DOCSLIB.ORG

In Search of Italianness: an Ethnography of the Second-Generation Condition

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
In Search of Italianness: an Ethnography of the Second-Generation Condition SCUOLA DI DOTTORATO UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO-BICOCCA Department of Scienze umane per la formazione Riccardo Massa PhD program: DACS antropologia culturale e sociale Cycle XXX In search of Italianness: an ethnography of the second-generation condition in a mobility perspective Surname: Grimaldi Name: Giuseppe Registration number: 744185 Tutor: Prof. Bruno Riccio Co-Supervisor: Prof. Timothy Raeymaekers Coordinator: prof. Alice Bellagamba ACADEMIC YEAR 2016/2017 Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 The second-generation condition ................................................................................................................. 5 Habesha in immobility: ancestral identification as a site of incorporating difference ................................. 8 Habesha as a source of mobility. Practicing the difference to navigate a second-generation condition in the social space of the diaspora .................................................................................................................. 11 Milano as an interconnected space. Siting the exploration of a second-generation condition ................. 13 Between methodology and epistemology. The “clue paradigm” and the second-generation condition .. 15 Structure of the work .................................................................................................................................. 19 Chapter 1: Italianness and Habesha. Genealogy of a differential relation ............................................... 21 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 21 1.2 Italianness in the making of a colonial otherness ................................................................................. 21 1.2.1 Italianness in the making of a colonial paradigm ........................................................................... 22 1.3 From Habesha to Abyssinia and Eritrea. The Italian Colonial paradigm and identification shifts ........ 25 1.3.1 Habesha in the Ethiopian and Eritrean national paradigm ............................................................ 26 1.3.2 Habesha in the regional paradigm ................................................................................................. 28 1.4 The Italianness Habesha Postcolonial paradigm ................................................................................... 30 1.4.1 Postcolonial Tigray-kebessa relation .............................................................................................. 30 1.4.2 Hegemonic Italianness and Postcolonial differentiation ................................................................ 31 1.4.3 From the Horn to Italy: postcolonial mobilities. ............................................................................. 32 1.5 Habesha in mobility ............................................................................................................................... 34 1.5.1 The Making of a Habesha culture of migration .............................................................................. 34 1.5.2 From ethno-regional to national identification. The making of the generation nationalism. ....... 36 1.6 Diaspora space in Milano ...................................................................................................................... 39 1.6.1 The Habesha neighborhood of Porta Venezia ................................................................................ 39 1.6.2 Being Habesha in Milano: incorporating social difference ............................................................. 42 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 44 Figures: Asmara’s progressive expansion in precolonial and colonial maps: 1872-1929 ........................... 45 Chapter 2: Ancestral Identification or differential italianness? Habesha as the marker of a second- generation condition ............................................................................................................................ 47 2.1 Second generations and Italianness: split in two cultures or pushed away? ........................................ 47 1.2 The postcolonial condition and the second-generation condition: family resemblances .................... 51 2.2.1 Precondition pt.1: Children of domestic workers .......................................................................... 52 2.2.2 Precondition pt2: downward assimilation. Why a Milanese Habesha should speak Neapolitan? 53 2.3 Racial differentiation, gender, class. The making of Habesha second generations .............................. 55 2.3.1 Ragazzi di zona. The class connotation of the Habesha identification .......................................... 55 2.3.2 The Habesha dark side. second-generation condition and gender divide ..................................... 58 2.3.3 Cultural Translations: second-generation condition and the making of Habeshaness .................. 60 2.4 Translating ethnicity from the ancestral land to the Italian context. Habeshaness as a space of subjectivity................................................................................................................................................... 62 2.4.1 Liminoid spaces of Habesha constructions: The oratory of Via Kramer......................................... 