CHAPTER 7: Trying to Fit in: Ismaili Youth Identity In Post-9/11 Canada

There is very little written on the experience of second generation Ismaili youth growing up in Canada. This chapter looks to explore the available research on Ismaili youth to better understand how they view their religious and ethnic identity. The focus of the chapter is to explore whether Ismaili youth in Canada consider themselves to be Muslim. The results were mixed, with those facing discrimination preferring to avoid calling themselves Muslim, while youth who were not questioned about their religion remaining content holding onto the label. The youth that felt comfortable stating they are Muslim did, however, feel uncomfortable with their South Asian ethnicity as a result of negative stereotypes they face. This implies that Ismaili youth, in their attempt to fit into Canadian society, distance themselves from identities which result in discrimination and stereotyping. Though the Ismaili youth believe Canadian society is pluralistic and multicultural, the selective application of these concepts points to a large difference between theory and practice.