Strategies of resistance : how Muslim women challenge representations in the Norwegian public

Abstract

Islam and Muslims are considered to be the most obvious out-group in Norway, today, and recipients of racism, prejudice and discrimination. Muslim women are often thought to be the most marginalised group, just because of their identity as both women and Muslim. This is all happening in a society which often refuses to recognise said marginalisation, racism and prejudice, despite the fact that it permeates every level of society. The aim of this thesis is therefor to challenge the mainstream representation of Muslim women as victims, as homogenous and as controlled by Islam. Rather than doing what many other research papers have done before it, it will look at these women as individuals with autonomy and agency, rather than victims and non-active agents in society. It will look at the strategies Muslim women uses to challenge and resist mainstream representations of themselves, that are based on stereotypes and myths with roots in colonialism and orientalism. This is also why this thesis will utilise a post colonial feminist approach to the analysis, in order to recognise the complex and intersectional situations of these women. The results show that multiple strategies are used, some religious and others not. Some from a feminist perspective and some from a legal perspective. However, two similarities are that they all use their multiple and fluid identities to navigate the debate, and they all try to diffuse the dichotomy between 'Us' and 'Them'.