Study: Effects of Bill 21 and Religious Prejudice

About Bill 21

Québec’s Bill 21, "An Act respecting the laicity of the State", is a law which applies to specific categories of "state agents" (mainly teachers and principals in public schools, public prosecutors and police officers) who cannot be hired or promoted if they wear visible religious symbols, such as hijabs, turbans, crosses or kippahs. Bill 21’s focus on religious symbols may have important implications for the learning environment and lived experience of Québec secondary school students from religious minority groups.

Purpose of the research

Examine how Bill 21 and religious prejudice have affected teenage students (14-18 year-old) in Québec high schools who are of religious minorities (e.g., Muslim, Jewish, Sikh). 

About the survey

We are conducting a voluntary-based, anonymous survey and potentially an interview, to understand the effects that this law and religious prejudice have had on Quebec youth’s personal and professional lives. Participation in the interviews will be confidential (the identity of the participating youth will not be revealed to anyone). No legal or official names will be required from the teenager during the interviews.

• All participants can stop the survey at any time without any consequences
• Each participant will receive a $25 gift card upon completion of the survey, if they share their email address.
• Only 14-18 year-olds who are attending a Quebec high school are eligible to do the survey