Excerpt:
Muslim women not wearing the Hijab were not viewed any differently than women from other immigrant backgrounds, a study of Norwegians' attitudes towards immigrants demonstrates. This changed when it was worn, however.
"The Hijab seems to have been an important symbol of 'foreignness'. It would be interesting to know exactly what negative connotations the Hijab awakens in the majority population," Zan Strabac, an associate professor at Sør-Trøndelag University College (HiST/TØH), told Klassekampen
The results suggest that it is not the woman's religion that causes scepticism amongst Norwegians but the religious headgear itself, which covers her hair.