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Abstract
While other studies explore the challenges faced by Western Muslim youth, this study focuses on the challenges and development of a meaningful stable Canadian-Muslim identity in an era of global conflicts, collective surveillance, and suspicion. Identity-formation is complex, involving the configuration of many influences—direct and indirect, local and global, personal and impersonal. Sometimes aspects of fluid, and multiple identities conflict and individuals are faced with navigating competing and not necessarily commensurable influences. Such is the case with the Canadian Muslim Youth—CMY. Thematic analysis of 30 interviews with CMY, identified five major themes: (a) Navigation of multiple, complex, and hybrid identities; (b) Religious identity and spirituality; (c) “I am not what you think I am”—Media portrayals of Muslims; (d) Claiming inclusion and belonging in the face of anti-Muslim racism; and (e) Recommendations. Listening to CMY voices will help policymakers, practitioners, Muslim communities and organizations to develop strategies for positive youth development.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all the research participants for their meaningful contributions to this work.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
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Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Aamir Jamal
Dr. Aamir Jamal is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. He also serves as Director of Global Engagement and International Partnerships and is the Program Lead for the graduate program in International Social Development. Dr. Jamal's work has influenced policy and practice for national governments and international agencies. His research is rooted in a strong social justice perspective and focuses primarily on three areas: Engaging men in gender justice and violence prevention, evaluating the effectiveness of International NGOs in the development sector, and examining the construction of Muslim youth identity. E-mail: [email protected]
Clive Baldwin
Clive Baldwin is an internationally recognized expert in narrative research and a social worker with experience in mental health, community work, and the not-for-profit sector. His record of research excellence spans a range of subjects including dementia, new religious movements, transmedia, and transableism. He held a Canada Research Chair in Narrative Studies at STU from 2011 to 2021 and is the author or co-author of four books, along with numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Wasif Ali
Wasif Ali is a Mitacs Postdoc fellow in the faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. He has been working on the Canadian Muslim Youth identity project since 2019 and his research interests are focused on EDI issues, positive youth development, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism, social justice, and sustainable development.
Swati Dhingra
Swati Dhingra is a Research Coordinator at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her research interests include social work initiatives for racial and ethnic minorities and the promotion of immigrant mental health. She has contributed to community projects for the prevention of domestic violence against and the promotion of gender equity.