63 2.4.2 Nationalist winds: the fracture between a second generation Habeshaness and the ancestral lands ........................................................................................................................................................ 64 2.4.3 Global flows and differentiation. Habesha at the “Muretto” ........................................................ 68 2.4.4 National division, shared differentiation: Habesha as the marker of a differential Italianness .... 70 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 72 Chapter 3: We are all on that ship: the reconfiguration of a second-generation Habeshaness and the Mediterranean route ........................................................................................................................... 73 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 73 3.2 Second-generation condition and the Habesha diasporic space: disconnections ................................ 75 3.3 Second generations and ethnic identification with refugees. A reading in the Italian system of regulation of the Mediterranenan route ..................................................................................................... 77 3.3.1 The asylum seekers’ flow and its marginality in the Italian public discourse ................................ 77 3.3.2 The resignification of the asylum seekers flow in Italy .................................................................. 79 3.4 Mediterranean route and second generation’s Habeshaness in the liminal. We are all on that ship .. 82 3.4.1 Second-generation Habesha’s Ethnic engagement as an Italian phenomenon? ........................... 84 3.5 Second generation volunteering for refugees ....................................................................................... 87 3.5.1 Italianness and the making of Porta Venezia as an informal reception space ............................... 87 3.5.2 Second generations engaging for refugees. Differential italianness as a source of legitimation .. 88 3.5.3 The end of the reception. Second generation Habeshaness in the post liminal and the reintroduction of a differential paradigm. .............................................................................................. 90 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 91 Chapter 4: Performing difference, reproducing Habeshaness: status and second generations return to Ethiopia ............................................................................................................................................... 93 4.1 Prologue. A Research companion .......................................................................................................... 93 4.2 In between-ness and children of immigrants. The predicament of a third space................................. 94 4.2.1 This is not my Ethiopia: Habesha, Ferengi and Diaspora ............................................................... 94 4.2.2 Habeshaness through Ferenginess ................................................................................................. 96 4.3 Inside the diaspora. In-betwenness as a structural process ................................................................. 98 4.3.1 They are not real diaspora. Cultural difference as an hegemonic discourse ................................. 99 4.3.2 Assimilating Tigrayness in the hegemonic category of diaspora.................................................. 101 4.4 Performing the status. ......................................................................................................................... 105 4.4.1
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Role of the African Diaspora in Conflict Processes
    B ONN INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR CONVERSION • INTERNATIONALES KONVERSIONSZENTRUM BONN Agents of Peace or Agents of War? The Role of the African Diaspora in Confl ict Processes CONCEPT PAPER The Role of the African Diaspora in Conflict Processes Concept Paper (abridged English version) Of the Workshop Agents of Peace or Agents of War? The Role of the African Diaspora in Conflict Processes organized by the Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia in cooperation with the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC) INTERNATIONALES KONVERSIONSZENTRUM BONN - An der Elisabethkirche 25 BONN INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR CONVERSION (BICC) GMBH 53113 Bonn, GERMANY Phone: +49-228-911 96-0 Director: Peter J. Croll Fax: +49-228-24 12 15 Chairman of the Board: Deputy Minister Dr. Michael Stückradt E-Mail: [email protected] Register of Companies: Bonn HRB 6717 Internet: www.bicc.de Authors: Andrea Warnecke Julie Brethfeld Volker Franke BICC, April 2007 2 ANDREA WARNECKE is Junior Researcher at BICC JULIE BRETHFELD is Research Associate at BICC VOLKER FRANKE is Research Director at BICC This study was conducted by BICC with the support of the Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia. The authors are solely responsible for the content and for the opinions expressed therein. 3 1. INTRODUCTION 5 2. THE TERMS ‘CONFLICT PROCESS’ AND ‘DIASPORA’ 7 2.1. Conflict process 7 2.2. Diaspora 7 3. THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN GERMANY (FOCUS NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA) 9 3.1. Heterogeneity and networking 10 3.2. Organizations of the African Diaspora in NRW 11 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Eritrean Diaspora in Germany: the Case of the Eritrean Refugees in Baden-Württemberg
