McNair Scholar 2019 Aaisha Y. Abdullahi
Aaisha Y. Abdullahi is a senior at Hamline University, Saint Paul, double majoring in exercise science and psychology. Her research interests involve creating better access for Muslim youth in extracurricular activities and a more inclusive environment for them to participate in sports. Aaisha plans on receiving her Ph.D. in sociology or sports management.
My dream is to create environments that are inclusive for Muslim girls who want to play sports and compete at an elite level. I would like to receive my Ph.D. in the social sciences. I strive to provide underserved girls the access to health and wellness programs in countries like Ethiopia.
Research project
Are We Equal? The Unique Challenges of Extracurricular Activities for Muslim Youth in the U.S.
Abstract: Extracurricular activities, especially those that include physical activity, are important for the development of a child's soft skills and socialization in the United States. As the field of out-of-school youth activities expands and becomes more privatized, many parents struggle to financially keep up. These activities have become less accessible to kids from low-income and/or families of color. Some racial barriers have appeared as well. This project focuses on the unique challenges that Muslim youth face when participating in extracurricular activities. It uses two different sets of data and methods: (1) a close reading of existing research on the experience of Muslim youth in extracurricular activities (mostly from European contexts); and, (2) preliminary interviews with Minnesota Muslim youth about their personal experiences and understandings of extracurricular sports and activities. This research shows that Muslim Americans have understandings and expectations about youth activities that are similar with many other American parents and kids, but also identifies distinctive racial and religious challenges that Muslim youth face when participating in activities. Ultimately, this paper will propose a future research project to fully document and explain the experiences of Muslim youth and where changes need to be made best support this population.
Faculty mentor
Dr. Douglas Hartmann is currently the Chair and a professor in the Sociology Department at the University of Minnesota. Professor Hartmann attended University of California, San Diego where he received both his M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology. His research specializes in the study of race, sport sociology, social movements, public engagement, sociology of culture, and sports-based social intervention programs. Dr. Hartmann is published in multiple research journals as well as several books including Midnight Basketball: Race, Sports, and Neoliberal Social Policy (Chicago, 2016). He has been a McNair faculty mentor for a number of years.