Muslim women in Portugal strategies of identity (re) construction

Abstract

Muslim immigrant women in Portugal with Guinean and Indian origin develop specific strategies of negotiation between inherited references - associated with a strong familial and social control - and an intention of gaining more autonomy, connected with the new sociocultural elements found in the receiving society (mainly the possibility of getting a paid job or an education, which are practices frequently not allowed in their countries of origin). In addition to a group comparison, the generation issue is equally central in the research presented on this paper. In fact, an attenuation and flexibility of traditional and religious rules becomes more evident between Muslim young girls, involved in larger social networks and maintaining a stronger proximity to the sociocultural model of the host society than their mothers. On the other hand, familial networks remain the less flexible aspect, translated in the process of choosing a marriage partner, which stays firmly restricted to members of the same religious and ethnic group, even for the younger girls. How will these scenarios develop within the following generations is therefore a question that is put forward and that opens room for important further research on this field. © 2007 Brill Academic Publishers.