Summary Blog

Introduction

Over the course of the last couple of months I have dove into researching what the male gender identity looks like to practicing Muslims. To gather knowledge on this subject matter I chose to interview two men, one originally from Tunisia and the other Pakistan. The interviews focused around learning about their identity as a practicing male Muslim and how, if at all,  their religion has influenced how they define their gender identity.   Additionally, I visited the local Sunni Mosque in Lincoln for a Friday afternoon service. The following section describes the common themes that were found throughout my observations. 

Parent-Child Interaction

According to DeFrancisco and Palczewski (2007), “parents provide a model for children’s gendered identities because children are closest to parents physically and emotionally and for a longer period of time” (pg. 160).  Through my research I concluded that much of the gender identity formed by practicing Muslim males is heavily influenced by the socialization that they experience from their parents. The parent’s influence on a child’s life is the most prominent influence from an early age in most children’s lives. My interviews focused around different observable expectations that were instilled in my two interviewees. The following excerpts exhibit some of the qualities and values passed down through parent-child communication.

“My parents really instilled Islam at the beginning. They explained to me that I was going to look different and the same goes for your religion. They stated that’s just who I am and that I should accept it now. “ (personal interview)

My observation at the mosque brought the dynamic of the whole family together. It was interesting to see the separation of men and women at the mosque and how the men were told that they needed to step up and lead their families and teach their children more diligently about the faith. The preacher was positioned in the room with the men, whereas the women were separated by a glass window.

Heteronormativity

Heteronormativity can be described as the way in which “social institutions and policies reinforce the presumption that people are heterosexual, that gender and sex are binaries” (DeFrancisco and Palczewski, 2007, pg. 13). Much of the interviews centered heavily around the heterosexual influence and roles within marital and romantic relationships. Both of the interviewees discussed how a key role in their identity as a man had to do with the way that they conducted themselves around women.  Both in the interviews and at the observation of the mosque there were extreme heteronormative influences through conversation, the mosque message, and the descriptions behind what defined their masculinity. 

When asked the question, “What kind of a man do you want to be in the future?”  I received the response:

“ I want to be more of a best friend to my wife. I want to her to get me, I want to be her companion. I want to find someone who is more on my wavelength. I want someone that I can take care of an vice versa- team effort. I ‘m not gonna sit on my butt and just be lazy. I want to do things that are often stereotyped as just the female jobs. I want my wife to like me. I want to pursue her. That’s what a man is to me.”(personal interview)

This excerpt is a clear example that the influence of a heterosexual relationship greatly predicts the masculinity of a male. I gathered through my research that it is to be assumed that if you are a practicing male Muslim, you will be heterosexual.

Hegemony

The final theme I would like to discuss is hegemony. This can be described as a “way to see social institutions as tools of cultural ideology” (Defrancisco and Palczewski, 2007, pg 145). In this case, the heavy influence of social institutions that bring forth the cultural ideology of Islam prominently influence the way that male Muslims live out their gender identity.

“Yes, my religion has shaped me in some ways. It taught me to be patient in life, and as a man you have to be patient with a lot of things. It has taught me hard work and a work ethic. We have a very unique work ethic (so persistent about little things, strict things). We always had to be on our best behavior, always repeating problems to complete homework correctly. And also, our behavior such as being polite and respectful.” (personal interview)

This kind of a response showed the influence in the way that men are expected to be very patient, understanding, and disciplined.

Conclusion

I learned from this project that it is very important to be able to take time to learn more about different cultures and religions. I was shocked by how similar my faith is to Islam, in the sense of morals and values. There are a lot of differing beliefs, but the same core messages within both religions. It was also interesting to see how much a religion can influence a persons’ gender identity. The last thing that I would like to add is the fact that both of my interviewees discussed how your identity cannot be defined by one specific component. Rather, it is made up of several important and complex parts. With that being said, I’ll leave you with these final quotes.

“First and foremost I am a human being. I believe in all humanity as a creation of God.” (personal interview)

“My view of a gender identity is a custom made identity.” (personal interview)

True or False? (be an informed consumer):

Sources:

DiFrancisco, V. P., & Palczewski, C. H.  (2007). Communicating gender diversity: A critical approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Personal Interviews (2) – Anonymous

Concept Application Blog

For this blog I am going to focus primarily on the research that I have gathered throughout my observation. I have been fortunate enough to talk to two practicing Male Muslims (ages 22 and 30) as well as attend the local Sunni Mosque.

I would like to highlight from Chapter 10 the section on how ‘Religion Constructs (and Constrains) Gender.’  This section breaks down a specific idea that Religion has the ability to construct masculinity. More specifically, this section describes the influence that Christianity has had on the way that men construct and create their gender identity to be of a ‘muscular’ type. As quoted on page 226, ‘while Christian religions defined women as the angel in the house, they defined men as the strength of the public realm.’ (DeFrancisco and Palczewski, 2007)   I am enrolled in a class on Islam this semester, and after learning that there are 1 billion Muslims (just over half the number of Christians), I began to wonder if there was a similar effect on the gender identity of practicing Muslim males. In the reading, scholar Elina Vuola (2002) described how Christian and Islamic fundamentalism share many similarities (DeFrancisco and Palczewski, 2007).  With this in mind, I looked to my interviews and attendance at the mosque to uncover what defines a Muslim Male’s gender identity.

