"Muslim Schoolgirls risk careers for their symbolic headscarves", Article Analysis

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Article analysis (1,275words)

The broadsheet newspaper article titled “Muslim Schoolgirls risk careers for their symbolic headscarves”, written by Amelia Gentleman reacts to the new law in France prohibiting the wearing of religious symbols. This article highlights the calamity faced by Samia and her sister in having to choose between a symbol of huge significance (the headscarf) and something as equally vital as their careers. The youth of the girls is emphasised as they are just starting secondary school and “They have to choose what to wear for the first day of term this morning”. The deictic “This morning” points to how close to the present this is and highlights the immediacy of the issue, which makes it more vivid, appealing to the reader. The addition of the “skull caps, turbans and large crucifixes” appeals to a wide audience and causes the reader to empathise for all suffering at the hands of this ban.

The general tone of the article is serious, which is to be expected due to the seriousness of the topic. Primarily, the article is informative and gives a balanced viewpoint, as it’s from The Guardian; a balanced, liberal paper more in favour of the “worker”. However, the writer appears to sympathise with the Muslim girls, despite the fact that they may be defying the law. This is evident from the title; “Muslim schoolgirls risk careers for their symbolic headscarves.” This suggests that firstly, the girls are willing to risk their careers for the headscarf and secondly, being described as “symbolic” suggests that doing this is just and noble. The words in the title are from a semantic field of fighting for religion, to get across this message from the first instance. The verb “risk” itself is short, made up of one syllable and forceful, making the headline more emphatic.

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This idea of “risk” has warlike connotations, a theme which is echoed throughout the article. For example, in the first paragraph, Amelia Gentleman reports that the girls’ choice of clothing could result in “conflict with the law”, and “could seriously damage their academic future”. The noun “conflict” and forceful verb “damage” emphasis the seriousness of the issue and causes the reader to empathise with “the twins.” The writer attempts to place the reader in the girls’ shoes by giving their personal experiences. The article begins with a very personal account of how an ordinary choice could result in much ...

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