Understanding Social Identity Negotiation Through a Phenomenological Approach Among Second-Generation Muslim Migrants in Urban European Contexts
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Abstract
The increasing complexity of identity formation among second-generation migrants has become a critical focus within migration and social integration studies. In particular, the lived experiences of Muslim youth in European urban settings remain underexplored in terms of how they navigate cultural dualities and societal expectations. While prior studies have examined integration outcomes using structural or quantitative frameworks, little is known about how these individuals subjectively interpret and assign meaning to their social identities. This study applies an interpretative phenomenological approach to explore how second-generation Muslim migrants construct, negotiate, and internalize their sense of belonging. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve participants, and data were analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to uncover recurring themes related to identity tension, visibility, spiritual anchoring, and hybrid belonging. The analysis indicates that participants often confront pressures of misrecognition and discrimination, yet they respond by cultivating strategies of resilience, such as drawing on faith-based resources, reinterpreting cultural practices, and fostering supportive peer networks. These strategies enable them to transform identity tensions into opportunities for reflexivity and growth. The results reveal that participants experience identity as a dynamic and multidimensional process shaped by emotional, social, and cultural negotiations. Rather than conforming to binary models of assimilation or separation, they actively develop hybrid identities rooted in resilience and reflexivity. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing migrant youth as active agents who construct belonging beyond restrictive policy categories, highlighting the need for integration frameworks that account for agency, resilience, and hybridity. This study contributes to the development of more inclusive, human-centered approaches in migration discourse and encourages further qualitative exploration of lived experiences across diverse migrant populations.
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