First, I will describe the common responses across all three sources when asked what characteristics define the male gender identity in Islam. First, it is important for a man to be financially secure and to be a provider for his family and those around him. One of my interviewees went on to say that it is more so important to be ‘responsible.’ By this he meant “responsible not just to yourself but to your family, friends, neighbors and everyone else that you interact with.” Second, it is important to live faithfully and to follow the Five Pillars (profession of faith, fasting, charity, prayer, and pilgrimage).  A quote from one of my interviews stated, “I try to make my brain think beyond certain things, I go to the mosque daily. As a man, I must go if I can.”  Third, the man should be respectful, patient, modest, and humble. At the mosque during the sermon it was interesting how much of the focus of carrying out the Islamic faith was placed upon the role of the man.  It was his duty to instill these values and faith in their children, to teach them and to read them the Qu’ran. Men were in a separate room from the women, as you can see in the photo at the end of the blog.  This lent the impression that the Imam (speaker) was speaking directly to the men and challenging them in their faith to be the leaders and to live out their lives through the instruction that he gave. Meanwhile, the women listened in from another room.

Both of my interviewees talked about how they recognized that there was a stereotypical gender identity that they identified with (as listed above), but at the same time felt that they had their own ‘custom made’ identity.  They went on to say that they believed each person has a mosaic of characteristics and influences that creates their own unique identity. They highlighted through the interview that though there are many religious characteristics and values that influence who they are. There are also cultural, ethnic, and demographic influences that they identify with that create a one-of-a-kind identity.

In conclusion, I definitely think that there is a direct influence on the formation of gender identity through the influence of Islam. The men are expected to view the world in a certain way, to view women in a certain way, and also to view themselves and how they contribute to this world through the central lens of their religion. I think that many people would view practicing Male Muslims as controlling and strict. However, these observations led me to view their nature as disciplined and humble. Again, knowledge is power. But how many people would actually ask a person what defines who they are and how they act?

Below is a picture that I was able to take at the mosque. (I was only able to get one, due to the flash) Also, there is a youtube video of the call to prayer that I witnessed while at the Mosque.

Enjoy!

Questions Asked:

1)   How long have you practiced Islam and how has it affected your life and the way that you view the world?

2)   Do you believe that your identity as a man has been shaped in any way by your faith? Why or why not?

3)   What characteristics would you say define a practicing Muslim male?

4)   How would you describe your own gender identity?

5)   Would you say that there are common identity characteristics for practicing Muslims? If so, what are these characteristics?

6)   Do you think the gender identity of a Muslim Male differs from other gender identities? Why or why not?

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Intro Blog

Courtney Dravitzki

Gender COMM

Intro Blog Post

Muslim Male

For my gender identity project I am choosing to focus on the Male Muslim gender identity. More specifically, I want to center my research on the college male population.  This semester I have been studying in a course on the religion of Islam.  Recently we have learned the basics of the Islam faith, where it originated, and the prayers and practices that go along with this faith.  Currently there are about 1 billion Muslims in the world (Winter and Williams , 2002, pg 3).  Which is second only to Christianity as a world religion.  A text by Hewer states, “harmony with God requires that every element of creation knows its place and obeys the will of God.” (Hewer, 2000, pg 3) How does this obedience to the will of God affect how a person lives their life? How does this form their identity and their actions that create who they are and want to become? Myself, being a very religious person, am extremely interested in learning more about other faiths and how this affects one’s identity.  In a descriptive book about the basics of Islam, it is written that “ the vast majority of Muslims would never go against the teachings of the Prophet as recorded in the hadiths” (Winter and Williams, 2002, pg 47). I have been lucky enough to befriend a fellow peer in my class who is coincidentally the only practicing Muslim.  It has been through my conversations with him and the impact that my own faith has had on my life that I have decided to take it upon myself to study this specific gender identity.

My plan for observing and learning more about this identity is to contact my friend and ask him if he would be willing to partake in my project.  If all goes as planned I will meet with him and interview him about how his faith has shaped who he is and who wants to become. I will also attend the Mosque and observe their religious practice in action. I look forward to learning more about this dominant religion and also how it shapes and molds the men who carry out the religious practices, specifically those who attend college.

Sources:

Islam and Introduction, by  Ruqaiyyah Maqsood, , Teach Yourself Books, 2010.

Understanding Islam and the Muslims, by T. J. Winter and J. A. Williams, Fons Vitae Press, 2002.

Understanding Islam: An Introduction, by C.T.R. Hewer, Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2002

Gender Identity Video (Higher Quality)

Gender Identity Video