    Eritrean Diaspora in Germany: The case of the Eritrean refugees in Baden-Württemberg Beatris de Oliveira Santos Dissertação de Mestrado em Migrações, Inter-Etnicidades e Transnacionalismo September, 2019 Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisites necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Migrações, Inter-Etnicidades e Transnacionalismo, realizada sob orientação científica da Prof. Dr. Alexandra Magnólia Dias - NOVA/FCSH e Prof. Dr. Karin Sauer - Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg. This dissertation is presented as a final requirement for obtaining the Master's degree in Migration, Inter-Ethnicity and Transnationalism, under the scientific guidance of Prof. Dr. Alexandra Magnólia Dias of NOVA/FCSH, and co-orientation of Prof. Dr. Karin Sauer of DHBW. Financial Support of Baden-Württemberg Stiftung ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First of all, I would like to thank my thesis advisors Prof. Dr. Alexandra Magnólia Dias of the New University of Lisbon and Prof. Dr. Karin Sauer of the Duale Hochschule Villingen-Schwenningen. The access to both advisors was always open whenever I ran into trouble or had a question about my research or writing. I would also like to thank the experts who were involved in the validation survey for this research project: Jasmina Brancazio, Felicia Afryie, Karin Voigt, Orland Esser, Uwe Teztel, Werner Heinz, Volker Geisler, Abraham Haile, Tekeste Baire, Semainesh Gebrey, Inge Begger, Isaac, Natnael, Maximillian Begger, Alexsander Siyum, Robel, Dawit Woldu, Herr Kreuz, Hadassa and Teclu Lebasse. Without their passionate participation and inputs, this research could not have been successfully conducted. For all refugees who shared me their experiences with generosity, trust, knowledge and time, my sincerely thank you all.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethiopian Jews in Canada: a Process of Constructing an Identity
    Ethiopian Jews in Canada: A Process of Constructing an Identity Esther Grunau Department of Anthropology McGill University, Montreal c November, 1995 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts, Anthropology. © Esther Grunau, 1995 Table of Contents Acknowledgments ll Abstract IV Chapter 1 : Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Historical Background 17 Chapter 3: Emigration out ofEthiopia 32 Chapter 4: The Construction of Group Identity in Israel 46 Chapter 5: The Canadian Experience 70 Conclusion Ill Appendix A: Maps 113 Appendix B: Ethiopian Jewish Informants 115 Appendix C: Glossary 118 Appendix D: Abbreviations 120 References Cited 121 11 Acknowledgments This thesis could not have been completed without the support and assistance of several individuals and organizations. My supervisor, Professor Allan Young, encouraged me throughout the M.A. program and my thesis to push myself intellectually and creatively. I thank him for his gu~dance, constructive comments and support through my progression in the program and the evolution of my thesis. Professor Ell en Corin carefully supervised a readings course on Ethiopian Jews and identity which served as the background for this thesis. Throughout my progression in the course and in the M. A. program she was always available to discuss ideas with me, and her invaluable comments and support helped me to gain focus and direction in my work. Dr. Laurence Kirmayer provided me with a forum to explore the direction of my thesis through my involvement in the Culture and Mental Health Team. His insightful comments on how to link cultural anthropology with mental health challenged me to think more clearly about my graduate work and my career.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethiopian Jews in Israel
    Ethiopian Jews in Israel by STEVEN KAPLAN and CHAIM ROSEN KJF THE MANY DIASPORA JEWISH communities, none has under- gone more dramatic change in recent years than the Beta Israel (Falashas).1 Prior to 1977 all but a handful of Beta Israel lived in Ethiopia. During the 1980s, almost half the community emigrated to Israel, and the center of Beta Israel life shifted from Ethiopia to Israel. In 1991, "Operation Sol- omon" put an end to the Beta Israel as an active and living Diaspora community, and by the end of 1993 virtually all Beta Israel were in Israel. This article describes and analyzes the process of their immigration (aliyah) to, and absorption (klitah) in, Israel. Although every attempt has been made to provide as much quantitative statistical data as possible, significant gaps remain. Most of the research undertaken on the Ethiopians in Israel has been qualitative in nature. Even in those cases where attempts have been made to carry out precise surveys of immigrants, the results have not always been satisfactory.2 Since Ethiopian immigrants usually arrived in Israel with few official documents, basic "facts" such as age and family status were often unverifiable, and immigrants were registered on the basis of their own or family members' testimony. Once they were settled in the country, the multiplicity of agencies dealing with the immigrants further complicated the process of compiling comprehensive and authoritative information.3 'In Ethiopia, the members of the group usually referred to themselves as Beta Israel (the House of Israel) or simply Israel. They were more widely known as "Falashas." Today, they prefer to be called Ethiopian Jews.
