Muslim Sweden : Representation of Islam in Swedish High school Textbooks

This study examines how Islam and Muslims are portrayed in textbooks for religious education in upper secondary schools in Sweden. The study aims to assess how these textbooks present the rich internal diversity within Islam - to determine whether Muslims are portrayed as a homogeneous entity or as individuals with multiple religious, cultural and social identities. The study focuses specifically on how textbooks emphasize differences in religious traditions, cultural considerations and different religious directions within Islam. This study was conducted based on a qualitative analysis of three upper secondary school textbooks for religious studies: Relief Livsvägar, En människa, Tusen världar and Religion för gymnasiet 1. The analysis is based on epistemological theories that see religion as a socially developing and deeply rooted practice, while also building on previous research on the representation of Islam in Swedish textbooks. The results show that textbooks give varying attention to the diversity among Islam and Muslims. While some books focus on the diverse lifestyles, interpretations and identities of Muslims, others focus on presenting Islam through its common religious beliefs and rituals. This approach sometimes results in a simplistic and generic view of the religion. The study also shows that the differences between religion, culture and personal identity are often not understood, which can affect students’ perception of Islam as a living and multifaceted religion. In conclusion, the study shows that textbooks meet some aspects of the curriculum’s requirements for neutrality and diversity. However, there is scope for improving the representation of Islam and Muslims to be more accurate and comprehensive. Such improvements could help to increase students’ awareness of religious diversity and challenge prevailing stereotypes in a multicultural society.