The master's thesis focuses on nationally mixed families living in three European countries (Germany, Luxembourg and the Czech Republic), in which one of the parents defines themselves as a Slovenian and the other as a member of another nationality. It primarily focuses on the plurality and mixedness of identities of family members and families, and on the influences of culture and the environment on the development and changing of these identities.
In the theoretical part, the concept of identity is presented in detail. We explore differing views of different authors and theoretical directions on the concept of identity in general, on collective cultural identities (ethnic, national, religious and citizenship identities) and on the concept of mixed identities. Groups such as ethnic groups, nations and religions, within which people construct their collective cultural identities, are presented as well. We also explore views of different authors on nationally mixed couples and families, as well as on languages and multilingualism. Finally, we talk about migrations and Slovenian emigrants.
This is followed by an empirical part, in which the results of eleven qualitative semi-structured interviews, conducted with twelve parents and a child of nationally mixed families, are presented. The interviewees’ answers provide insight into experiences and thoughts of members of nationally mixed families about their own identities, identities of their family members and identities of their whole families. They also provide insight into interviewees’ understandings of the concept of identity and its meaning for them, insight into their everyday family lives, in which elements of both parents' cultures intertwine and coexist, and insight into their families’ positioning in extended families and wider society. One of the main findings of the research is that in terms of awareness and recognition of cultural and identity mixedness of themselves, their partners and their children the members of nationally mixed families are on a continuum. On one end, there are those who do not recognise the mixedness, even though they live it in their everyday lives, and on the other end, there are those who are aware of it, but are unable to define and articulate it well due to the pressures towards mono-cultural self-identification.
|
