Spirituality, Identity, and Agency: Muslim Women Navigating College Campus Cultures

Fatima Koura

College: College of Liberal Arts

Department: English

Abstract:

This study explores how Muslim women college students experience and express spirituality within higher education environments often shaped by secular norms and sociocultural expectations. The primary objective is to understand how spirituality influences identity formation, resilience, and students’ sense of belonging on campus. While discussions of diversity in higher education frequently emphasize race, gender, and class, the role of religious identity, particularly for visibly Muslim women, remains underexamined. This research addresses that gap by centering students’ lived experiences.Using a qualitative research design, the study draws on in-depth narrative interviews with Muslim women college students. Participants reflected on their academic, social, and personal experiences, with particular attention to faith practices such as prayer, modest dress, ethical commitments, and community engagement. Data were analyzed using thematic narrative analysis to identify recurring patterns related to meaning-making, agency, and campus navigation.Findings indicate that spirituality functions not merely as private belief but as an active resource that shapes how students interpret challenges, manage stress, and construct identity within academic spaces. Participants described faith practices as sources of grounding, resilience, and social connection, particularly when negotiating visibility, stereotypes, and belonging.The significance of this study lies in its contribution to higher education scholarship by challenging deficit-oriented narratives about Muslim women and reframing spirituality as a meaningful dimension of student experience. The research offers novel insight into how religious identity intersects with campus climate, student well-being, and institutional inclusion, with implications for teaching, policy, and student support practices.