How do Muslim Americans see their identity? In the melting pot of the Western world, no one person can truly say they have just one identity. Each and every individual attributes more than one identity to their own, be it religious, ethnic, cultural, or even chosen attributions based on interests and aspirations. The link between understanding who we are and our mental health lies in two key factors- identity centrality and belonging. 

So how do Muslim Americans experience their identity in the West, and just how confident are they as Muslims? Dr. Hanan Hashem, researcher and community educator at the Family Youth Institue and Teaching Fellow at William James College, recently shared her groundbreaking research titled “Identity, Discrimination, and Belonging: The Arab American Muslim Experience.” She also explored the impact of such experiences on mental health outcomes and overall wellness.