General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMuslim students in Switzerland are being forced to shake hands with their female teachers
The tradition of shaking a teachers 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 countrys 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
(12,606 posts)elleng
(131,416 posts)raging moderate
(4,318 posts)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
(2,025 posts)Of course not, it's not their country.
Bonx
(2,080 posts)Bad Dog
(2,025 posts)tblue37
(65,552 posts)their hair, to be respectful of the country's culture. Respect should go both ways.
Bonx
(2,080 posts)in misogynist Muslim countries that don't respect basic human rights we take for granted.
Squinch
(51,090 posts)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
(51,090 posts)Nay
(12,051 posts)"Therwils 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
(52,791 posts)Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)I totally agree.
cali
(114,904 posts)philosslayer
(3,076 posts)n/t
cali
(114,904 posts)afaik, there is no religious doctrine that dictates that male children cannot shake hands with a woman.
PeteSelman
(1,508 posts)People have to stop catering to mythology over reason and decency.
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)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
(3,585 posts)""The tradition of shaking a teachers 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 countrys identity.
Last month, two Syrian boys in the town of Therwil were exempted from shaking their female teachers hands."'
TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)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
(3,076 posts)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
(1,565 posts)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
(3,076 posts)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
(1,565 posts)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
(63,221 posts)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
(10,849 posts)she will choose to wear a scarf. IMO
ProudToBeBlueInRhody
(16,399 posts)More like your usual double standards of "Muslim good, anything else bad"
The kabuki theater rolls on.
leftynyc
(26,060 posts)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.
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
(65,616 posts)females. Really? Is that true or more cultural bullshit hiding behind religion?
Squinch
(51,090 posts)TexasMommaWithAHat
(3,212 posts)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
(4,318 posts)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.
Response to Democat (Original post)
Post removed