Muslim women’s workplace experiences: implications for strategic diversity initiatives

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine Muslim women's decisions to wear headscarves, known as hijab, in the workplace. The decision to wear hijab may result in a stigmatized identity, so the paper also aims to examine perceived or experienced discrimination and impact on employment outcomes. Design/methodology/approach -Using qualitative methodology to capture nuances, the study was based on demographic responses and semi-structured interview questions by 79 Muslim women physicians and other healthcare professionals. Findings -The paper finds that many factors influenced their decisions, but Muslim women had a wide variety of views in terms of the hijab and adherence to Islamic precepts. Those who wear hijab reported negative experiences of intolerance and discrimination. The decision to wear hijab was subsequently associated with perceived discrimination that would limit one's employment opportunities. Practical implications -Religion is one diversity categorization that can be invisible yet still has a significant impact on workers and their engagement in the workplace. Organizations engaged in strategic diversity initiatives may need to better understand specific nuances of diversity concerning religious expression and the potential psychological toll hiding those expressions may have on workers. The paper's findings have implications for personnel selection, training, and managing interpersonal relationships in the workplace. Originality/value -Religious expression is an under-studied workplace diversity facet, especially when disclosing religion is a choice that may result in being stigmatized. There has been research on workplace treatment of Muslims and the influences of spirituality, but no research that examined the decision to wear hijab and the associated workplace consequences.

Inclusive Clinical Practice and Policy for Muslim Nursing Students

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Values of Religious Tolerance in Islamic Learning Material of Muslim Minority State High School

“…There are at leats three topics should be considered are, firstly, the school should arrange and implement regulations applied particularly in particular school relating to values of tolerance (Kraft & Basinger, 2010). Secondly, to build a sense of understanding each other since early stage among students who embrace different religious faiths, the school should play its role actively to run religious dialogues or interfaith dialogues intensively under the guidance of teachers of the school (Bolduc, 2010;Montgomery, 2002;Reeves, McKinney, & Azam, 2012). Such inter-faith dialog is an effective effort to let the students be used to perform dialogs with others with different religions (Farrell, 2014).…”

“…So do the textbooks, mainly religious textbooks used in the school, should be textbooks can establish discourses among the students about inclusive and moderate religious concepts (Reeves et al, 2012;Sengupta & Sarkar, 2012;Wekke, 2014). …”

Veiling careers: comparing gendered work in Islamic and foreign banks in Pakistan

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