Veiled discourse on Muslim women in Europe: The feminazation of debates over Islam

Islam has for a long time been perceived as a purely male religion. This is no longer the case nowadays in Europe. Various elements have helped the 'feminization" of Islam in Europe, in particular at the level of its public reception. The veil affairs are among these. Political and scientific discourses have played a role in explaining that wearing the veil could be interpreted differently as the symbol of anti-modernity and backwardness. At the centre of this public dimension of veil affairs, a young woman pops up. She was born in the European country of which she is also a citizen. She belongs to various circles of socialization, not exclusively Islamic ones. Her faith is chosen, assumed and claimed. In a way, she reminds us of some Islamic militancies in the 'societies of origin". Can we consider the two sides of this commitment to a religious activism in public in a comparative perspective? What could then be learned as far as the public perception of Muslim women in Europe is concerned?