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)
Sources:
DiFrancisco,
V. P., & Palczewski, C. H.
(2007). Communicating gender
diversity: A critical approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Personal
Interviews (2) – Anonymous
