Exploring Racism and Islamophobia in Finnish Schools. A Multifaceted Exploration of Children’s, Parents’, and Teachers’ Perspectives

Application summary

Finland faces significant challenges related to racism compared to other EU countries. For example, the highest rates of racial harassment and discrimination against foreign children by peers and teachers, as reported by parents, occur in schools. This dissertation examines racism, Islamophobia and inclusion in Finnish schools from the perspective of Muslim immigrant children, and their parents and Finnish teachers. The study is distinctive because it adopts a multi-perspective view, incorporating children, parents, and educators, which provides a thorough knowledge of the problem and sheds insight on complex experiences, and potential solutions in educational contexts. Additionally, it fills a crucial research vacuum by addressing children's perspectives and their experiences of racism, Islamophobia, and inclusion. Moreover, it acknowledges the value of comprehending teachers' viewpoints since critical discourses that ignore their experiences are useless. Moreover, Islamophobia is frequently disregarded in anti-racist or intercultural education. It needs further study as there is a substantial knowledge gap about the difficulties experienced by Muslim communities in battling prejudice and fostering tolerance. It will also advance information on social inclusion, intercultural education, and prejudice across the world. Furthermore, my background as a Muslim researcher from Pakistan and research about immigrant Muslim children and their parents, aligns with the project’s goal of amplifying diverse voices and challenging existing views. My commitment to bold, innovative approaches and my long-term academic work resonates with the Foundation’s values, ensuring that this research not only addresses important social issue but also contributes to meaningful change. Moreover, this unique perspective offers a genuine insider perspective and provides authentic insights that may be less accessible to Western or non-Muslim researchers.