Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Supreme Court Strikes Down Abercrombie Argument for Religious Discrimination

On 12:34 PM by Unknown in , , ,    2 comments
Christian privilege is being able to practice your religion without any interference from society. This has been a long running issue for the Muslim community, however, it seems that one very small success has been made this past weekend. According to The Guardian the supreme court has overseen the case concerning Abercrombie and Fitch's firing of Muslim workers for wearing hijabs on the grounds of "breaking the dress code." The courts have ruled against Abercrombie in an 8-1 decision, under their the provision that her employer openly stated that she was not hired because of the religious accommodations the company would have to make for her, which is a direct violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. 

This is a victory not just for the Muslim community, but for our country as a whole. In an era of rampant Islamophobia in the United States, we need as many Muslim victories as we can possibly get. This supreme court case assures a single extra degree of equality for women in the workplace, and as small of a victory it is, I still feel that it is one to celebrate nonetheless.

See more information about the court case: here.

2 comments:

  1. RohiniJuly 17, 2015 at 4:26 PM

    Her employer having the audacity to openly state that she was not hired because of "religious accommodations" the company would have to make for her shows the lack of understanding people have and/or are willing to take. Hijabs are worn by Muslim women under the principle of modesty. A company would not hire a person who wears revealing clothing (for example: a person wearing baggy, low-hanging pants or a low-neck or unbuttoned shirt), so why was it seen as an "accommodation the company would *have* to make" when their potential employee wanted to be respectful in her attire? It is important to be aware of other cultures and recognize their beliefs - understanding a person's culture brings us one step closer to understanding the person as a whole.

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  2. GabrielaJuly 27, 2015 at 3:56 PM

    I am very happy to see that the court ruled in favor of the woman. I think that religion and dress should play no role in the hiring process. It is sad to think that if a person with Christian privilege was to apply for the job and have a weaker resumee than that of the woman who wears the hijab, that she would get the job over her.

    However, that being said. Abercrombie is WIDELY known to sell provocative and revealing clothes. I do think it is in the companies right to ask their employers to promote and try to sell their product, and if someone who strongly believes in modesty refused to do so, it is almost as if they are disrespecting the company they signed up willingly to work for.

    In conclusion, I think that the court was right in allowing the Hijab in EVERY work place, no matter the company because people should be allowed to practice their religion anywhere and comfortably without it hindering their work life. However, the woman needs to understand the morals of the company, and if they conflict with her religion, the she probably shouldnt apply there.

    Let me know what you think about my response! I feel like my opinion might be a little clouded since I am able to benefit from Christian Privilege.

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