'Home' :

مرکز و کتابخانه مطالعات اسلامی به زبان های اروپایی

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" 'Home' : "
Walker, Catherine Louise

Document Type	:	Latin Dissertation
Record Number	:	809228
Doc. No	:	TLets401122
Main Entry	:	Walker, Catherine Louise
Title & Author	:	'Home' :\ Walker, Catherine Louise
College	:	University of Sheffield
Date	:	2004
student score	:	2004
Degree	:	Thesis (Ph.D.)
Abstract	:	This thesis describes and analyses the views of young Muslim women from Pakistani backgrounds who live in the same neighbourhood in Sheffield. The thesis documents their perspectives about `home'. More specifically, it considers their perceptions of identity and `belonging', in light of their residence in Sheffield and family connections to Pakistan. This thesis is prompted by the inadequacy of existing explanations. `Belonging' has been under theorised, viewed as cultural affiliation to British culture or Asian culture. This is inadequate. Debate focuses on `difference'. Asian cultures are reified, depicted as patriarchal and constraining. More recent accounts have tried to move debate forward via a reformulation of identity; belonging is still viewed as one-dimensional. I aim to establish a broader based account of the young women's perspectives, focussing on their own views. Central to the analytical framework is a focus on views about place. Description and analysis explores views about three key places in their views: the neighbourhood, Sheffield and Pakistan. This facilitates a move beyond the confines of existing research where `belonging' is viewed as an affiliation to the nation. Description and analysis of the young women's views reveals the centrality of `racism' to their views about Sheffield. The young women were apprehensive about experiencing racial harassment or violence. This acted as a backdrop to their views about place. Racism did not prevent `belonging'. Meanings that addressed this apprehension were central to their perspectives about `home' in Sheffield. Identity and belonging are understood as multifaceted. The young women had a sense of affinity with Pakistan, coupled with a sense of belonging in Sheffield. Rather than being trapped `between two cultures' they simultaneously looked towards Sheffield and Pakistan; they identified as `Pakistanis in Sheffield'. Views about place played a mediatory role in perceptions of identity and belonging, reflecting and sustaining perspectives.
Added Entry	:	University of Sheffield