Crisis of Belonging or Space for Dialogue? Social Pressure, Stigmatization, and Identity Management in Alevi–Sunni Mixed Marriages: The Case of the Gülen Movement

Abstract

The phenomenon of Alevi–Sunni mixed marriages within the Gülen Movement is examined with a focus on how social pressure, stigmatisation, and identity negotiation shape the lived experiences of couples and their families. Drawing on theories of intergroup relations, labelling, and identity management, the study situates mixed marriages within broader debates on religious boundaries, community expectations, and the social regulation of belonging. These frameworks highlight how marriage functions not merely as a personal union but as a socially embedded institution shaped by ritual norms, kinship structures, and communal perceptions of legitimacy. The research aims to analyse how couples navigate religious differences, manage visibility, and respond to mechanisms of social pressure within both marital and extended family contexts. Based on qualitative fieldwork with ten participants in Germany, the study employs semi-structured interviews and content analysis to explore patterns of spouse selection, marital harmony, conflict, and child-rearing practices. The findings reveal five major dynamics: first, tensions arise primarily from ritual practices and everyday lifestyle norms rather than doctrinal disagreements; second, extended family networks activate mechanisms of pressure, stigma, and boundary policing; third, couples employ strategies of concealment, selective disclosure, and identity blending to maintain harmony; fourth, diaspora conditions reshape status aspirations, social capital strategies, and the visibility of religious identities; and fifth, the Movement’s organisational culture influences perceptions of legitimacy, belonging, and intergroup acceptance. The study concludes that Alevi–Sunni mixed marriages within the Gülen Movement constitute a complex arena of identity negotiation, offering new insights into religious diversity, social cohesion, and the challenges of intergroup marriage in diaspora contexts.