Beyond 'insiders on the outside': Discursive constructions of second generation immigrant identity and belonging amongst young adults of New Zealand descent in Sydney, Australia Ranmalie Priyanthie Jayasinha A thesis in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Public Health and Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine UNSW Australia March 2015 THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Jayasinha First name: Bellanavidanalage Other name/s: Ranmalie Priyanthie Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: PhD School: Public Health and Community Medicine Faculty: Medicine Title: Beyond 'insiders on the outside': Discursive constructions of second generation immigrant identity and belonging amongst young adults of New Zealand descent in Sydney, Australia Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) Studies of immigrant experience have tended to privilege a first generation immigrant-centred framework, including in research on second generation immigrant identity. This has led to the construction of this group as 'insiders on the outside', struggling to navigate cultural divides between family, community and host society. In challenging this conceptualisation I employed a poststructuralist approach, informed by intersectionality and Discourse theories, to explore the discursive constructions of second generation immigrant identity and belonging amongst young adults of New Zealand descent in Sydney, Australia. First, I examined how the subject position of the 'New Zealand immigrant' has been discursively articulated in relation to the nation-state Australia utilising a genealogical analysis of texts and a discourse analysis of media articles related to trans-Tasman migration and settlement. Second, drawing on in-depth interviews, I explored the lived experiences of participants born in Australia of New Zealand descent as they negotiated their identity and belonging within the confines of this discursive terrain. Findings from this study demonstrate that the subject position of the 'New Zealand second generation immigrant' is consistently figured as the 'almost similar other' to the 'host' Australia. The operation of logics of equivalence and difference between Australia and New Zealand, articulated through myths related to historical and cultural similarities and to racial and class-based differences, serve to structure the New Zealand second generation immigrant subject position. This positioning in turn serves to reinforce the nation building agenda of Australia as a multicultural society, where the 'New Zealand immigrant' is a constitutive outside to the 'Australian' identity. Participants’ experiences of belonging highlighted the shifting role of national identifications through participation in transnational social fields. Interactions across local, national and transnational landscapes led to fluctuating identifications, characterised by differing levels of allegiance, ambiguity and displacement within both contexts. Negotiating dislocationary moments of othering, participants sought to engage in an alternative space not directly linked to national identifications. They asserted their political subjectivity by occupying highly localised subject positions, established through relational engagements with everyday spaces in Australia and New Zealand. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). 30.03.2015 …………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..……………… Date Signature Witness The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: THIS SHEET IS TO BE GLUED TO THE INSIDE FRONT COVER OF THE THESIS COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed .............................................................................. Date 30.03.15 AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed .............................................................................. Date 30.03.15 ! ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed ................................................................. Date 30.03.15 ! Acknowledgments To my supervisors, Associate Professor Joanne Travaglia and Dr Anne Bunde- Birouste, you have been an amazing supervisory team. Thank you for your intellectual generosity, enthusiasm, never-faltering encouragement, and friendship. I am indebted to my participants, without whom this thesis would not have been possible. To those who gave freely of their time and entrusted me with their personal stories, I thank you. I would like to acknowledge and thank the School of Public Health and Community Medicine for funding my doctoral studies through the Postgraduate Scholarship. Thank you to the people who read drafts of my thesis and took the time to discuss my work with me. Special thanks to Dr Stanley Jayasinha for his tireless hours reading over my thesis. To all to my friends and family, you have provided me with so much care and support over these four years and for that I am truly grateful. To all my ‘Aussie’ friends, thank you for becoming my family away from home. And thanks to all my ‘Kiwi’ friends and family, who went months without seeing me and provided an important source of strength from afar. To my parents, Romani and Channa, thank you for instilling in me a joy for learning, for encouraging me to further my education and for always believing in me. And last, but not least, my deepest thanks to Kim Burns and Namalie Jayasinha; your enduring love and wisdom helped me weather many a turbulent storm and reach calmer waters. i This thesis is dedicated to my little sister, Gothami. ii Table of contents Acknowledgments................................................................................................................... i Table of contents .................................................................................................................. iii List of tables and figures .................................................................................................. viii Glossary of terms ................................................................................................................... ix Publications and presentations arising from this research.................................... x Chapter 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Australia and New Zealand: A trans-Tasman relationship ............................................. 3 Research on New Zealand immigrants in Australia ........................................................ 10 Framing this study .......................................................................................................................