, […] basically, I understand.(Leandro, internship coordinator)
Lack of Commitment with the Management of Religious Diversity by Organizations
There are legal frameworks that are written, but not being implemented. […] You go to an institution, and they can recognize that yes, that there is this religious freedom, that it is included in the Constitution, or the Catalan Statute or whatever you want, but then, to put it into practice, it is necessary a bit of effort on the part of the institutions, to put these texts into practice and that (the expression of religious freedom) is something palpable and that it is something real.(Razan, Muslim woman)
3.1.3. The Role of Religious Entities
Lack of Dissemination of the Action of Religious Entities
I think it is very necessary that there are more associations that support and advise us, or that they are made known. Many of the people who suffer this type of rejection are unaware that there are alternatives to asking for outside help. We are not aware that there is an association or NGO or whatever.(Amira, Muslim woman)
I think they are there, but they lack a lot of visibility. If you are not in this world, you do not know these services. You don’t know your rights; you don’t know where you can go. These services must be visible and publicized. And they must reach all citizens.(Safia, Muslim woman).
Distance between Religious Entities and the Reality Lived by Muslim Women Who Suffer Discrimination in the Workplace
3.2. Inclusive Experiences Lived by Muslim Women in the Workplace
3.2.1. Prior Educational Experiences
Building Supporting Relationships
Academically, I have to admit I had no problems. And at the level of attending class with a veil, doing laboratory practices in class … because Nursing consists of a theoretical part and a practical part that are done in class. In this aspect with the teachers, I have never had any problems.(Razan, Muslim woman)
I remember that I had two friends who are my best colleagues from university and, moreover, they were Catalan, and they said: “look, let’s do something: the first day we will come a day earlier so that you can be with us”—which was also the first day they saw me in a veil— “we will both accompany you to class”(Noura, Muslim woman)
And I liked it a lot, because it was a very important foothold to get into class. And knowing that two people accepted me already gave me more willpower and said, “I can do this”(Noura, Muslim woman).
Addressing Issues of Religious Diversity in the Management of the Internship Programs
In addition, many activities related to the veil arose due to the hijab. We worked on very cool topics, for example, there were some cultural activities one day a week, they talked about different topics, one of the topics that arose was cultural equality, respect, the veil, and so on.(Houria, Muslim woman)
And then, when I worked there, I noticed that they were very open people. In addition, the projects they were doing were projects that were not here in Barcelona, they were projects in Mali, in the Sahara, they were about international cooperation. And, of course, the truth, they never told me anything. I was very comfortable, my privacy was respected, no one judged me for what I wore, nor did anyone judge what I was.(Mariam, Muslim woman)
3.2.2. Professional Experiences
Efforts to Regulate Religious Diversity in the Workplace
In this sense, one of the participants expressed her current job as an optometrist: “I talked to them if the veil was a problem for them. They told me no and that they lived in a neighborhood where there were a lot of Muslim people and it would not be a problem for them”.(Amira, Muslim woman).
I went to the interview, and they hired me and, honestly, I can’t complain about that. I had some really good experiences, because in none of the interviews I did, they never told me anything about the veil and neither did the Tax Agency. They simply asked me questions related to work, telephone communication and all that. I was never told the theme of the veil or religious theme.(Mariam, Muslim woman)
I liked it a lot, because one of the principles of that company or magazine was that the religious and free speech of any worker was respected. Then every person who comes in, when he/she is going to sign the contract, (…) “you can’t help create awkward situations for religious or expression issues in general.” I found it very interesting, because in other places they do respect it and such, but they do not reflect it in their policy.(Mariam, Muslim woman).
