Secularism and Securitisation: The Imaginary Threat of Religious Minorities in Canadian Public Spaces

Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals

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18

Arabs; Muslims; Terrorism; Foreign Countries; Minority Groups; National Security; Christianity; School Safety; Racial Differences; Fear; Islam; Political Attitudes; Clothing; Federal Legislation; Laws; Whites; Power Structure; Profiles; Risk; Racial Discrimination; Public Policy; Racial Bias

10.1080/13617672.2019.1600341

1361-7672

From the assumed physical threat of a ceremonial Kirpan in an elementary school carried by a Sikh child, to the fictional possibility of rich, Arab, Muslim University students utilising their implicitly understood patriarchal power to subjugate all women from access to common swimming pools, Canada has become increasingly replete with examples of using religious minorities as a danger to secure public spaces for societies most privileged. Since 9/11, this has become a far too common public discourse on maintaining close surveillance, scrutiny and regulations for those religious and racialised Canadian minorities associated with the 'war on terror'. Promoting public spaces, especially public-school spaces, as 'secular' has become the argument of supposed non-bias in ensuring safety and equality for the wider population, all the while leaving many of those used as an example of threat to wonder if the ultimate intent is to preserve white, Christian (and Christian cultural) privilege. This article proposes to examine cases since 9/11 that have problematised racialised groups associated with the terrorism in public schooling to the benefit of maintaining 'Old Stock' status quo.

As Provided

2019

EJ1220008