Svensk, kvinna och konvertit : En intervjustudie om svenska kvinnor som valt islam

Sammanfattning: The trend among Swedes to convert to Islam has increased in the country, parallel with theupswing of hate crimes against Muslims. This study intends to examine Swedish femaleconverts’ attitudes and relationships, with the Swedish majority society and the Muslimminority group in the country. The study also highlights the social consequences that convertface within the majority society, after their conversion. Based on thematic analysis, the materialis analysed from 6 conducted interviews with Swedish female converts. This is done againstthe background of Erving Goffman’s two theories, Stigma and Dramaturgical perspective onimpression management, and post-colonial and contemporary perspectives on whiteness norms.The study’s results show that the social relations of Swedish female converts, within themajority society, tend to change drastically after their conversion. Their previously establishedpositions, as white Swedish women within the majority society, tend to be displaced and resultin them being perceived and treated as immigrant Muslims. In parallel with that, the convert’sview of Swedish society also tends to change. Based on Goffman's theory of stigma and thepost-colonial perspectives on whiteness norms, it becomes possible to understand the complexand problematic social position Swedish converts often tend to face after the conversion. Theresults of the study also show that the converts tend to adapt to social situations within themajority society, even if it sometimes conflicts with their own religious ideals. With the help of Goffman's theory about impression management, it is possible to understand the way inwhich converts tend to adapt to situations within the majority society and within the Muslimminority group. Furthermore, there is often a concern about what consequences they may facewhen they deviate from the norms in white rooms and environments within the majority society.Finally, the study's results indicate that conversion to Islam as a Swedish woman isaccompanied by a religious stigma, which is based on the xenophobia that exists in Swedishsociety towards Muslims and Islam.