Gender perspectives in the Italian Muslim family: Education, taboos, conflicts, and intergenerational transformations

Abstract

This article presents research on the dialogue between second-generation Muslim parents and children in the Italian context regarding gender identity, sexual identity, and gender education. Through the testimonies of young people (18-30 years of age), the nature of intergenerational dialogue and parental position toward the relational transformations that their children are experiencing is analysed within the Italian cultural context. For this purpose, 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2021 with boys and girls aged 18–30 years and belonging to Italian Islamic associations. Moreover, 24 young people were divided into 4 focus groups to conduct an in-depth exploration of gender perspectives on these topics; these young people are active members of the Giovani Musulmani d’Italia (Association of Young Italian Muslims). A strongly taboo dialogue emerges from the data; however, this does not hinder young people’s search for greater openness to different forms of relationality and sexuality, both in their current lives and their future families.