MOSQUE AND IDENTITY FORMATION OF MUSLIM ADOLESCENTS IN THE UNITED STATES: A SOMALI CASE IN COLUMBUS, OHIO

Abstract

This article examines the role of the mosque in identity formation among Somali adolescents in Columbus, Ohio. The research was conducted at a large, ethnically Somali mosque in Columbus, utilizing the methods of participant observation and ethnographic interviewing. Two main trends were observed in adolescent Somali American identity formation. One trend was for research participants to cultivate a distinctly Muslim American identity by integrating their Somali ethnic, American, and Islamic identities. Mosque participation played a key role in their ability and willingness to synthesize these identities. However, adolescents in this group could be divided into two opposing sub-categories as integrating to the American society with their Muslim salient identity versus distancing away from the American culture and society. The second over-arching trend that emerged in the research was for Somali American adolescents to experience identity conflict between their Muslim, Somali, and American identities. This group, unlike the first, struggled and failed to reconcile the various norms and commitments of these identities and it seemed that mosque participation deepened this identity struggle for adolescents in this group.

Keywords

• Mosque,Identity Formation,Muslim Adolescents,Somalia,American Islam

AMERİKA BİRLEŞİK DEVLETLERİ’NDE CAMİ VE MÜSLÜMAN GENÇLERİN KİMLİK İNŞASI: COLUMBUS, OHIO SOMALİ ÖRNEĞİ

Abstract

Bu makale Ohio eyaletinin Columbus şehrindeki Somalili gençlerin kimlik inşalarında caminin rolünü ele almaktadır. Bu çalışma Columbus’taki en büyük Somali Camisi’nde katılımcı gözlem ve etnografik mülakat teknikleri istihdam edilerek gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışma neticesinde, Somalili gençlerin kimlik gelişimlerinde iki ana eğilim gözlemlenmiştir. Bunlardan birisi, araştırmaya konu olan gençlerin Somali, Amerikan ve Müslüman kimliklerini mezcederek kendine özgü bir Müslüman Amerikalı kimliği geliştirmeleridir. Bununla birlikte, bu gruptaki gençler birbirine zıt iki alt-kategoriye ayrılabilir: Müslüman baskın/aslî kimlikleriyle Amerikan toplumuna entegre olanlar vs. Müslüman baskın/aslî kimlikleriyle Amerikan kültürü ve toplumundan kendilerini dışlayanlar. Bu kimlikleri sentezlemede gösterdikleri kabiliyet ve istek noktasında camiye katılımın kilit bir rolü vardır. Bu çalışmada ortaya çıkan iki ana eğilimden diğeri ise, Somalili gençlerin Müslüman, Somali ve Amerikan kimlikleri arasında kimlik çatışması deneyimlemeleridir. Birincisine nazaran bu gruptakiler birbirinden farklı ahlaki ve davranış tarzına sahip bu kimlikleri birbirleriyle uzlaştırmada zorlanmışlar ve başarısız olmuşlardır. Bu noktada, camiye katılımın bu kimlik çatışmasını daha da derinleştirdiği gözlemlenmiştir.

Keywords

• Cami,Kimlik İnşası,Müslüman Gençler,Somali,Amerikan İslamı

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