Author: Kanglin Connie Chuang
Title: Generational Differences in the Islamic Faith for Muslim Americans
About the Senior majoring in psychology, University Housing Multicultural
Author: Advocate, Programming Intern at the Asian American Cultural Center.
Keywords: Oral History, Muslim American identity, religion, second-generation,
Americanization
Abstract: This study consists of one 90 minute interview with two current
University of Illinois students who identify as second-generation
Muslim American, and explores the autobiographical discourse of their
ethnic, national, and religious identity, as well as their perceptions of
the ethnic, national, and religious identities of their parents’ and
grandparents’ generations. Since identities and cultural practices shifts
across generations, due to individual, familial, cultural, societal, and
political factors, subjects were asked to give details about their
nationality, how long their family has lived in America, their family's
origins, how they identify ethnically and religiously, how they think their
parents and grandparents would identify ethnically and religiously, and
why they think those similarities and differences in their faith exist
across generations. They were also asked what factors will influence the
next generation’s faith decisions. This research reveals how these two
second-generation Muslim Americans perceive affiliation with Islam in
American as more of a choice, and for them, a religion more easily
distinguished from the cultures of their parents’ background.
Question: What are second-generation Muslim Americans' perceived generational
differences in religious affiliation, and how does Americanization affect
their narratives?
Data (Field Questions: 1. How do you identify your ethnic identity, your nationality,
Notes): and your religious affiliation? 2. Please explain why you identify with
your answers above. Tell me your stories of identity and faith. 3. How do
your parents and grandparents identify their ethnic identity, your
nationality, and your religious affiliation? 4. Please explain why your
parents and grandparents identify with your answers above. Tell me
their stories of identity and faith. 5. Please explain how your family
came to the United States, and how you and your family identify with
American culture and the American nationality. 6. How would you
describe your Islamic faith? 7. How would your parents and
grandparents describe their faith? 8. What has changed in your family's
faith from generation to generation? What has stayed the same? 9. What
factors (individual, family, societal, political, etc.) do you think influence
each generation's identification with and practice of Islam, and lifestyle?
10. What factors (individual, family, societal, political, etc.)do you think
will influence the next generation's identification with and practice of
Islam in America, and lifestyle?
Discuss
(Final
Paper):
EUI Links: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/8693 Title: Second-Generation South Asian
Muslims in the United States Author(s): Baig, Yasmeen
Reflect: It was helpful to work online and be apart of the EUI initiative, and do
research in compliance with the IRB. I decided to archive my research
under my name.