ABSTRACT

While theory around identity processes is abundant, scarce literature has examined how immigrants themselves identify and experience issues related to their identity. This phenomenological study aims to understand how young Israelis of Ethiopian origin relate to their identity and what, for them, are the salient issues involved in their identity negotiations. Nineteen participants, who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia as children and adolescents, were interviewed for this study. Data analysis yielded themes related to participants’ experiences of identity-related issues: their sense of identity and its’ components, skin colour and identity, personal versus group identity, processes and routes for searching for identity. The findings highlight the interplay between society and personal identity negotiation and have practical and theoretical implications.

摘要

尽管围绕身份过程的理论很丰富，但很少有文献研究了移民自身如何识别和体验与其身份有关的问题。这项现象学研究旨在了解埃塞俄比亚血统的年轻以色列人如何与他们的身份有关，以及对他们来说，身份谈判中涉及的突出问题是什么。本研究采访了19位从埃塞俄比亚移民至以色列的儿童和青少年。数据分析产生了与参与者与身份相关的问题的经历有关的主题：他们的身份感及其组成，肤色和身份，个人与群体身份，搜索身份的过程和途径。