On the edge of solidarity : the burqa and public life
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Society
Publication Date
9-2012
Volume
49
Issue
5
First Page
457
Last Page
467
Publisher
Springer New York LLC
Keywords
Burqa, Citizenship, Face, Public, Reciprocity, Solidarity, Sympathy
Abstract
Dislike among European publics for the Islamic full veil and the desire to ban it are often ascribed to nativist "Islamophobia." This article questions that assumption. It argues that, in political terms, the wearing of the burqa and niqab is inconsistent with Western norms of equality, the backbone of the citizenship ideal; and that, in social terms, the full veil erects a partition to interpersonal understanding and reciprocity. While the constitutional duty to protect religious freedom is a good argument in favor of tolerating the full veil, the practice of wearing it is at the edge of solidarity and injurious to the democratic public sphere.
DOI
10.1007/s12115-012-9584-2
Print ISSN
01472011
E-ISSN
19364725
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Springer-Verlag
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Baehr, P., & Gordon, D. (2012). On the edge of solidarity: The burqa and public life. Society, 49(5), 457-467. doi: 10.1007/s12115-012-9584-2