Somali, Muslim, British ― Striving in Securitized Britain

Somalis are one of the most chastised Muslim communities in Europe. Frequently depicted in the news as victims of female genital mutilation, perpetrators of gang violence, or as jihadi brides and radical Islamists, Somalis have long been seen as a problematic refugee community in Britain and beyond.

Somali Muslim British provides a detailed ethnographic study of the lives of Somali Muslim women in the United Kingdom. Based on research with over 25 households in London, it explores the experiences and aspirations of Somali women and shows how these shift in relation to ideas of religion, culture and nationality – both over the course of the life cycle and across generations. Giulia Liberatore argues that the increasing visibility of Islam in Europe cannot be explained solely through the lens of religion and migration. Instead, it needs to be understood as one of the many different forms of aspirations – such as modernity, financial security or piety – that individuals pursue throughout their lives.

Bringing new perspectives to debates about Islam, multiculturalism, integration, and national identity in Europe and beyond, this book makes an important contribution to the anthropology of religion and gender.