Islamic Strangers: The Effects of Religious Beliefs and Network Closure on Muslim Identity in the United States

Using nationally representative survey data from the 2011 Pew Muslim American Survey, this study investigates how the combined effects of religiosity, personal networks, and attitudes toward American society shape the subjective identities of Muslims residing in the United States. We draw on social identity theory, Simmel’s notion of the “stranger,” and past research on subjective identity among faith groups to examine U.S. Muslim identity preferences. We use multinomial logistic regression to examine the probability of self-identifying as Muslim, American, or Muslim American. Results suggest that self-identifying as Muslim as opposed to Muslim American is associated with religiosity and personal network closure.