Schooling, Community, and Identity: The Perspectives of Muslim Girls Attending an Islamic School in Florida

Author

Vanessa Martinez, University of South FloridaFollow

Graduation Year

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Granting Department

Anthropology

Major Professor

Rebecca K. Zarger

Keywords

Arab Identity, Ethnography, Islamic Education, Muslim American, Muslim Teenagers, Socialization

Abstract

As the number of Islamic institutions increases in America, the need for greater understanding of the Muslim community, and the challenges faced by this minority, increases as well. This project seeks to provide such knowledge by exploring one of these rapidly growing institutions founded and funded by Muslims, private Islamic schools. Absent from media and literature is an understanding of Islamic schools and the experiences of youth as their attendees. This project addresses this gap through an ethnographic focus on female students at one Islamic school. Data was collected via interviews, focus groups, observation, and participant observation. This student-centered approach provides qualitative insight on the perspectives of Muslim girls on identity, schooling, and community in order to foster greater understanding of the mission, social function, and practices of Islamic schools.

Scholar Commons Citation

Martinez, Vanessa, "Schooling, Community, and Identity: The Perspectives of Muslim Girls Attending an Islamic School in Florida" (2012). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/4366