An exploration of the challenges encountered by muslim men in the UK: an Identity Process Theory (IPT) and masculinities approach on muslim men

Abstract

Muslims constitute the second-largest and fastest-growing religious group in the UK. In the post-9/11 and 7/7 climate, existing research suggests Muslims in the UK encounter significant challenges in the form of discrimination, racism, and Islamophobia. Academic studies investigating the experiences of Muslim women from multiple perspectives have revealed that their lives are affected in a negative way by such challenges. Meanwhile, research into the difficulties confronting Muslim men has been minimal. Utilising intersectionality, Identity Process Theory (IPT - a socio-psychological approach to identity and identity threat) and Masculinities Theory, this study examines the challenges experienced by Muslim men from three distinct groups; i.e., Pakistani, Algerian and Somali. However, the aim of this research is not to draw broad conclusions about the challenges facing Muslim males in the UK; rather, the intention is to comprehensively represent the lived experiences of a cross-section of British Muslim men. Drawing on qualitative data elicited through in-depth individual interviews with 21 Muslim men from Pakistani, Algerian or Somali descent, this research illuminates the challenges that impact on their lives in the UK. The study reveals Muslim men’s various intersecting identities (Muslim, immigrant, man, black, low social class, etc.) exacerbate their difficulties, and that the experiences of Pakistani, Somali, and Algerian men differ. It further demonstrates that the challenges Muslim men face in the UK influence the various components of their identity, and their overall identity constructs. Notably, the challenges they encounter affect their motivational identity principles (continuity, self-esteem, self-efficacy, distinctiveness, belonging, meaning and psychological coherence), their masculinity identities (as father, breadwinner, family leader, protector, pride/honour in their hegemonic masculinity). It emerged that Pakistani men appear more settled in the UK and encounter relatively fewer challenges than those in other groups. By contrast, Somali men seem to have more challenges, with social class most frequently emphasised as one of their biggest. For Algerian men, issues mentioned focused more on their perceived masculinity identification. Interestingly, some of the second and third generation Muslim men interviewed reported not seeing a future for themselves in the UK, and shared plans to move to other countries such as Qatar or the UAE. Ultimately, the study suggests a socio-psychological approach to identity and identity threat (IPT), and masculinities approach could be utilised to clarify the issues affecting men in Muslim communities in the UK.