Zmienny charakter tożsamości w kontekście emigracji

Abstract

Several theoreticians perceive identity as something fixed and unchanging. There are also views concerning its changeable and dynamic character. In the context of emigrants, the latter point of view has to be considered, which encourages reflection over the shaping of the new identity of emigrants, the factors that accompany the process and looking at identity as at an element shaping the process of constant socialization. An emigrant often has to assume new social roles, and thus redefine his/her hitherto prevailing image both of the self and the world. The role of an emigrant requires adopting an attitude to the established society, to other emigrants of the same ethnic origin, and determining his/her place in these groups. The shaping of an emigrant's identity is affected by several factors: the character of the society (closed versus open), support groups, reference groups, the level of language skills, social status, successes versus failures, shaped in the past attitude towards the native country as well as the reasons why a particular person decided to leave his/her country, and many others. Existence on two social and cultural planes may lead to identity conflicts and disorders. A newly shaped identity might have a chance to appear only under conditions of stabilization of both social and individual situations.