    [Show full text]
  • Modes and Potential of Diaspora Engagement in Eritrea
    Working Paper No.3 Modes and Potential of Diaspora Engagement in Eritrea Clara Schmitz‐Pranghe1 July 2010 1 The author would like to thank her colleagues Andrea Warnecke and Elvan Isikozlu, the external reviewers Tricia Redeker Hepner and Markus Treiber as well as Johannes Kidane for providing very helpful comments and suggestions on an earlier draft of this paper. She is also very grateful for being able to rely on valuable data on Eritreans in Germany gathered by Bettina Conrad in the framework of the DIASPEACE project. Moreover, she would like to thank Heike Webb for both language and copy-editing of this paper. Last but not least, the support of the European Commission who generously funds the DIASPEACE project is gratefully appreciated. DIASPEACE Working Papers are published by the research project Diasporas for Peace: Patterns, Trends and Potential of Long-distance Diaspora Involvement in Conflict Settings. Case Studies from the Horn of Africa (DIASPEACE), which is a three-year research project funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme. The project seeks to generate policy-relevant, evidence-based knowledge on how exiled populations from conflict regions play into the dynamics of conflict and peace in their countries of origin. It has an empirical focus on diaspora networks operating in Europe, which extend their transnational activities to the Horn of Africa. The project is coordinated by the University of Jyväskylä and it involves six partners from Europe and two from the Horn of Africa and will conduct field research in both Europe and Africa. All published papers have been refereed by at least two experts in the field.
    [Show full text]
  • Germany Conflicted the Struggle Between Xenophobia and Tolerance
    Germany Conflicted The Struggle Between Xenophobia and Tolerance February 2017 ON HUMAN RIGHTS, the United States must be a beacon. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Activists fighting for freedom around the globe continue to Research for this report was conducted by Susan Corke look to us for inspiration and count on us for support. and Erika Asgeirsson at Human Rights First and a team from Upholding human rights is not only a moral obligation; it’s a the University of Munich: Heather Painter, Britta vital national interest. America is strongest when our policies Schellenberg, and Klaus Wahl. Much of the research and actions match our values. consisted of interviews and consultations with human rights Human Rights First is an independent advocacy and action activists, government officials, national and international organization that challenges America to live up to its ideals. NGOs, multinational bodies, faith and interfaith groups, We believe American leadership is essential in the struggle scholars, and attorneys. We greatly appreciate their for human rights so we press the U.S. government and assistance and expertise. Rebecca Sheff, the former legal private companies to respect human rights and the rule of fellow with the antisemitism and extremism team, also law. When they don’t, we step in to demand reform, contributed to the research for this report during her time at accountability, and justice. Around the world, we work where Human Rights First. We are grateful for the team at Dechert we can best harness American influence to secure core LLP for their pro bono research on German law. At Human freedoms. Rights First, thanks to Sarah Graham for graphics and design; Meredith Kucherov and David Mizner for editorial We know that it is not enough to expose and protest injustice, assistance; Dora Illei for her research assistance; and so we create the political environment and policy solutions the communications team for their work on this report.
