Exploring the experiences and identities of 18-25 year old mixed-ethnic individuals with a kin connection to Islam
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Sociology
Abstract
This project is concerned with better understanding the intersection of multiple identities experienced by mixed-ethnic individuals who have a connection to Islam, it . In doing so, I hope to challenge essentialised depictions of Muslims that are often reproduced in British society and instead, investigate how mixed-ethnic individuals engage in a unique and fluid journey of blending to accommodate for their mixed-ethnicity as well as other influences on their identities including, gender, sexuality and nationality.
With this in mind, the following influences: culture, gender, religion and nationality, will be brought together by through discussion of the participants social activities, attitudes toward marriage and relationships, issues concerning religious and cultural affiliations, and future hopes and expectations. It is anticipated that this will shed light on the following sociological interests: relations with the opposite sex, gendered expectations, clothing choices (modesty) and alcohol consumption- as these are well known areas of tension between Islam and the West that young people face.
Research questions:
How do mixed-ethnic individuals with a kin connection to Islam understand and perform their selfhood?
How do mixed-race individuals with a connection to Islam describe their journey growing up?
What are the key areas of tension in mixed-race Muslim families for British females?
How difficult is it to manage conflicting cultural morals, as a young British mixed-race female with a connection to Islam?
The U.K has seen growing figures of 'multi-ethnic' identities in the last 15 years, this can be explained by the rising number of multi-ethnic unions that are producing offspring but also, the increasing acceptability of multi-ethnic unions in society (Song, 2017). The pattern of growing acceptability has also been supported by developments on official documents such as the 2011 Census which saw 670,000 self identify with the new self-identifying ethnic category: 'Mixed' (Office for National Statistics, 2012). A number of studies have concluded that multi-ethnic individuals embrace one or more of their ethnic origins which in turn produces a complex scope of racial and ethnic identifications (Kidd, Teagle and Kessler-Harris, 2012; Song, 2017; Miyawaki, 2018). Despite the increasing 'normalisation' of mixedness in a society which celebrates super-diversity and cultural hybridity, multi-ethnic people still experience patterns of essentialisation whereby they are merged together, regardless of their unique and individual ethnic background (Murji and Solomos, 2015).
The majority of existing research on mixed-race identity negotiation focuses on how black/white biracial negotiate the colour line of their physical appearances (Song & Parker, 2011, p.30). Therefore, one of the key objectives of this study is to distinguish itself from these works by moving beyond the 'black' and 'white' binary and explore a range of ethnic backgrounds that have been marginalised from sociological academic discussion. Other social characteristics including social class, gender, geographic location and organisation of family are also neglected which has also resulted in simplified depictions of the identities and experiences of multi-ethnic people (Murji and Solomos, 2015). My research aims to explore how multi-ethnic people experience and negotiate how religion, multi-ethnicity and gender intersect with one another, which has not yet been explored in relation to Islam. Historically, Collins, (1986) argues that identities can be situated within a 'matrix of domination' as identity negotiation often occurs within the intersections of social hierarchies. My study aims to contribute to this line of thought by exploring the fluid relationship between Islam, multi-ethnic backgrounds and popular notions of masculinity and femininity and specifically how these influences situate ad contest with one another in different contexts.
With this in mind, the following influences: culture, gender, religion and nationality, will be brought together by through discussion of the participants social activities, attitudes toward marriage and relationships, issues concerning religious and cultural affiliations, and future hopes and expectations. It is anticipated that this will shed light on the following sociological interests: relations with the opposite sex, gendered expectations, clothing choices (modesty) and alcohol consumption- as these are well known areas of tension between Islam and the West that young people face.
Research questions:
How do mixed-ethnic individuals with a kin connection to Islam understand and perform their selfhood?
How do mixed-race individuals with a connection to Islam describe their journey growing up?
What are the key areas of tension in mixed-race Muslim families for British females?
How difficult is it to manage conflicting cultural morals, as a young British mixed-race female with a connection to Islam?
The U.K has seen growing figures of 'multi-ethnic' identities in the last 15 years, this can be explained by the rising number of multi-ethnic unions that are producing offspring but also, the increasing acceptability of multi-ethnic unions in society (Song, 2017). The pattern of growing acceptability has also been supported by developments on official documents such as the 2011 Census which saw 670,000 self identify with the new self-identifying ethnic category: 'Mixed' (Office for National Statistics, 2012). A number of studies have concluded that multi-ethnic individuals embrace one or more of their ethnic origins which in turn produces a complex scope of racial and ethnic identifications (Kidd, Teagle and Kessler-Harris, 2012; Song, 2017; Miyawaki, 2018). Despite the increasing 'normalisation' of mixedness in a society which celebrates super-diversity and cultural hybridity, multi-ethnic people still experience patterns of essentialisation whereby they are merged together, regardless of their unique and individual ethnic background (Murji and Solomos, 2015).
The majority of existing research on mixed-race identity negotiation focuses on how black/white biracial negotiate the colour line of their physical appearances (Song & Parker, 2011, p.30). Therefore, one of the key objectives of this study is to distinguish itself from these works by moving beyond the 'black' and 'white' binary and explore a range of ethnic backgrounds that have been marginalised from sociological academic discussion. Other social characteristics including social class, gender, geographic location and organisation of family are also neglected which has also resulted in simplified depictions of the identities and experiences of multi-ethnic people (Murji and Solomos, 2015). My research aims to explore how multi-ethnic people experience and negotiate how religion, multi-ethnicity and gender intersect with one another, which has not yet been explored in relation to Islam. Historically, Collins, (1986) argues that identities can be situated within a 'matrix of domination' as identity negotiation often occurs within the intersections of social hierarchies. My study aims to contribute to this line of thought by exploring the fluid relationship between Islam, multi-ethnic backgrounds and popular notions of masculinity and femininity and specifically how these influences situate ad contest with one another in different contexts.