The Swedish Equality Authority stops using images of children wearing headscarves

Avoid using images of children wearing headscarves.

This request has been sent to the staff at the Swedish Equality Authority.

– It is not compatible with Swedish equality policy, says Director General Lise Tamm to Göteborgs-Posten. Latest news clips from Expressen.

The Swedish Gender Equality Authority has updated its image policy. The authority will no longer use images of children wearing a veil or hijab, reports GP.

According to Director General Lise Tamm, the aim is not to contribute to normalizing or promoting situations where girls are discriminated against or oppressed.

– Only girls wear the hijab. Boys don’t have to. It doesn’t fit with Swedish gender equality policy, says Lise Tamm to GP.

Adults are allowed

However, the authority will continue to use images of adult women in veils.

Employees at the authority are critical of the decision, according to GP. In internal communications, people have highlighted that there is value in young girls who wear a veil being able to identify themselves in the authority’s communications.

Gets criticism

Lisa Tamm states that girls wearing veils are not completely banned from the material. They can appear in reports, for example, but not in information texts.

– We shouldn’t sexualize little girls and they shouldn’t hide themselves that way. It’s not in line with equality, she tells GP.