Platsens betydelse för identitetsskapande En jämförande studie av hur uppväxtplats påverkar känslan av tillhörighet hos ungdomar med migrationsbakgrund.

Abstract

Identity formation among second-generation youth is a key topic in European integration research, where the role of place is frequently highlighted as a crucial factor shaping one’s sense of belonging. This thesis examines how growing up in two contrasting Swedish settings, the suburban district of Biskopsgården in Gothenburg and the smaller town of Härnösand, influences young adults’ experiences of identity and belonging. Based on qualitative, semi-structured interviews with eight participants, the analysis draws on a theoretical framework that integrates phenomenology, critical realism, and poststructuralism. The study centers on individual narratives concerning place, discrimination, future aspirations, and cultural negotiation. By situating the Swedish case within the broader context of European research on integration and social cohesion, the thesis illustrates how local environments across Europe may produce divergent conditions for inclusion and identity construction. The findings offer insights into the complex relationship between spatial belonging and identity-making in contemporary European societies.