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Youth Clubs As Men/Women Caves: Exploring an Emerging Muslim

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Youth Clubs As Men/Women Caves: Exploring an Emerging Muslim Youth Clubs as Men/Women Caves: Exploring an Emerging Muslim Youth Subculture Creating a New Canadian Religious Identity by Fatemeh Mohammadi A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate and Post-Doctoral Affairs in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology Carleton University Ottawa, Ontario ©2018 Fatemeh Mohammadi Abstract Second-generation immigrants in Canada are torn between different identities. Young Canadian Muslims on the one hand need to deal with their Islamic culture and on the other hand they are in constant interaction with Canadian culture. My doctoral research focuses on religious identities of second-generation Muslim youth living in Canada. I explore the understudied issue of intergenerational divide within the Muslim community. The intergenerational divide becomes obvious in the recent development of Muslim Canadian youth clubs, which are founded, and run by youths themselves. I examine the cultural, social and religious characteristics or drivers that are creating these kinds of formal/informal institutions as well as the challenges that these youths face in running independent programs. I participated in the programs of three of these clubs, one in Montreal and two in Ottawa, as well as conducting semi-structured interviews. By using ethnographic research, I compare and contrast the various social, cultural, institutional and financial factors associated with the clubs. This thesis examines youth clubs based on youth subcultural theories. I employ Steve Redhead’s post-subcultural theory that focuses on subcultures shifting from political dimensions towards leisure. I also draw on Birmingham school’s concept of resistance. I argue that in many cases Islamic centers, which have been formed and are currently run by first-generation Muslim immigrants, are not well suited to address the needs of second-generation Muslims. My research has indicated that this is one of the primary reasons for the rise of Muslim youth clubs in Canadian cities. Religious activities in the youth clubs are i somehow different from the religious centers of their parents, exposing this divide in the Muslim community as never before. This dissertation examines how youth clubs are a major protective factor for youth and argues that a ‘new religious youth subculture’, which has its own type of style, resistance and religiosity, is emerging among second-generation Muslim youth. My ethnographic study provides insights on the subculture of these youth. Such an understanding is particularly necessary in current circumstances where intense debates concerning second-generation Muslims are arising in Canada, especially in the political sphere. ii Acknowledgements This project is the result of my time at Carleton University and the knowledge imparted to me by its experienced faculty members. I am greatly indebted to my committee members who provided invaluable ideas and suggestions throughout the research process. First and foremost, I would like to thank my supervisor Dr. Brian Given who went above and beyond the normal responsibilities of a supervisor. He was always available for support and advice and his recommendations helped me focus throughout my fieldwork. Moreover, our lengthy and engaging discussions helped me clarify my arguments and prevented me from drifting off course. Dr. Bernhard Leistle provided very useful criticism of my theoretical framework and helped me formulate my research question and plan the research process. Dr. Richard Mann not only gave valuable feedback on the dissertation but also on numerous occasions provided me with guidance on how to survive and thrive in the academic world. None of this would have been possible without the loving care of my husband Hamed, who was very supportive during my fieldwork and the writing process. Finally, I would like to thank my baby daughter Zainab. When she was born three years ago during my doctoral studies my world entered a new phase! iii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 History of Muslims in Canada ......................................................................................................... 2 Muslims in Montreal and Ottawa ........................................................................................................... 6 First-Generation Centers ............................................................................................................................ 8 Research Questions: .......................................................................................................................... 9 Research Context ............................................................................................................................. 10 Multiculturalism in Canada ......................................................................................................... 11 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................ 14 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................................ 27 Dissertation Plan: ............................................................................................................................ 29 Chapter 2: Setting and Method .......................................................................................... 30 Methodology: .................................................................................................................................... 30 My Positionality: .............................................................................................................................. 32 The Montreal youth club ............................................................................................................... 35 Access: .............................................................................................................................................................. 35 Programs and Activities of the club:.................................................................................................... 38 Paintball: ......................................................................................................................................................... 40 Ottawa Men’s Youth Club: ............................................................................................................. 43 Access: .............................................................................................................................................................. 44 Description of the neighborhood: ........................................................................................................ 45 Description of the club: ............................................................................................................................. 45 First encounter: ............................................................................................................................................ 48 The Role of the Religious Leadership in the Club: ......................................................................... 51 A different Saturday night: ...................................................................................................................... 54 The Ottawa Women’s Youth Club: ............................................................................................. 60 Access: .............................................................................................................................................................. 64 An Interesting Thursday Night: ............................................................................................................. 64 Fieldwork Challenges ..................................................................................................................... 69 Montreal Youth Club: ................................................................................................................................. 69 Men’s Youth Club: ....................................................................................................................................... 70 Women’s Youth Club: ................................................................................................................................ 72 Conclusion: ......................................................................................................................................... 74 Chapter 3: Theory .................................................................................................................. 76 Definition of Youth .......................................................................................................................... 76 What is a Subculture? ..................................................................................................................... 78 Why Should We Study Subcultures? ......................................................................................... 81 The Chicago school .......................................................................................................................... 82 The Birmingham School ................................................................................................................ 84 Resistance ......................................................................................................................................................
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