To have both roots and wings: nested identities in the case of Bulgarian students in the UK

Genova, Elena

Abstract

Bulgarian migrants and university students in particular, have recently fallen into the spotlight of British media (Kirkup 2013), firmly positioned within fervent immigration debates. Drawing on Brewer’s (1999) concept of nested identities, this paper explores how Bulgarian university students in the UK manage four different identifications: national, European, migrant and student. Thus, the process of establishing nested identities is investigated on three different contextual levels: the transnational, regional and the everyday (at university and at the workplace). Paying particular attention to the factors that influence the process, this article also scrutinises its implications for Bulgarian students’ values and perceptions. Utilising semi- structured interviews and participant observation with Bulgarian students, this paper will argue that the four identifications emerge as highly dynamic, context- specific and constantly negotiated relationships. Retrospectively, this article aims to contribute not only to current literature on Bulgarian migration but also to wider debates on transnational youth identities.

Citation

Genova, E. (2016). To have both roots and wings: nested identities in the case of Bulgarian students in the UK. Identities, 23(4), 392-406. https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289x.2015.1024125

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 21, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Mar 19, 2015
• Publication Date: Jul 3, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 3, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 6, 2020
• Journal: Identities
• Print ISSN: 1070-289X
• Electronic ISSN: 1547-3384
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 392-406
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289x.2015.1024125
• Keywords: nested identities, Bulgarian, student, migrant, European, values
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4746058
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1070289X.2015.1024125
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=gide20