Parenting and the Transmission of Values in Immigrant Muslim Families

For Muslim migrant families, the transmission of traditional values and a strong ethno-religious identity is a central aspect of the educational process. However, Muslim parents face challenges in reconciling various educational models—both those tied to their cultural heritage and those of the host society. This tension also involves balancing different needs: the desire of parents to preserve and pass on religious and cultural values, and the need to adapt to the societal values their children encounter in everyday interactions. This study explores the cultural negotiation process undertaken by Muslim parents and examines its impact on their educational and parenting practices. A sample of 11 Muslim migrant parents from different national backgrounds (9 women; mean age = 48; average years in Italy = 25) participated in semi-structured interviews discussing their experiences of raising children within both their cultural heritage and Italian society. Data were analyzed using Atlas.ti. The findings underscore the pivotal role of religion in guiding parents' cultural negotiation processes, while also highlighting the perceived threat that cultural differences pose to their educational expectations.