“Liberty can be for you, one thing, and for me, something different”: Muslim women’s experiences of identity and belonging in Switzerland

Author(s) : Rachael Loxston, Liza Jachens

Source : https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.13162

Abstract:

“Belonging and identity are fundamental human needs, with positive experiences closely correlated with affirmative mental health. This paper investigates how these concepts are experienced by Muslim women in Switzerland, a minority group targeted in the political campaign nicknamed the “burka ban.” There were two research questions: How do Muslim women construct their identity in Switzerland? How do Muslim women experience a sense of belonging in Switzerland? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants, and data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Six themes were identified: religion as a public versus private identity, Islam and dressing modestly as expressions of gendered liberation, sharing a sense of Swiss identity through sameness, challenging dominant representations, impression management, and religious and cultural identity as psychological strengths. Participants used several strategies to construct a positive identity and experience belonging in response to negative representation. Findings are summarized in the form of recommendations for counselors working in Switzerland.”

Keywords: counseling, Muslim women, gendered islamophobia, identity, belonging, Switzerland