Emotional responses to unmet sense of belonging: case study
Participant: 19-year-old female, second-generation migrant (Portuguese British), college student interested in an art project to investigate sense of belonging.
The project consisted of 6 sessions, including the initial and final disclosure interview. Painting was used as a means to facilitate developing a narrative around the topic of belonging. The project employed a narrative-building approach that is suggested by the MOW.
In her first painting, the participant interpreted her sense of belonging and truth as a negative experience. She depicted what she described as a “compartmentalized society” — one that puts people together and assigns them a fixed identity.
The final narrative, and illustration of the thoughts and feelings
I can see that I am able to be part of the two societies and their values I care for.
I feel much more at ease thinking I don’t need to choose either/or, but I can be part of both!
I feel I am in peace now that I can love my family and some of our customs and cultural things like food, being lively and energetic.
I feel I have been able to integrate my identities, and this feels great!
Tone of voice, facial expression and body language conveyed her sense of comfort and peace.
In the final piece, the participant conveyed her integrated sense of belonging, reflecting her realization that she could choose and embrace values she found positively meaningful. She recognized the importance of choice-making in identifying the two cultures and community groups that she was part of (British and Portuguese), and weaving these influences together into her own identity.