Nation, Ethnicity and Religion: Second Generation Muslims’ Social Identity in Scotland

Existing evidence seems to indicate that Muslims in Scotland have
constructed hyphenated or hybrid identities that draw on religion, ethnicity
and nationality. However, minor attention has been given to the differences
in importance, meanings, and strengths of these identities, or the significance
of their identity markers. Ethnic minority people can be identified with both
their ethnic groups and their country of residence; each identity can be either
strong or weak, or identification with both can be high. The extent and
degree of identification with specific identity markers (such as ethnicity,
nationality or religion) can be varied and subjected to difference. This paper
discusses the importance, meaning, and strength of these markers in
Muslims’ identity negotiation in Scotland through an analysis of the
importance of ethnicity, religion and nation. Drawing on a study based on
twenty-seven semi-structured and qualitative interviews carried out in 2011
with second-generation Muslims across Scotland’s major cities and small
towns, this research suggests the importance of social imposition (labelling
behaviour and mis-recognition), family education and cultural ties in varying
the meanings and the strength of second-generation Muslims’ national and
ethnic identities in Scotland. In addition, this paper highlights the
significance of various levels of religiosity in differentiating the meanings
and strength of participants’ religious identities.

Source: Journal of WORLD SOCIOPOLITICAL STUDIES

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