Family Practices in South Asian Muslim Families: Parenting in a Multi-Faith Britain

by Harriet Becher

Overview

Despite the growing multi-faith and multi-ethnic nature of British society, there is insufficient knowledge about diversity in family practices across ethnic and religious groups. South Asian Muslims within the UK are the focus of particular scrutiny, not least because of growing debates around what it means to be both 'British' and 'Muslim'.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230266445
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date:	10/31/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	657 KB

About the Author

Harriet Becher has experience in research, policy and service development with a particular focus on children and families. She has previously worked at the National Centre for Social Research and the Family and Parenting Institute and is currently based in the Department for Children, Schools and Families, UK.

Table of Contents

List of Tables and Charts ix

Series Preface x

1 Introduction 1

2 Family and Demographic Contexts 9

2.1 Family origins and settlement 9

2.2 Parental marital history 12

2.3 Locality: neighbourhood and household settings 14

2.4 Household composition 16

2.5 Family languages 18

2.6 Education and work 19

2.7 Health 21

2.8 Religious involvement 22

2.9 Conclusion 26

3 Family Beliefs and Values 27

3.1 Perceived influences on parenting 28

3.2 Religious beliefs 29

3.3 Cultural tradition and change 37

3.4 'Us' and 'them': being the same and being different 45

3.5 Family aspirations 48

3.6 Conclusion 52

4 Cultural Consumption, Cultural Expression 54

4.1 Food: eating family practices 55

4.2 Dress: wearing family practices 63

4.3 Language: speaking family practices 69

4.4 Islamic leisure: television 74

4.5 Conclusion 78

5 Time and Everyday Family Practices 80

5.1 Talking about daily routines 81

5.2 The relationship between sacred and family time 85

5.3 Special days: longer-term time 91

5.4 Conclusions 95

6 Parenting Roles and Relationships 96

6.1 Mothers' roles 97

6.2 Fathers' roles 108

6.3 Co-parenting and the role of others 122

6.4 Conclusion 126

7 Children's Roles and Relationships 128

7.1 'Good' children 129

7.2 Children's power and agency 134

7.3 They're 'just children' 140

7.4 Conclusion 144

8 Connections: Resources and Stressors 145

8.1 Uses of formal and informal support 146

8.2 The extended family 147

8.3 Religious community links 157

8.4 Secular lives outside the home 163

8.5 Conclusion 172

9 Conclusion 174

9.1 Key findings 175

9.2 Policy implications 185

9.3Conclusion 186

Appendices 187

A Research methodology 187

a Research aims and questions 187

b The research population 188

c Research methodology and design 188

d Research settings: location and access 189

e The questionnaire study 189

f The qualitative interviews 193

g Representativeness and generalizability 198

Notes 203

References 207

Index 219