The challenges of youth immigrants with identity formation in Danish society.

Warsame, Hussein Abdi

4. term

Culture, Communication and Globalization, Master

2022

2022-05-30

72

Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan unge efterkommere med ikke-vestlig baggrund i Danmark udvikler deres identitet og navigerer mellem hjemkultur og majoritetssamfundet, samt om og hvordan denne proces kan hænge sammen med tilknytning til kriminelle miljøer. Med afsæt i social identitetsteori og selvverifikationsteori belyses betydningen af tilhørsforhold, inklusion/eksklusion og selvværd for unges valg og trivsel. Studiet anvender en kvalitativ tilgang bestående af to semistrukturerede interviews suppleret med to podcasts om unges identitetsdannelse og analyseret via tematisk analyse. De foreløbige fund peger på, at de unges erfaringer præges af udfordringer og oplevet mangel på støtte fra samfundets arenaer, hvilket for nogle kan føre til at søge alternative fællesskaber med normer, der afviger fra det socialt accepterede. Samtidig viser materialet, at de interviewede håndterer identitetsudfordringer forskelligt. Undersøgelsen fokuserer på en mindre, sårbar gruppe og har et begrænset datagrundlag, hvorfor resultaterne ikke kan generaliseres, men giver indblik i mekanismer omkring tilhørsforhold, anerkendelse og risikoveje i identitetsdannelsen.

This thesis explores how young second‑generation immigrants with non‑Western backgrounds in Denmark form their identities and navigate between their heritage culture and the majority society, and whether this process relates to involvement in criminal environments. Drawing on social identity theory and self‑verification theory, the study examines how belonging, inclusion/exclusion, and self‑esteem shape youths’ choices and well‑being. The research employs a qualitative design with two semi‑structured interviews supplemented by two podcasts on youth identity formation, analyzed through thematic analysis. Preliminary findings indicate that participants experience significant challenges and a perceived lack of support across social arenas, which can lead some to seek alternative groups whose norms diverge from those accepted by mainstream society. At the same time, the interviews reveal diverse coping strategies for identity challenges. Focusing on a small, vulnerable subgroup and a limited dataset, the study does not aim to generalize but offers insight into mechanisms of belonging, recognition, and potential risk pathways in identity development.

[This summary has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project (PDF)]

Identity ; Immigrant ; social identity

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