LARANGAN HIJAB DALAM PERSPEKTIF SISWI MUSLIM: PENGALAMAN DAN KESAKSIAN HISTORIS DI PRANCIS 1989-2004

Abstract

This study examines the experiences of Muslim schoolgirls affected by the headscarf controversy in French public schools between 1989-2004, from the incident at College Gabriel-Havez in Creil to the enactmen of Loi n° 2004-228 du 15 mars 2004. While most studies on the issue focus on state policy, intellectual debates, or legal aspects, this research places Muslim schoolgirls at the center of analysis by exploring their testimonies, experiences, and responses to the institutional pressures they encountered throughout this period. The study employs a social history approach and applies the historical method, including heuristics, source criticism, interpretation, and historiography. Primary sources consist of audiovisual archives from the Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (INA), contemporary media reports, legal documents, and relevant academic works. The findings reveal four main points. First, the schoolgirls understood the headscarf as an integral part of their religious identity. Second, their experiences in dealing with school policies were characterized by various forms of dialogue, negotiation, and compromise aimed at maintaining access to education. Third, the headscarf debate gradually shifted from the lived experiences of the schoolgirls to a broader national political discussion, particularly following the issuance of the Circulaire Bayrou in 1994. Fourth, the enactment of the 2004 law not only restricted the wearing of headscarves in public schools but also affected the educational experiences and identity formation of Muslim schoolgirls. This study highlights the importance of bringing the voices of Muslim schoolgirls back into historical discussions of the French headscarf controversy, as their perspectives were often overshadowed by dominant political, legal, and media discourses.