The interwoven self: A qualitative study on the intersectionality of social identities and bicultural belonging among Muslim emerging adults in Italy

Integrating a coherent image of oneself is a key issue in emerging adulthood, especially for an expanding population of immigrant Muslim emerging adults worldwide who navigate the complexities of more than one social identity. While extensive research highlights the presence of multiple social identities, less is known about the intersection of these identities–specifically ethnic, national, and religious–across diverse social contexts. The present qualitative, interview-based study explores how these social identities intersect across various social settings–home, school, work, and social circles–and how these intersections relate to the bicultural belonging (heritage and host culture) among 100 Muslim emerging adults residing in Italy. Results of the thematic content analysis revealed that participants employed social context-dependent strategies to reconcile their social identities. Some integrated their religious, ethnic, and national identities, others experienced a shift, and some felt alienated from their faith, which, in turn, contributed to bicultural belonging. The findings highlight the intersectionality and evolving nature of social identities across diverse social contexts, and their role in contributing to bicultural belonging. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.