Date of Award
Winter 1-21-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Rhys Williams
Abstract
This study examines the ways in which children of Muslim Bangladeshi immigrants find romantic partners and the factors they consider when selecting romantic partners. This is a comparative study that uses data from 32 semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals of 1.5 and second-generation Muslim Bangladeshi origin that are currently living in Chicago, USA and Toroto, Canada, and employing a life course approach, this study examines the adaptation and assimilation processes experienced by these individuals, who are part of a largely middle- and upper-middle-class cohort often described as the "new" second generation. This study focuses on dating and marriage choices to reveal the complex dilemmas, negotiations, navigation, and autonomy in the experiences of Muslim Bangladeshi children. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) the life history approach reveals that there were two types of family orientations for the respondents of this study: selective-traditional and selective-integrated family orientation. (2) In Chicago, respondents use religion as a baseline to define their own identities, whereas in Toronto, they use social class identity to define themselves. (3) Lastly, respondents in both cities relied on dating apps and social media to find their romantic partners, to create autonomy from the traditional way of finding romantic partners.
Recommended Citation
Zohara, Fatema, "Social Identities and Space: Children of Muslim Bangladeshi Immigrants' Navigations of Romantic Relationships in Chicago, Usa, and Toronto, Canada" (2026). Dissertations. 4283.
https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/4283
