A constructivist grounded theory of Queer and Muslim identity integration in college

Abstract

The constructivist grounded theory (CGT) explored how queer Muslim college students integrate their religious and sexual identities. By using intensive interviews concurrent with an iterative analytical scheme, the study identified a cycle of identity integration. Findings suggest that queer Muslim college students navigated identity gatekeepers by redefining religious truths and reflecting on their beliefs. They contextualized themselves within their communities as they preserved their familial connections and cultural congruity. Queer Muslims also disrupted taken-for-granted notions of authenticity through a process of selective outness and differentiated religion from culture and belief to process cultural attitudes and construct a more cohesive and integrated identity as both queer and Muslims. The CGT sheds light on the complexity of the Muslim identity and troubles religious structures by highlighting collectivist paradigms, nuancing self-authorship, and complicating the nexus between religion and culture.

Keywords:

• Queer
• Muslim
• grounded theory
• higher education
• identity integration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Hadith refers to the Prophet’s teachings passed down orally for generations and constitutes one of the two primary sources of Islamic jurisprudence, the Quran being the other.

2 Haram is an Arabic word that means forbidden or unallowed.

3 Sentences in italics are intended for the interviewer and are not read to the participants.

4 The questions in the protocol are organized to reflect the synthesis of the literature (see chapter 2).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Musbah Shaheen

Musbah Shaheen (he/him) is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education interested in the impact of college on students. He specifically focuses on student identity development and productive interactions across social identities.