How Identity Is Constructed: An Analysis of Four Case Studies
Author(s): Joliet Dinkha, Safaa Abdolhamid, Nor El Hoda Abdelhalim
Abstract: Cultural relocation can be seen as a catalyst for personal transformation that prompts individuals to re-evaluate their identity as well as corresponding issues such as relationships to family, relationships to country of origin, perceptions of the receiving country, and social interactions within school and community. In the United States, where European perspectives dominate the accepted worldview, many individuals find it increasingly difficult to resolve psychosocial conflicts amplified by the expected norms of the dominant social group. This paper investigates how these issues are salient even with individuals living in Kuwait. The paper explores psychosocial conflicts as it relates to race, class, and culture in adolescents living in Kuwait. Four case studies are analyzed in addressing the nature of identity construction and conflict resolution in home and school settings. The participants come from different backgrounds but are seen to display similar symptoms of identity confusion and all try to find similar ways to manage more than one identity.
Keywords: Identity formation; Multicultural; Cultural relocation; Migration and identity; Social integration and belonging; Identity confusion; Middle East education
Article: e20002
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