The Way They Treat their Daughters and Wives: Racialisation of Muslims in Norway

Abstract

“What do you think might be the reasons for existing negative attitudes toward Muslims?” This was one of the open-ended questions asked in a broad quantitative survey on attitudes toward minorities in Norway. The responses make up the theme of this article. Through a qualitative analysis of the respondents' own assessments of the reasons for negative attitudes toward Muslims, this article presents the most common stereotypes of, and prejudices toward, Islam and Muslims in Norwegian society. Although several researchers have pointed to conspiracy myths and terrorism as the core reasons for prejudice against Muslims, this material shows that references to cultural and religious values dominate as the reasons for the prejudice, especially depictions of how Muslims treat women. The ‘Muslim way’ contrasts with a central claim in a national narrative depicting Norway as a liberal, gender-egalitarian and peace-loving society. This article argues that most of the responses not only are prejudicial in the matter of constructing an ‘us’ and a ‘them,’ but that they also constitute examples of racialisation of Muslims. The fact that the data comes from a representative population survey, and not from established arenas for anti-Muslim discourse, provides a unique insight into how Islamophobic and racist ideas about Muslims are disguised behind references to hegemonic values in discussions on gender issues.