Support from People in Leadership Positions
The boss confronted them, in front of everyone, he said: ‘what are those who make you feel inferior?’ The boss confronted them and said clearly, ‘who wants to follow the training, well, and who doesn’t want to, he/she can go, the door is quite big, but here we are all the same.’(Noura, Muslim woman)
Opportunities for Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment
3.2.3. Role of Religious Entities
Support When Combating Discrimination in Work-Related Situations
I know of a case of a girl who came to the Muslim Multicultural Association for help. These girls, due to wearing the veil, could not do external internships or participate in day-to-day class activities. They were in intermediate vocational training. Also, from a university degree.(Houria, Muslim woman)
We have had enough action at the level of intermediaries and at the level of acting to solve the problem. Then, in this case, what is done is to talk to the affected person, try to talk to the health center or the responsible center and try to act as an intermediary to see if a solution can be reached.(Razan, Muslim woman)
Opportunities for Personal and Social Development
I think it is a way of helping to break these stereotypes. And also, when they make visible the initiatives of young people who are here in this society, and who are contributing directly to this society. And it is a way of saying that we are also part of this society, and we are not here only to study and work, but we are contributing and contributing. And if those who are from here care about Catalonia or Spain, then let them know that we also contribute for the welfare of the country and contribute new things and help it improve. I think that making things visible helps a lot and helps to report, of course.(Mariam, Muslim woman)
4. Discussion
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Name | Level of Education | Age | Current Position | Professional Experiences |
---|---|---|---|---|
Zolaija | Vocational Training Diploma in Dietetics and Nutrition and Administrations Other training courses | 26 | Administrative staff | Exclusion related to the use of the hijab |
Amira | Bachelor’s Degree in Ophthalmology | 25 | Optometrist | Exclusion related to the use of the hijab |
Najia | Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Master’s Degree in Emergencies and Expert in Pediatric Management (in progress) | 23 | Nurse | Exclusion related to the use of the hijab |
Noura | Dual Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Labor Relations | 25 | Telephone operator | Exclusion related to the use of the hijab |
Nouhaila | Bachelor’s Degree in Technology Engineering and Telecommunications | 25 | Different work experiences | Exclusion related to the use of the hijab |
Zouhra | Bachelor’s Degree in Economics Master’s Degree in Taxation (in progress) | 25 | Different work experiences | Exclusion related to the use of the hijab |
Safia | Vocational Training Diploma in Administration. Bachelor’s Degree in Social Education (in progress) | 31 | Immigration technician of the County Council | Inclusive management of the hijab |
Houria | Vocational Training Diploma in Social Integration and Computer Programming Bachelor’s Degree in Social Education Master’s Degree in Educational Technology (in progress) | 32 | Social educator and programmer | Inclusive management of the hijab |
Razan | Vocational Training Diploma in Dietetics and Nutrition Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing Master’s Degree in Pharmacology Master’s Degree in Research in Nursing Sciences (in progress) | 29 | Nurse | Inclusive management of the hijab |
Salima | Vocational Training Diploma in Auxiliary Nursing Care, in Laboratory and in Laboratory Technician She is currently enrolled in a University Bachelor’s Degree | 27 | Intern at the university’s services | Inclusive management of the hijab |
Mariam | Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism Master’s Degree in Journalism and Telecommunications (in progress) | 23 | Telephone operator at the Tax Agency | Inclusive management of the hijab |
Farida | Vocational Training Diploma in Trade and Marketing, in Administration and in Administration and Finance Bachelor’s Degree in Economy Master’s Degree in Teacher Training | 26 | Secondary Education teacher in Economics | Inclusive management of the hijab |
Name | Professional Position |
---|---|
Oriol | University’s Internship Coordinator, Health Sciences |
Leandro | University’s Internship Coordinator, Physiotherapy |
Inma | Vice-Dean for Equality University’s Internship Coordinator, Physiotherapy |
Anna | University’s Internship Coordinator, Health Sciences |
Luz | University’s Internship Coordinator, Nursing |
Marcos | University’s Internship Coordinator, Business Management |
Carles | Political leader Secretary for Equality, Migration and Citizenship Member of Parliament |
Ignacio | Director of Chemical Products Company |
Meritxell | Teacher Coordinator of the Baccalaureate Program of a Religious Congregation |
Carla | Responsible of the local Delegation, Temporary Work Agency |
Mariona | Responsible of the local Delegation, Temporary Work Agency |
Categories | |||
---|---|---|---|
Dimensions | Educational Experiences | Professional Experiences | Role of Religious Entities |
Exclusionary dimension | Situations of exclusion (1) Lack of regulation (2) Difficulties during internship programs (3) | Barriers in the selection process (4) Prohibition to wear the hijab in the workplace (5) Situations of exclusion during the professional activity (6) Lack of commitment with the management of religious diversity by organizations (7) | Lack of visibility of the action of religious entities (8) Distance between religious entities and the reality faced by Muslim women (9) |
Transformative dimension | Supportive relationships (10) Addressing issues of religious diversity in the management of the internship programs (11) | Efforts to regulate issues of religious diversity by organizations (12) Support from people in leadership positions (13) Opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-employment (14) | Support to combat discrimination (15) Opportunities for personal and professional development (16) |
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Garcia-Yeste, C.; Botton, L.d.; Alvarez, P.; Campdepadros, R. Actions to Promote the Employment and Social Inclusion of Muslim Women Who Wear the Hijab in Catalonia (Spain). Sustainability 2021, 13, 6991. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13136991
Garcia-Yeste C, Botton Ld, Alvarez P, Campdepadros R. Actions to Promote the Employment and Social Inclusion of Muslim Women Who Wear the Hijab in Catalonia (Spain). Sustainability. 2021; 13(13):6991. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13136991
Chicago/Turabian StyleGarcia-Yeste, Carme, Lena de Botton, Pilar Alvarez, and Roger Campdepadros. 2021. "Actions to Promote the Employment and Social Inclusion of Muslim Women Who Wear the Hijab in Catalonia (Spain)" Sustainability 13, no. 13: 6991. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13136991