ABSTRACT
This paper will present some observations on changing religious attitudes of young Turkish women with a Muslim family background. To some extent, young female Muslims of the second migrant generation apparently redefine an ethno-religious identity in a non-Muslim society vis-a -vis both the majority’s concept of secularism and their parents’ traditionalist Muslim beliefs. This process inevitably affects their views towards integration in the majority environment. A substantial part of the discussion will be devoted to individuals who, while adhering to Muslim orthodoxy, strive for increased visibility and recognition as an integral part of Germany’s public life. I will, however, also touch upon similarities and differences between Alevi and Sunni female students, as they represent two different strands of ethno-religious orientations from Anatolia.1 The former consider themselves representatives of a truly modem version of Islam which does not require any change to blend with western life-style.2 The
latter try to combine modem life with the Muslim faith, some of them through the discovery of ‘true Islam’ - which they regard as compatible with modem life. Nevertheless, my focus will be on the veiled students, because their struggle for public recognition earned them symbol status with both the majority and the Muslim minority activists alike. To the former they are perfect examples of the Muslims’ unwillingness to integrate, while the latter see them as heroines of emerging Muslim presence in a secular public environment.
