Trajectories of Reinvention. Soulmates and a ‘Minority Culture of Mobility’ (original) (raw)

2018, Ethnic Identity, Social Mobility and the Role of Soulmates

How do identifications develop over one's lifetime? What underlies social bonds, and what role do co-educated coethnic peers play? Can we speak of a 'minority culture of mobility' in the Netherlands? As much as identifications are not constant between different contexts, the differences between the childhood and adult phase in the previous chapter, Chap. 6, indicate that identifications are also not static throughout one's life course. In this chapter, I further explore how the participants' ethnic identifications change throughout their life course. Let us listen once more to Said: Well, I think, when you look back… Yes, I think-reflecting on the period at elementary school-…that you discover that you are actually different. In a negative way. Because I remember-Quite bizarre: sometimes I was not allowed to play at a friend's house. That's something that you don't understand at that moment. So, then you find out you are different. That is phase one. (…) Then, let's say, this period at high school, where you, let's say, SEE the opportunities and seize them, and where you realize that you're talented. You know, that you say to yourself: 'This is GOOD for me'. It sounds weird-no, it doesn't-that at the age of fourteen you notice the difference between you, the higher-educated pupil, and the lower-educated pupils of the school nearby. There is a huge difference, with those children smoking pot. So you notice THAT. This makes you realize: 'I want to stand out positively, I do not want to be like them'. So, basically-you then learn about your… identity-I don't know. But what you learn is indeed, in that secondary school period: no negative association with your own identity. That was a really fantastic period. What is important, is that-well-there I met with friends who did NOT see you as THE Moroccan, or whatever. You COULD play at their homes: sit… sleep over… you know… I enjoyed that period so much. Really great. Good memories. I did not feel different AT ALL. Of course, you realize you have a different background. But who cares?! You know: 'Enrichment.' Whatever….-but that wasn't the focus. (…)