Over the past decade, numerous social science scholars carrying out qualitative studies of Muslims in America have found that American Muslims, and especially American Muslim youth, have a heightened level of civic, community, and political engagement—including increased levels of voting and activism and faith-driven volunteering.
Survey responses back up this insight. For example, the rates of Muslims surveyed who engage in acts of service is high, with 92% reporting that they do so as a religious activity and 75% reporting that they do so as a spiritual activity. We also find that a majority of Muslims (76%) report that making a difference in the community is important to them, and a majority of Muslims (63%) reported that the statement “my spirituality inspires me to give back to my community” described them well.
Scholars have found that this drive to take part in community and civic life is due in part to the stigmatization that Muslims in the U.S. face. There is a resulting “representational burden” placed on Muslims to increase their civic engagement in part to disprove stereotypes. This can lead to fatigue and burnout among American Muslims since the pressure is so high, and the perceived predicted negative backlash for remaining inactive is so alarming. This population’s overall high levels of education and economic standing also contribute to their ability to take action and become visible in political and civic engagement.
This Expert Insight is from Alisa M. Perkins, Ph.D., Anthropology, Associate Professor, Department of Comparative Religion, Western Michigan University, Scholar with Institute for Social Policy and Understanding