Kiyatindugan (Rising Up) of Mother and Child… The Experiences of Young Muslim Adults and their Single Mothers in Zamboanga City, Philippines

Abstract

This qualitative study investigated the experiences of young Muslim adults and their mothers from Zamboanga City, Mindanao, Philippines in surviving the difficulties of single parent families. Perspectives from the experts on Muslim culture regarding the dynamics of Muslim families were also gathered. Ten young adults, who experienced their parents’ separation during their adolescent years, and their mothers from single-parent Muslim families served as participants. The participants were visited and interviewed based on the scheduled appointments given by their community and religious leaders. Five themes emerged from the study using the Creswell’s Spiral Analysis. The first theme found was the gender differences in family obligations. The males in the study had a higher educational attainment than most of the females in the family. The young adults with higher educational attainment redefined their situations in a positive way. The other young adults, on the other hand, accepted their family challenges with resignation. The second theme was the special roles of the extended family, including relatives and stepfathers. Thus, remarriage as a solution to financial crises came out as the third theme of the study. Obtaining better opportunities abroad was another theme that surfaced showing how the single parents and their children cope with financial challenges. The last theme was the parent’s influence on their children’s outlook in life. It was prevalent in the study that the attitudes of the parents, particularly the mothers, influenced the young adults’ perspectives on life.

Keywords: young Muslim adults, single mothers, Zamboanga city, separation, Muslim families