Hijab & the republic: uncovering the French headscarf debate

Introduction: why France?

Contextualizing the debate. A very modern tradition: background to the "new veiling"

The "cornerstone of the republic": secularism and the regulation of religion

French Muslims: between "integration" and "Muslimism"

A fifteen-year saga. 1989: three little girls and a great big "psychodrama"

1990-1995: from psychodrama to saga

1995-2004 and beyond: how ostentatiousness became conspicuous

Feminists caught in the contradictions. The politics of hijabization

Co-optations and instrumentalizations

Feminist confusions and confrontations

Conclusion: French lessons for the West?

Appendix: Chronology.

Introduction : why France?

pt. 1. Contextualizing the debate: A very modern tradition : background to the "new veiling" ; The "cornerstone of the republic" : secularism and the regulation of religion ; French Muslims : between "integration" and "Muslimism"

pt. 2. A fifteen-year saga: 1989 : three little girls and a great big "psychodrama" ; 1990-1995 : from psychodrama to saga ; 1995-2004 and beyond : how ostentatiousness became conspicuous

pt. 3. Feminists caught in the contradictions: The politics of hijabization ; Co-optations and instrumentalizations ; Feminist confusions and confrontations

Conclusion : French lessons for the West?

Appendix : Chronology.