Abstracts Social Work

Familial Relationships Among Muslim Couples and Parents in the United States: A Qualitative Study

by Zahra Aqeel Alghafli

Since September 11, 2001, Islam has been the center of many debates, discussions, parodies, and publications. Many Muslims feel that their religion has been portrayed unfairly in Western media. The topics that seem to generate the most criticism relate to gender roles and the treatment of women, both inside the home and in society. The purpose of this project is to employ a qualitative, in-depth interview approach to examine the perceived role of Islam on marital and familial relationships from insiders perspectives and to present participants reflections on sensitive issues, including gender roles, womens rights, the concept of Hijab, religious practices, and marital unity.