Voices of Young Women in Interfaith Marriages

Abstract

Abstract This qualitative study captures the experiences of young women in an interfaith marriage, in a social context where ethnic/religious identity is not contested or threatened. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten women to understand through narrative the conflicts and challenges they experience and how they cope with them. Narratives explored not only the present difficulties in the lives of women in interfaith marriages, but also the past experiences. It is under this framework that the cultural/religious transition of these women were studied. The collective experiences of these women were organised under six main themes: role of religion, views on being associated with another religion, initiation of interfaith relationships, problems and conflicts experienced, reactions of in-laws, peers and society and coping and adaptation. Results suggest that although these women experience challenges, such as rejections, threats to identity and discrimination, the multicultural context of Mauritius facilitates integration of conflicting religious identities.