Multiple Discrimination against Female Immigrants Wearing Headscarves

Abstract

Western countries have experienced a large influx of Muslim immigrants, and concomitantly the Muslim headscarf has become the subject of major controversy. Drawing on theories of stigma, social identity, and multiple discrimination/intersectionality, this study examines the effect of wearing this headscarf in the German labor market. The author applies the method of correspondence testing that allows measuring discrimination in a controlled field setting. Findings show that when applying for a job in Germany, women with a Turkish migration background are less likely to be invited for an interview, and the level of discrimination increases substantially if the applicant wears a headscarf. The results suggest that immigrant women who wear a headscarf suffer discrimination based on multiple stigmas related to ethnicity and religion.

Who can ride along? Discrimination in a German carpooling market

“…However, dislike intersects with gender as previous researchers have argued (e.g., Diehl et al, ). Frequently, research demonstrates that women of Turkish origin are more likely to be discriminated against compared with women of German origin (e.g., Weichselbaumer, ). In the carpooling market, however, another scenario seems more probable.…”

“…In daily life, Turkish minorities in Germany are often more likely to face discrimination in the labour market (e.g., Kaas & Manger, 2012;Koopmans, Veit, & Yemane, 2018;Pietrantuono, 2016;Schneider, Yemane, & Weinmann, 2014;Weichselbaumer, 2016), in the rental market (e.g., Auspurg, Hinz, & Schmid, 2017;Horr, Hunkler, & Kroneberg, 2018;Lütkenhöner, 2014;Sawert, 2019), in welfare offices (Hemker & Rink, 2017), in online auctions (Przepiorka, 2011), in schools (Sprietsma, 2013), and in the dating market (e.g., Lütkenhöner, 2014). A few studies found only limited support for the discrimination of Turkish minorities in the market for student housing (Diehl, Andorfer, Khoudja, & Krause, 2013) and in public administration when requesting information on childcare and mobile homes (Grohs, Adam, & Knill, 2016).…”

“…But even decades later, they are still confronted with a high level of prejudice and distrust by the German majority population (e.g., Böltken, ). Despite attempts enshrined in the General Act on Equal Treatment, called the Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz , to curb discrimination on grounds of race, ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation, Turkish minorities experience severe discrimination in the labour and housing markets (e.g., Lütkenhöner, ; Weichselbaumer, ). Overall, Germany is an interesting case for the study of discrimination, specifically due to its role in increasing the inequality between minorities and the native majority.…”

“…ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation, Turkish minorities experience severe discrimination in the labour and housing markets (e.g., Lütkenhöner, 2014;Weichselbaumer, 2016).…”

Migrants and Low-Paid Employment in British Workplaces

“…iv Few studies distinguish between taste-based and statistical discrimination (Guryan and Charles, 2013). In her correspondence test study for Germany Weichselbaumer (2016) shows employer call-back rates to Muslim women wearing headscarves are lower than the employer call-back rates to otherwise identical women, a finding which appears to be consistent with taste-based discrimination.…”