Converting to Islam: Understanding the Experiences of White American Females PDF
Preview Converting to Islam: Understanding the Experiences of White American Females
Converting to Islam AmyMelissaGuimond Converting to Islam Understanding the Experiences of White American Females AmyMelissaGuimond Hollywood,Florida,USA ISBN978-3-319-54249-2 ISBN978-3-319-54250-8(eBook) DOI10.1007/978-3-319-54250-8 LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2017939862 ©TheEditor(s)(ifapplicable)andTheAuthor(s)2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher,whetherthewholeorpartofthematerialisconcerned,specificallytherightsof translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval,electronicadaptation,computersoftware,orbysimilarordissimilarmethodology nowknownorhereafterdeveloped. Theuseofgeneraldescriptivenames,registerednames,trademarks,servicemarks,etc.inthis publicationdoesnotimply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesare exemptfromtherelevantprotectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. Thepublisher,theauthorsandtheeditorsaresafetoassumethattheadviceandinformation in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publishernortheauthorsortheeditorsgiveawarranty,expressorimplied,withrespectto thematerialcontainedhereinorforanyerrorsoromissionsthatmayhavebeenmade.The publisherremainsneutralwithregardtojurisdictionalclaimsinpublishedmapsandinstitu- tionalaffiliations. Coverillustration©CameranAshraf/GettyImages Printedonacid-freepaper ThisPalgraveMacmillanimprintispublishedbySpringerNature TheregisteredcompanyisSpringerInternationalPublishingAG Theregisteredcompanyaddressis:Gewerbestrasse11,6330Cham,Switzerland Thisbookis dedicated to theCaucasian female Americanconverts to Islamwho arecurrentlyliving inthe UnitedStates andabroad. Withoutthese women, and the womenin this study,gathering this knowledge wouldhave been impossible.Notonly did these amazing womenhelp metobetterunderstandthephenomenoninquestion, but theyalsoprovided the supportand reassurancethatwas necessary through thisarduous writingprocess. I greatlyrespecteach of these women aswomen first, then asfriends. Furthermore,I would like to acknowledgethatthewritingofthismanuscriptmaybemine,butthe experiences discussedwithin areentirelytheirs. For me,thisstudy was lessabout contributing to themuch needed discourse thatincludes female American converts to Islam,and more aboutgiving these womentheopportunitytofeelvalidatedandempoweredbygivingthem the platformto sharetheir stories. A CKNOWLEDGMENTS Thewritingofabookismuchlikerunningadistancerace–itisfareasier to do when you have people out there supporting you and cheering you on. I know a little bit about running distance races, and I know how importantthosecheerleadersare!Tomynumberonecheerleader,mydear husbandRay,whounderstoodtheimportanceofthisstudyfromdayone and who supported me along the way by providing comfort, motivation, and encouragement. Thank you. I love you every day that ends with Y. To my parents and the rest of my family for having faith in me when Istruggled with havingfaithin myself,Ican’t thankyou enough. To Dr. Claire Michele Rice, Dr. Robin Cooper, and Dr. Evan Hoffman, a thank you beyond words. You were the experts who pushed me to excel over the years by providing various valuable insights on feminist research, methodologies, prejudice and equality, privilege and hatred, and cultural conflict. I would not have been successful in this journey withoutyourguidance,tutelage,andgenerosity of yourtime. Tomydearestcolleaguesandfriends:Dr.HeatherWellman,Dr.Cade Resnick,andDr.NikkiIncorvia:thankyouforthoselatenightexistential dialogues. You have been amazing counterparts over the years. With you all, I have shared laughter and tears, and I am forever thankful for the encouragement andsupport thatyouhave providedalongthe way. To my running community, thank you for providing the escape that I needed,ifonlyonestepatatime.Ioweimmensegratitudeforreadingmy early drafts and helping to guide me through the analysis process to my insightfulfriend Theresa Corbin. vii C ONTENTS 1 ASocial Urgency 1 2 AnIntersectionality ofIslam, Women,and Conversion 21 3 Islamophobiaandthe Talking Heads 47 4 Prejudice,Privilege,andHate 69 5 MethodologicalConsiderations 93 6 Findings 107 7 Discussion,Limitations,andImplications 137 Appendix A:IndividualTextural Descriptions 155 References 181 Index 193 ix L F IST OF IGURES Fig.6.1 ThematicstructurefortheexperienceofbeingaCaucasian femaleAmericanconverttoIslam 108 Fig.6.2 Subthemesunderchoice 109 Fig.6.3 Subthemesundermarginalization/victimization 116 Fig.6.4 Subthemesunderimpactofmarginalization 132 Fig.7.1 MapofconflictasexperiencedbyCaucasianfemaleAmerican convertstoIslaminpost-9/11America 147 xi L T IST OF ABLES Table5.1 Demographicsofparticipants 97 xiii CHAPTER1 A Social Urgency Islamisbelievedtobethefastestgrowingreligionintheworld,andithas beenestimatedthatby2025,approximately30%oftheworld’spopulation will be practicing Muslims.1 The Pew Research Center has a slightly more conservative projection, estimating that by 2030, 26.4% of the world’s population will be adhering to Islam.2 These numbers indicate that there willsoonbeanestimated2.2billionMuslimpractitionersworldwide. Due to federal regulations against asking about religious affiliation during the US Census, the precise number of Muslims living within the United States is unknown; however, the Muslim American population has been estimated by a number of demographers who have suggested that on the low end, the Muslim American population is 2.35 million,3 and at the high end approximately 6–7 million.4 In the United States, it is anticipated that if current trends continue, the Muslim American population will increase by more than double in the next 20 years.5 A recent study published by The Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (which tracks religions through a study every 10 years) found that Islam is the second largest religion in 20 American states,6 most of which are in the Southern and Midwest regions, though there are large pockets of Muslims throughout the country based on county.7 Some demographers believe that Islam may have surpassed Judaism as the second largest faith in the United States.8 Alternately, the Pew Research Center indicates that while the margins between the Jewish and Muslim populations have decreased, practitioners of Islam have not ©TheAuthor(s)2017 1 A.M.Guimond,ConvertingtoIslam, DOI10.1007/978-3-319-54250-8_1
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