    [Show full text]
  • The 2% Tax for Eritreans in the Diaspora
    The 2% Tax for Eritreans in the diaspora Facts, figures and experiences in seven European countries DSP-groep Amsterdam, Tilburg School of Humanities, Department of Culture Studies June, 2017 Acknowledgements 6 Background 6 Acronyms 7 Executive Summary 8 1 Introduction 16 1.1 Context: Eritrea and the diaspora 17 1.2 Objective and research questions 23 1.3 Research approach and criteria 23 1.4 Methodology 26 1.5 Structure of the report 29 2 Legal Basis 31 2.1 Constitution 31 2.2 Proclamation 67/1995 33 2.3 Penalties for non-payment 35 2.4 Information provided to Eritreans on their obligations 37 2.5 Conclusion 42 3 International Legal Setting and Response by UN Member States 43 3.1 The Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations 43 3.2 UN Security Council resolutions 44 3.3 EU Council Decision 2010/127/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Eritrea 46 3.4 UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea 46 3.5 UN Commission of Inquiry 48 3.6 Resolution of the European Parliament 49 3.7 Responses by UN member states 50 3.8 Conclusion 53 4 Origins and Volume 55 4.1 Origins 55 4.2 Volume 57 4.3 Conclusion 58 5 Administration 59 DSP-groep BV & Tilburg School of Humanities, Department of Culture studies I 2% Taks for Eritreans in the diaspora 3 5.1 The President’s Office 59 5.2 Embassies 63 5.3 PFDJ 68 5.4 Community organisations 71 5.5 Threats and violence 74 5.6 Conclusions 77 6 Procedures for Tax Collection 79 6.1 Taxable persons 79 6.2 Taxable object 82 6.3 Taxable moment 83 6.4 Voluntary versus mandatory taxation 84 6.5 Enforcement
    [Show full text]
  • Multilingualism in Germany and the Role of Submersion and Immersion Programmes
    E ISSN 1512-3146 (online) International Journal ISSN 1987-9601 (print) of Multilingual Education www.multilingualeducation.org Hutz Mathias Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Germany Multilingualism in Germany and the Role of Submersion and Immersion Programmes Abstract As a result of recent immigration, Germany has become a multilingual country with a great need for multilingual education. In the first part of the article the roles of minority and immigrant languages in Germany are discussed. Some demographic changes are briefly outlined as well as the implications for the general education system. In the second part, submersion and immersion approaches are discussed and evaluated in the context of the German school system. It is argued that classroom interactional competence is a crucial factor in promoting students‘ linguistic skills. Key words: Multilingualism, immigration, SLE, submersion, immersion 1. Multilingualism in Germany When looking at a map of Germany, one might be inclined to think that Germany must have numerous minority languages since the country is located centrally in Europe and is surrounded by nine countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Switzerland, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic). However, there are hardly any substantial numbers of minority speakers in Germany’s border regions apart from approximately 50,000 Danish speakers in Schleswig-Holstein. According to the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, Low German, Sorbian, Danish, Frisian and Romany are officially recognized as minority languages in Germany. Low German is recognized as a regional language in some of the northern German states. Sorbian is an official minority language in Brandenburg and Saxony with approximately 30,000 speakers and Danish in Schleswig-Holstein.
    [Show full text]
  • Rainer Tetzlaff Affirmative Integration of Immigrants – Developing a New Approach Towards Multiculturalism
    1 Rainer Tetzlaff Affirmative Integration of Immigrants – Developing a New Approach Towards Multiculturalism Panel 4 – Pluralism, Multiculturalism and Civic Identity: International Approaches to Integrating Immigrants into Existing Democratic Systems 1. Introduction: Between assimilation and integration in the era of globalisation - the challenge of irregular migration “More people want to leave their country than other countries are willing to accept. The result is a global migration crisis” – Myron Weiner wrote eight years ago (Weiner 1996: 43). Since then the situation has not changed for the better. The migration crisis in the United States and in Europe – not to mention Africa and the Middle East - has even worsened. Germany has, until recently, stuck to its doctrine of “kein Einwanderungsland” (no immigration country). Its immigration policy has been characterised as “a stable contradiction” , at least until summer 2004, when a new “Zuwanderungsgesetz” finally secured the majority in parliament. The contradiction comprises the myth of return of the “Fremd- oder Gastarbeiter” (foreign workers), cultivated by governments of the sending and receiving countries, the migrants themselves, employers, trade unions and public opinion. Whilst they all stress the temporary nature of the migration (“rotation model”) on the one hand, there are various factors which have brought about the move towards permanent settlement of some million former “guest-workers” on the other (Thränhardt 1992: 174f). Without a reconceptualisation of Germany from an ethno-national society in which citizenship is based on ethnic identity to a society in which membership in the political system is acquired by birth and choice, Germany will fail to integrate its immigrant population and their children.
