Haremsdame, Opfer oder Extremistin?

Events such as the headscarf debate or the discussion about honor killings reflect a growing societal need for information about the life experiences of Muslim women. Mass media play a significant, if not the most important, role as an information source about culturally distant individuals. However, their contribution to the social integration of minorities is often criticized. This apparent discrepancy between expectation and reality makes it necessary to examine the reporting and its structures regarding these groups more closely. The author conducts a content analysis of the news magazine Der Spiegel, tracing the coverage of Muslim women from 1975 to 2005. Stereotypes were examined and revealed not only on a verbal level but also visually.