Iraqi women in Denmark: Ritual performance and belonging in everyday life (New Ethnographies)

Iraqi women in Denmark is an ethnographic study of ritual performance and place-making among Shi‘a Muslim Iraqi women in Copenhagen. The book explores how Iraqi women construct a sense of belonging to Danish society through ritual performances, and it investigates how this process is interrelated with their experiences of inclusion and exclusion in Denmark. The findings of the book refute the all too simplistic assumptions of general debates on Islam and immigration in Europe that tend to frame religious practice as an obstacle to integration in the host society. In sharp contrast to the fact that Iraqi women’s religious activities in many ways contribute to categorizing them as outsiders to Danish society, their participation in religious events also localizes them in Copenhagen. Drawing on anthropological theories of ritual, relatedness and place-making, the analysis underscores the necessity of investigating migrants’ notions of belonging not just as a phenomenon of identity, but also with regard to the social relations and practices through which belonging is constructed and negotiated in everyday life.The Iraqi women’s religious engagement is related to their social positions in Danish society, and the study particularly highlights how social class relations intersect with issues of gender and ethnicity in the Danish welfare state, linking women’s religious practices to questions of social mobility. The book contextualizes this analysis by describing women’s previous lives in Iraq and their current experiences with return visits to a post-war society. An Ethnographic Study Of Ritual Performance And Place-making Among Shi'a Muslim Iraqi Women In Copenhagen. The Book Explores How Iraqi Women Construct A Sense Of Belonging To Danish Society Through Ritual Performances, And Investigates How This Process Is Interrelated With Their Experiences Of Inclusion And Exclusion In Denmark. The Findings Refute The All Too Simplistic Assumptions Of General Debates On Islam And Immigration In Europe That Tend To Frame Religious Practice As An Obstacle To Integration In The Host Society. Contextualising The Study. Setting The Scene Ritual Performance And Place-making In Everyday Life -- Finding A Place For Oneself : Proceses Of Settlement In Denmark -- Ritual As A Cultural Prism. The Celebration Of 'id Al-fitr: Notions Of Relatedness Among Extended Families -- The Commemoration Of Muharram : Negotiating Community -- Fattima's Taklif : Bringing Up Children For A Good Future -- Notions Of Belonging Revised. Living In A Transnational Social Field : Notions Of Belonging Revised -- Conclusion : Ritual Performance And Belonging. Marianne Holm Pedersen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [173]-187) And Index. Iraqi women in Denmark is an ethnographic study of ritual performance and place-making among Shi‘a Muslim Iraqi women in Copenhagen. The book explores how Iraqi women construct a sense of belonging to Danish society through ritual performances, and investigates how this process is interrelated with their experiences of inclusion and exclusion in Denmark. The findings refute the all too simplistic assumptions of general debates on Islam and immigration in Europe that tend to frame religious practice as an obstacle to integration in the host society. In sharp contrast to the fact that the Iraqi women's religious activities in many ways contribute to categorising them as outsiders to Danish society, their participation in religious events also localises them in the city. Written in an accessible, narrative style, this book addresses both an academic audience and the general reader interested in Islam in Europe and immigration to Scandinavia. Front matter Contents Acknowledgements Maps Introduction: Challenges of belonging Part I Contextualising the study Setting the scene: ritual performance and place-making in everyday life Finding a place for oneself: processes of settlement in Denmark Part II Ritual as a cultural prism The celebration of ‘Id al-fitr: notions of relatedness among extended families The commemoration of Muharram: negotiating community Fatima’s taklif: bringing up children for a good future Part III Notions of belonging revised Living in a transnational social field: notions of belonging revised Conclusion: ritual performance and belonging Glossary References Index