Introduction

This chapter takes up the hotly-debated issue of Muslim youth identity in Western countries. It does so from the standpoint of popular culture. The idea of young Muslims as particularly susceptible to radicalisation refers to some core beliefs about youth as a social category. It is clear that young Muslim women are active in engaging with the radical meta-narrative as well as in the generation of counter-narratives. In the public domain, Muslim women in the diaspora are pulled by two different categorical distinctions. Those who cover their heads and wear traditional coverings might be regarded as 'good' Muslims within their own communities, but the non-Muslim public gaze will not view them that way. Conversely, Muslim women who do not wear the headscarf may attract negative comments from their own communities and from other Muslim women, even though they 'pass' in the broader community and are seen there as 'good' Muslims because they have symbolically integrated.