Young Adults of Non-EU Origin: The Construction of Identity and Processes of Social Inclusion and Exclusion

Abstract

This article presents some results of qualitative research carried out in Barcelona among children of non-EU immigrant families. We study the processes of identity construction in relation to situations of discrimination. The main objectives are twofold: to rebuild the identity processes that children of immigrants from various sociocultural contexts in the city of Barcelona experience and to analyze the interactions that occur between the experiences of social inclusion-exclusion and the identity processes of these young people. To do so, we conducted 31 in-depth, semi-structured interviews of youth from different backgrounds. The results indicate that they develop a flexible cultural identity that is open and adaptable to multiple cultures and which allows them to face situations of discrimination due to their background and social class. We find that these young people have a great capacity to adapt to multicultural contexts, and are linked with elements of the family culture and society where they grow as individuals. The situations of discrimination that some of them experience have an impact on their identities and sense of belonging. However, they develop strategies to overcome and resist them.