    [Show full text]
  • Annexes Annex I
    A/HRC/29/CRP.1 Annexes Annex I Map of Eritrea 459 A/HRC/29/CRP.1 Annex II Composition of the Government of Eritrea as of 3 June 20152094 Minister of Agriculture: Mr. Arefaine Berhe Minister of Defence: vacant. Major General Philipos Woldeyohannes, Chief of Staff of the Eritrean Defences Forces since 2014, is reported to be acting Minister of Defence. Minister of Education: Mr. Semere Russom. Minister of Energy and Mines: Major General Sebhat Ephrem (appointed in June 2014, formerly Minister of Defence). Minister of Finance and Development: Mr. Berhane Habtemariam. Minister of Foreign Affairs: Mr. Osman Saleh Mohammed. Minister of Health: Ms. Amna Nur-Hussein. Minister of Information: Mr. Yemane Gebre Meskel (also reported to be the Director of the Office of the President). Minister of Justice: Ms. Fozia Hashim. Minister of Labour and Welfare: Mr. Kahsai Gebrehiwet. Minister of Land, Water and Environment: Mr. Tesfai Gebreselassie Minister of Maritime Resources and Fisheries: Mr. Tewolde Kelati. Minister of Tourism: Ms. Askalu Menkerios. Minister of Trade and Industry: Mr. Nusredim Ali Bekit. Minister of Transport and Communications: Mr. Tesfaselasie Berhane. Minister of Local Governments: Mr. Woldedmichael Abraha. 2094 This list is not exhaustive since there is no official list of Ministries in Eritrea. It is in alphabetical order and does not suggest any order of importance. 460 A/HRC/29/CRP.1 Annex III List of Proclamations enacted by the Government of Eritrea2095 Proclamation No. 9/1991 establishing the Gazette of Eritrean Law. Proclamation No. 11/1991 on national service (repelled by the subsequent Proclamation No. 82/1995).
    [Show full text]
  • Download the Report
    Project Leads: Nicola Barrach-Yousefi and Althea Middleton-Detzner Project Team: Nicola Barrach-Yousefi, Althea Middleton-Detzner, Meklite Balcha, Will Ferroggiaro Partner Organizations and Collaborators: Centre for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) | www.cardeth.org Destiny Ethiopia Project | www.destinyethiopia.com Editorial Design: Kirsten Ankers | Citrine Sky Design Front and Back Cover Design: Cesar Manuel Leon Osorio | www.PotencialPuro.com Copy Editor: Gregory Payne About the Lead Author: Nicola Barrach-Yousefi has over 15 years of experience working in human rights and with civil society worldwide. She specializes in collaborating with movements and human rights defenders to design field programs and research around hate speech, human rights, civil resistance and advocacy. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Connected, a networked organization focused on mainstreaming understanding of strategic nonviolent action and international human rights law. She also serves as Senior Advisor for Civic Initiatives at the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) and as Senior Advisor for the Hate Speech program at the PeaceTech Lab. She is the lead author for the Cameroon and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) lexicons. She serves as a consultant for the UN, USIP, and other international organizations. Table of Contents Purpose ..................................................................................................................... 2 Introduction .............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Tecle Washington 0250E 10813.Pdf
    Where is “home?” Interpreting Horn of Africa youth discourse and the politics of “displaced youth” Aster Solomon Tecle A dissertation Submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Washington 2012 Reading Committee: Associate Professor Susan P. Kemp, Chair Professor David G. Allen, member Associate Professor Eugene Aisenberg, member Program Authorized to Offer Degree: School of Social Work University of Washington Abstract Where is “home?” Interpreting Horn of Africa youth discourse and the politics of “displaced youth” Aster Solomon Tecle Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Professor Susan Kemp School of Social Work This dissertation is a discursive inquiry into the language Horn of Africa (HOA) youth use as they talk about their experiences. Study participants are 1.5 and second generation HOA youth, mainly from Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, living in the Pacific Northwest and actively participating in youth programs provided by three agencies serving HOA immigrant populations. Youth in the study participated in three focus groups. Employing postcolonial and poststructuralist frameworks, the study aims to reveal the function of language in representing HOA youth: it assumes language to be a “site of contestation” where youth position and reposition their claims as they characterize themselves and their experiences. The study’s thematic findings highlight three aspects of HOA youth experience: their strategic use of the language of difference; the hybridity of their experiences and aesthetics; and their use of this inbetweeness as a space of possibility. The study captures the nuances of HOA youth discourse, moving beyond dichotomous frameworks to more fully acknowledge the complexities for immigrant youth of negotiating inbetween spaces.
    [Show full text]