Cultural Integration of Immigrant youth in the Netherlands – The effect of religiosity on salience of ethnic identity and on progressive ideas on abortion, homosexuality and gender roles

Abstract

This paper will explore the effect of religiosity among immigrant youth in the Netherlands on other parts of their cultural integration. Using the Accommodation hypothesis, combined with Assimilation theory, the secularity of the Dutch context is established. Next, building on earlier research findings, expectations on the relationship between religion and progressive attitudes towards abortion, homosexuality and gender roles are formulated. Using the Dutch data from the first wave of the CILS4EU database, linear regression analyses have been performed to test this relationship. Both religious behavior and religious salience were found to have a significant negative effect on progressive ideas towards abortion, homosexuality and gender norms; both religious determinants showed a significant, positive effect on salience of ethnic identity.