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University of Derby Split identity implications: perception of identity and future orientation of Maronite Christian adolescents in Israel Item Type Thesis Authors EID, Jawdat Download date 02/10/2021 16:11:36 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10545/620647 UNIVERSITY OF DERBY Faculty of Education, Health and Sciences School of Education SPLIT IDENTITY IMPLICATIONS: PERCEPTION OF IDENTITY AND FUTURE ORIENTATION OF MARONITE CHRISTIAN ADOLESCENTS IN ISRAEL By Jawdat Eid A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of Derby University for the degree of Doctor of Education September 2016 Acknowledgements First, I would like to thank all of the participants and their parents who took part in this research. My appreciation goes to my supervisor of studies, Dr. Val Poultney, for her support and guidance throughout the process of conducting and writing this research. Special thanks are due to Dr. Hanna Jubran, whose guidance made this work possible. My gratitude also goes to Prof. John Dolan and Prof. Michael Kriendler, for their guidance. Warm thanks are due to the Maronite Archbishop Paul N. Sayah, Fr. Yousef Eissa, Fr. Nael Helou and Fr. Kamel Farah for their cooperation. Special thanks to all the people who had helped me during the different stages of writing this research: Rivka Rosenkrantz, Ghada Nassar, Botrus Mansour, Abeer khamis, Lora Spetovski and the Galilee Society. Warm thanks to all the people who had supported me throughout this research: my parents; Josephine and George Eid, my in-laws’ family; Mounir, Najat and Jeries Hashoul. Finally, I dedicate this journey to Rima, my companion and wife and to my two daughters, Mireille and Maureen, for the understanding, patience and support throughout this long journey. i Abstract This research examines the identity perception of Maronite adolescents in Israel as part of the Israeli Palestinian Arab Christian community. The research was carried out between the years 2009-2011, involving 25 Maronite adolescents ranging from ages 16 – 18 years. Views on identity were also sought from the parents of this group. The research looks at the implications of their identity perception on their future orientation, career, place of residence, culture and heritage amidst the ongoing unstable social and political situation in the region. The research is inductive in nature and follows a non-positivist, qualitative, ethnographic approach, seeking depth in capturing and presenting the elusive nature of the “soft data” of the self-identity construct. The data were gathered and triangulated by a variety of methods: adolescents’ in-depth interview, parents’ semi–structured ethnographic interview, narrative text tools and a focus group. Findings revealed that the two leading components in the identity perception of the participants were the “Israeli Arab” national component, and the “Christian” religious component. Findings also indicated that the identity perception influences the choice of the participants’ careers; choosing from what was offered to them, rather than pursuing what they liked, and their place of residence having to deal with the limitations imposed on minorities regarding where they can, or cannot live. The participants expressed their need for leadership, religious or secular, to strengthen their involvement in the social and political agendas, educate the younger generation about their identity and heritage, offer a supportive and empowering framework for their ambitions and future plans and improve their socio-political presence among the other communities. The outcomes of this research contribute to a better understanding of the identity perception among Maronite adolescents and constitute a basis for understanding how they can be better supported as a minority group within a multi-cultural society in an unstable region. Further research is required to gain a deeper understanding of how the unstable periods influence belonging and identity issues among Christians in Israel and the Arab world, and to consider gender, socioeconomic and place of living variables. ii List of Contents Acknowledgements……………………………………………..………….…………….…… i Abstract ………………………………………………………….…………….….…….…...... ii List of Appendices ………………………………………………..………………..……….…vi List of Tables …………………………………………….…………..………………………..viii List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………….….....ix Chapter One: Historical Context and Background of the Research…………..………….……….....1 Preface………………………………………………………………………….….…..…….…..1 1.1 The Palestinian Arab Minority in Israel…………………………………..…………..…..4 1.2 The Christians in Israel………………..…………………………………….…..…….…..6 1.3 The Maronites in the Middle East………………………….…………………..…….….10 1.4 The Maronites in Israel…………………………………………….………….…….……13 Chapter Two: Literature Review…………………………………………………………….……………...17 Introduction……………………………………………………………..……….……...……...17 2.1 Identity and Identity Development……………………………..…….……..……….…..20 2.2 Minority Identity Development………………………………….………………….…….23 2.3 Adolescents’ Identity Development ……………………………………………………..27 2.4 Israeli Arab Identity………………………………………………………………………..29 2.4.1 Christians’ Identity Conflict…....…...………………………………………………….35 2.5 Future orientation of Adolescents…………………………………………..…………...38 Conclusion……….….…………………………………………………………………………41 Chapter Three: Research Methodology………………………………………………….………………….45 iii 3.1 Research Considerations ........................................................................................ 45 3.1.1 Paradigms ............................................................................................................ 46 3.1.2 Choice of Research Approach ............................................................................. 48 3.1.3 Choice of Methods ............................................................................................... 52 3.1.4 Ethical Considerations .......................................................................................... 54 3.2 Issues of Researcher Bias ...................................................................................... 59 3.3 Sampling ................................................................................................................. 63 3.4 Data Collection Methods ......................................................................................... 65 3.4.1 Adolescents’ In-depth Interview ........................................................................... 66 3.4.1.1. Reliability and Validity of In–depth Interviews .................................................. 67 3.4.1.2 Piloting Adolescents’ In-depth Interview ............................................................ 69 3.4.1.3 Conducting the Adolescents’ In-depth Interview ............................................... 73 3.4.2 Parents’ Semi-Structured Ethnographic Interview ................................................ 74 3.4.2.1 Reliability and Validity of the Parents’ Semi-Structured Ethnographic Interview 76 3.4.2.2 Piloting Parents’ Semi-Structured Ethnographic Interview ................................ 76 3.4.2.3 Conducting Parents’ Semi-Structured Ethnographic Interview .......................... 78 3.4.3 Narrative – Text Tools .......................................................................................... 79 3.4.3.1 Reliability and Validity of Narrative – Text Tools ............................................... 81 3.4.3.2 Piloting Narrative – Text Tools .......................................................................... 82 3.4.3.3 Conducting Narrative – Text Tools .................................................................... 83 3.4.4 Focus Group ........................................................................................................ 84 3.4.4.1 Reliability and Validity of the Focus Group ........................................................ 85 3.4.4.2 Piloting Focus Group ......................................................................................... 86 3.4.4.3 Conducting the Focus Group ............................................................................ 87 3.5 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 88 3.6 Generalizability and Replicability Issues ................................................................. 91 3.7 Triangulation ........................................................................................................... 92 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 94 iv Chapter Four: Research Findings ...................................................................................................... 95 4.1 Findings Per Method ............................................................................................... 97 4.1.1 Adolescents’ In-depth Interview .......................................................................... 97 4.1.2 Parents’ Semi-structured Ethnographic Interview ............................................. 101 4.1.3 Narrative Text Tools .......................................................................................... 104 4.1.4 Focus Group ..................................................................................................... 107 4.2 Findings Between Methods .................................................................................. 112 Summary ....................................................................................................................
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