Belonging or Opposing? A Grounded Theory Approach to Young People's Cultural Identity in a Majority/Minority Societal Context

Abstract

The present article takes a grounded theory approach in exploring the perceptions of young people about the development of their cultural identity in a setting where they are a geographic majority but a minority population in the wider society. Responses to an essay competition and a series of focus group and individual interviews with teenagers provide the narratives, which are analysed by the authors. Findings reveal a variety of inter-related identity categories ranging from micro-systems, localism, the national context, and from there to the dominant culture and internationalism. Beyond the local and national context identity categories appear more 'fragile'. Those respondents whose cultural identity extends beyond a national affiliation move towards a global orientation, with no links to an association with the dominant culture. Issues are raised in the discussion proposing that while a 'sense of belonging' is powerfully based on local aspects, and furthering feelings of security, 'aggressive defensiveness' is associated with feelings of opposition and national inferiority.