Framing Hijab in the European Mind : Press Discourse, Social Categorization and Stereotypes

This book compares how British and Spanish media have covered the French ban on hijab wearing in public schools. Using interdisciplinary approaches ranging from social psychology, semiology, cognitive linguistics and sociology, it seeks to explain how the hijab is interpreted as a sign by the mainstream culture, and hijab-wearing Muslim sub-culture. Based on an analysis of 108 articles published in the national newspaper from each context, this comparative study operates on two levels: a micro-level analysis of within-culture variations between mainstream culture and the hijab-wearing women; and a macro-level analysis of the cross-cultural variation between the British context and the Spanish one. The result is a profound insight into how each discourse reveals the different level of social integration of hijab-wearing women in these two different contexts. The Analysis methodology combines between Critical Discourse Analysis CDA, Conceptual Metaphor Theory CMT, and Cognitive Linguistics CL. The book introduces a novel analysis methodology for social and linguistic sciences. It is the Cognitive Critical Discourse Analysis methodology CCDA. Acknowledgments Contents Introduction Introduction References The Politics of the European Muslim Women’s Identity: Challenging the Public Discourse and National Sign System The Politics of Identity: Islam Visibility in the National Public Sphere Introduction The Need of an Enemy Constructing the Forbidden: European Muslim “Us” A Puzzled Battle in the Public Sphere: Laïcité, Secularism, and Religious Freedom The British Muslim Community: An Overview Rushdie’s Affair Multiculturalism, Britishness or Social Richness British Public School Spanish Context Muslim’s Civil Participation Ceuta and Melilla Spanish Public Schools Conclusion References Intersectional Euro-Muslim Women: Western Political and Feminist Responses Introduction Western Feminists’ Framing of Muslim Women: From the Past to the Present Islamic Feminism: Necessity and Sensibility Women Vestment: Human Rights Vs. Religious Islamic Approach A Political Response Public Discourses on Hijab Religious Liberty vs. Euro-Secularism: Inclusion vs. Exclusion Gender Equality vs. Gender Justice Conclusions References The Hijab Sign System: Toward a Cognitive Critical Discourse Analysis Theory CCDA Introduction Cognitive (Socio)Linguistics Historical and Contemporary Perspectives Conceptual Metaphors: Definitions and Properties Cultural Models, Mental Frames, and Metaphors Framing Social Signs: Positionality and Belonging Critical Discourse Analysis CDA Ideology and Language Discourse(s) on Social Signs Discourse Hegemony Critical Discourse Analysis Discursive Strategies Discourse Authority Authoritative Discourse on the EU Hijab Toward a Cognitive Critical Discourse Analysis CCDA Conclusion References Framing the National Hijab in the European Mind (Spanish and British Cases) Data Review Introduction Selection Criteria and Variables Data Discussion Conclusion References Framing National Hijab in the European Mind: Within and Cross-Cultural Analysis of the British and Spanish Press Introduction Framing Hijab Through “Discrimination” Spanish “Discrimination” Mental Frame of Hijab British “Discrimination” Mental Frame of Hijab Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing Hijab Through “Submission” Spanish “Submission” Mental Frame of Hijab British “Submission” Mental Frame of Hijab Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing Hijab Through “Compulsivity” Spanish “Compulsivity” Mental Frame of Hijab British “Compulsivity” Mental Frame of Hijab Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing Hijab Through “Concealment” Spanish “Concealment” Mental Frame British “Concealment” Mental Frame of the Hijab Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing Hijab Through “Religiosity” Spanish “Religiosity” Mental Frame of Hijab British “Religiosity” Mental Frame of Hijab Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing Hijab Through “Othering” Spanish “Othering” Mental Frame of Hijab British “Othering” Mental Frame of Hijab Cross-Cultural Analysis Conclusions References Framing National Hijab-Wearing Women in the European Mind: Within and Cross-Cultural Analysis of the British and Spanish Press Introduction Framing the Hijab-Wearing Women Through “Ignorance” Spanish “Ignorance” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women British “Ignorance” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing the Hijab-Wearing Women Through “Oppression” Spanish “Oppression” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women British “Oppression” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing the Hijab-Wearing Women Through “Othering” Spanish “Othering” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women British “Othering” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women Cross-Cultural Analysis Framing the Hijab-Wearing Women Through “Indiscipline” Spanish “Indiscipline” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women British “Indiscipline” Mental Frame of Hijab-Wearing Women Cross-Cultural Analysis Conclusion References Conceptual Metaphors in the Hijab Debate: Multi-Dimensional Analysis in the Spanish and British Press Discourse Introduction CONTAINER Possession and Accessibility to OUR CONTAINER Barriers to the CONTAINER Personification THE HIJAB IS AN UNDESIRABLE PERSON THE HIJAB IS AN ADOPTED CHILD THE HIJAB IS AN IDENTITY SWIPER SYMBOLISM SIGN OF IDENTITY-SYMBOL OF IDENTITY SYMBOL OF OPPRESSION/IGNORANCE/DISCRIMINATION/ DISORIENTATION SIGN OF LIBERATION TOOL THE HIJAB IS A PROTECTIVE TOOL THE HIJAB IS A HARMING TOOL TTHE VEIL IS AN OPPRESSIVE/PROBLEMATIC TOOL THE VEIL IS AN EMPOWERING/LIBERATING TOOL ENTITY THE HIJAB IS ENTITY and IDENTITY IS ENTITY THE HIJAB IS AN ENTITY/BODY PART JOURNEY WAR The ENEMY THE THREATENED THE VICTIMS TOOLS THE BATTLE Conclusion References Conclusion Conclusions Bibliography