WHEN RELIGION AND ORGANIZATION CONFLICT By JOHN LAROSA Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Arlington in Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS IN COMMUNICATION THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON May 2011 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to extend my most humble appreciation to the men and women of this study; without your perceptions of the world, I would not understand my world. I value your time and your honesty. I would also like to thank Dr. Brain Horton for his hard work and patience with me throughout this process. Further appreciation is extended to Dr. Andrew Clark and Dr. Eronini Megwa for their guidance and leadership. To my father and sister who never stopped believing in me even when I stopped believing in myself, I am forever in debt to you and I love you more than anything. Finally, to Bridget Bishop, without your continued optimism I would not be here today, I love you. April 14, 2011 ii ABSTRACT WHEN RELIGION AND ORGANIZATION CONFLICT John LaRosa, M.A. The University of Texas at Arlington, 2011 Supervising Professor: Brian Horton After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the United States became a much different place to live and work for Muslim-Americans. Muslims are one of most discriminated, misunderstood, and feared groups in the US. This qualitative study used survey questionnaires to explore the potential role conflicts in the workplace faced by Muslim- Americans as they navigate their way through a post 9/11 world. In the workplace, Muslim-Americans are very aware of how they are viewed by other Muslims and non- Muslims alike. These views are considered when Muslim-Americans act and play a large role in what action and communication is selected. However it was noted that rather than role conflicts, Muslim-Americans appear to struggle more with role balancing and role ambiguity. Moreover, Muslim-Americans working in industries considered haraam are faced with a unique set of identity dilemmas and justification for their continued service in these fields was explored. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................ ii ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... iii Chapter Page 1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................1 1.1. Problematizing the context .....................................................................................4 1.2. Theoretical Perspectives .........................................................................................8 2. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................10 2.1. Communication and identity ................................................................................10 2.2. Intercultural communication and identity.............................................................12 2.3. Role Conflict Theory ............................................................................................13 2.4. Spirituality/ religion and work..............................................................................18 2.5. Islam .....................................................................................................................21 2.6. Islam and the workforce .......................................................................................22 2.7. Religious expression.............................................................................................25 2.8. The juxtaposition of religious and workplace identities.......................................27 2.9. Employer concerns ...............................................................................................28 2.10. Summary of Muslims in the workforce ..............................................................31 2.11. Research questions for Role Conflict Theory.....................................................31 3. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................34 iv 3.1. Recruitment of Participants..................................................................................35 3.2. Participants ...........................................................................................................35 3.2.1. Muslim participants ....................................................................................35 3.2.2. Non-Muslim participants ............................................................................39 3.3. Survey...................................................................................................................41 3.4. Data Analysis .......................................................................................................42 4. RESULTS ....................................................................................................................46 4.1. Muslim themes .....................................................................................................46 4.1.1. Religious morals ..........................................................................................46 4.1.2. Celebrations .................................................................................................47 4.1.3. Job demands.................................................................................................48 4.1.4. Racism .........................................................................................................49 4.2. Non-Muslim theme...............................................................................................51 4.2.1. Dissimilar beliefs........................................................................................51 4.3. Muslim themes .....................................................................................................53 4.3.1. Freedom to express....................................................................................53 4.3.2. Prayer..........................................................................................................54 4.3.3. Respectful ...................................................................................................55 4.3.4. Barriers .......................................................................................................55 4.4. Non-Muslim themes ............................................................................................57 4.4.1. Freedom......................................................................................................57 4.4.2. Daily interactions .......................................................................................58 v 4.4.3. Region ........................................................................................................58 4.4.4. Hesitant.......................................................................................................59 4.5. Muslim themes......................................................................................................61 4.5.1. Similar conflicts .........................................................................................61 4.5.2. Depends on the person ...............................................................................62 4.6. Non-Muslim themes .............................................................................................64 4.6.1. Moral conflicts ...........................................................................................64 4.6.2. Same ...........................................................................................................65 4.6.3. Avoidance...................................................................................................65 4.7. Muslim themes......................................................................................................66 4.7.1. Similar conflicts .........................................................................................66 4.8. Non-Muslim themes .............................................................................................67 4.8.1. Compatible .................................................................................................67 4.8.2. Limited .......................................................................................................68 4.9. Muslim themes......................................................................................................69 4.9.1. Avoidance...................................................................................................69 4.9.2. Deal with ....................................................................................................71 4.10. Non-Muslim theme.............................................................................................72 4.10.1. Avoidance.................................................................................................72 4.11. Muslim theme .....................................................................................................73 4.11.1. Withhold...................................................................................................73 4.12. Non-Muslim theme.............................................................................................74 vi 4.12.1. Confrontation............................................................................................74