Objective Mixed families are both the index and agent of social change: they exemplify the increase in migration flows and provide us with an opportunity to analyse the everyday processes related to Europe’s growing pluralism. Quantitative studies demonstrate that interfaith marriages lead to higher divorce rates, suggesting that the latter are due to communication difficulties and disagreements caused by cultural differences between partners, as well as to hostility from families of origin, religious institutions and society at large. However, rather than being firmly and empirically established, these concepts remain mere assumptions and, as such, also conceal the ways in which those involved actively and reflexively deal with these dynamics to prevent damage to their relationship. Much scholarly attention has focused on couples defined as Islamic-Catholic or Muslim-Christian, which represent a paradigmatic case study of “mixedness” that typically incorporates differences pertaining to ethnicity, class and faith. The challenge of this project gives an empirically adequate exploration of a pattern firmly established in quantitative studies, i.e. that interfaith marriages give rise to high divorce rates. This project thus aims to understand, through an in-depth qualitative study, the daily life of such families: what differences are responsible for tension between spouses, how they deal with this in order to avoid damage to their relationship, and how gender interferes with these problems. Mixed marriages will be a key to examine the whole of society facing new family changes, Islam and religious diversity in everyday life. The research project addresses the EU lines of Horizon 2020, studying one of the major challenges for an “inclusive and multicultural” Europe. The fellowship will provide me with wider competence, publications and connections necessary to apply for an ERC Grant in 2019. Fields of science humanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionreligionsislamsocial sciencessociologyfamily studiessocial sciencessociologyanthropologyethnology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Net EU contribution € 160 800,00 Address OUDE MARKT 13 3000 Leuven Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 160 800,00