Muslim students in Switzerland are being forced to shake hands with their female teachers

[Democat]

The tradition of shaking a teacher’s hand at the beginning and end of each lesson is a long-standing one in the classroom in Switzerland. But it has now sparked a broader narrative on the country’s identity.

http://qz.com/692888/muslim-students-in-switzerland-are-being-forced-to-shake-hands-with-their-female-teachers/

Another debate about religious freedom versus respect for the country's existing secular culture.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

1. But will they use their right or left hand to shake with?

[elleng]

10. Right

[raging moderate]

2. Maybe they could wear gloves.

If they don't want to look, they could wear blindfolds.
If the female Swiss teachers go to a Muslim country, do they force the men there to shake their hands?

[Bad Dog]

6. If the female Swiss teachers go to a Muslim country, do they force the men there to shake their hand

Of course not, it's not their country.

[Bonx]

23. Lolling at females in a Muslim country forcing a man to do *anything*.

[Bad Dog]

26. lollygag away.

[tblue37]

27. When Western women visit such countries, they are expected to cover their arms and legs, and often

their hair, to be respectful of the country's culture. Respect should go both ways.

[Bonx]

31. It's important to respect the very real threats to to their personal safety

in misogynist Muslim countries that don't respect basic human rights we take for granted.

[Squinch]

32. It is sad that "respect should go both ways" needs to be said, but it does. These things seem to be

considered OK when they devalue women (women in fundamentalist Muslim areas being required to hide themselves), but not where equality is required (shaking a teacher's hand as a show of respect.)

[Squinch]

29. If the female teachers go to a Muslim area, do they wear head coverings in public? My guess is yes.

[Nay]

3. I completely agree with this decision:

"Therwil’s local education authority said (link in German): “The public interest with respect to equality between men and women and the integration of foreigners significantly outweighs the freedom of religion.” According to the BBC, the school in question was “relieved” by the decision."

When you move to a secular country, you cannot expect to treat others (like women) as second-class citizens because of your religion.

[annabanana]

8. Thank you. . . .n/t

[Duckhunter935]

12. Indeed so

[peabody]

21. Very well put!

I totally agree.

[cali]

4. Too bad.

[philosslayer]

14. Sarcasm?

n/t

[cali]

24. No. This is part of the culture. And it is harmless.

afaik, there is no religious doctrine that dictates that male children cannot shake hands with a woman.

[PeteSelman]

5. When in Rome......

People have to stop catering to mythology over reason and decency.

[The2ndWheel]

7. Always fun when various human thoughts clash

Forcing people to do what they don't want to do. Sometimes that seems to be ok, sometimes it doesn't. It usually comes down to what actions you already agree or disagree with. Is it their body(or hands), their choice? Or does society get to choose what they must do for them?

Compromises always make a given situation more complicated and messy, but force changes diversity. Gotta love the human experiment.

[braddy]

9. This shaking hands with the teach requirement, struck me as a wise cultural tradition of the Swiss.

""The tradition of shaking a teacher’s hand at the beginning and end of each lesson is a long-standing one in the classroom in Switzerland. But it has now sparked a broader narrative on the country’s identity.
Last month, two Syrian boys in the town of Therwil were exempted from shaking their female teachers’ hands."'

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

11. A lot more civilized than a "fuck you"

that some of our teachers get when their students leave the class.

You couldn't pay me enough money to teach middle or high school. My hats off to all of you who do.

[philosslayer]

13. My only concern is that this can be very provocative

Its one thing to demand civility, but "demanding" touching, even shaking hands, can be provocative to some people who aren't accustomed to it.

Lets put it another way. What if the Swiss "demanded" that Hijabs be removed by female students during class? How many here would support that? I venture not many.

[bighart]

15. I think a more accurate question is:

Would you (we, I) support a female Swiss teacher being forced to wear a hijab if they went to teach in a Muslim country?

If so why, if not why not?

[philosslayer]

16. Their country, their laws

I don't agree with such laws, but any teacher going there would go voluntarily.

Lets ask another way... why do our female political leaders wear hijabs when they go to certain Middle Eastern countries? You and I could find dozens of pictures of the First Lady, and Secretary Clinton doing exactly that. No one is forcing them. It's common courtesy.

[bighart]

17. If the cultural custom is shake the teachers hand in the country they are attending school in

then shake the teachers hand.

Exactly the same principal in my mind.

It is no more provocative than a woman being expected, or in some cases forced, to wear a hijab when it isn't part of their religion or customs.

[smirkymonkey]

28. Yes, and the same goes for a secular, progressive country like Switzerland.

If the religiously insane don't like it, they can move to a country that caters to their religious bullshit instead of trying to impose it on Western cultures.

Funny how when it comes to Muslims, all accommodations should be made when a non-Muslim is in their territory, but you think that Western nations need to bend over backwards to respect and make allowances for Islamic oppressive beliefs and customs.

[roody]

36. If she chooses to teach there,

she will choose to wear a scarf. IMO

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

25. LOL, concern....

More like your usual double standards of "Muslim good, anything else bad"

The kabuki theater rolls on.

[leftynyc]

18. Too fucking bad

Move to a secular country and expect THEM to cater to your religious freakery? Don't like it, send your kids to private school or move to a place that will cater to your sky daddy whims.

[cabot]

19. Good

If they are going to live in a country where men and women are equal, they need to learn they will come into contact with women whether in business settings or social settings. If I moved to Saudi Arabia or another Muslim country, I wouldn't expect men to shake my hand nor would I force them to do so. It isn't part of the culture. In Switzerland, shaking hands with one's instructor is a part of the culture. So adapt. Shaking hands with a woman isn't going to give you cooties.

[Rex]

20. What does that mean? I did not know Muslim men were not allowed to shake hands with

females. Really? Is that true or more cultural bullshit hiding behind religion?

[Squinch]

30. The latter. Just like burkas.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

33. Depends how you define "modesty" and "temptation"

Modesty is a requirement in the Muslim religion, but it's the culture that determines what is "modest." And apparently, some are tempted by shaking a woman's hand.

[raging moderate]

34. What do the Orthodox Jews do?

I believe Orthodox Jewish men have a similar injunction to avoid touching females. Perhaps they have worked out a solution to the problem that would suit the needs of the Moslem men involved in this controversy.

When you come to a Western country, gentlemen, be advised that the people in Western countries have belief systems which are every bit as important to them as your belief systems are to you.

[roody]

35. This female teacher says, "The Swiss are right."