Do Muslim Girls Really Need Saving? Boundary-Making and Gender in Swiss Schools

Abstract

The boundary between Muslims and non-Muslims is increasingly gaining in importance on a global scale. This paper focuses on boundary-making processes based on gender notions. Roughly speaking, stereotypical views on gender roles in Islam picture women and girls as victims of a repressive gender order dominated by men. Muslim immigrants’ children in Western Europe are especially concerned by such stereotyping, because the centre of their life is where they are born and grow up. Boundary-making processes represent Muslims as a homogeneous group, making it impossible to perceive the enormous internal diversity of Muslim immigrant groups. The analysis of an ethnographic example aims to uncover the views of four Swiss Muslim girls whose parents are Albanians from Macedonia. Their stories about how they live, including their religion, schooling, career aspirations and future plans, illustrate their multiple belonging. Eventually, a group discussion on swimming lessons highlights the active role of Muslim immigrants’ children, dealing with their needs and expectations.