Role of Ethnography in Exploring Mental Health Experiences of Female Muslim Immigrant Youths

Abstract

Female Muslim immigrant youths are at a developmental stage of transition to adulthood and face many challenges in their identity transformation due to racism, migration status and gender role. They are members of a cultural group whose experiences of mental health are established through multiple contexts. Informed by different theoretical perspectives, the methodology of ethnography is introduced as an appropriate approach to explore female Muslim immigrant youths’ mental health. This article also introduces critical ethnography as an appropriate design to examine critically the contextual and intersecting factors that influence female Muslim immigrant youths’ experiences. The steps to conduct an ethnographic study on female Muslim immigrant youths are also listed. This paper finally mirrors strengths, limitations and challenges of ethnographic approach in research related to female Muslim immigrant youths.