Ferrara on French Ban of Abayas & Its Message: The Conversation

Marketing Communication assistant professor Carol Ferrara writes for the academic news site The Conversation about the recent French ban of abayas in public schools, and head scarves prior, and what that says about French culture and identity.

Taking a closer look at France’s education system, I argue, shows that the abaya ban isn’t really about laïcité. If it were, Santa and Christmas songs would be relegated to the private sphere, and cafeteria menus would equally accommodate common religious diets. Instead, Catholic symbols are often embraced as integral to French culture, while Muslim symbols are scrutinized or barred – sending students a powerful message about what it means to be “French.”

Read the piece.