Where are you Really from? (Trans)formation and (Re)construction of Identity

Abstract: Within migration studies, the concept of identity has come to play a significant role in both immigrants’ and the descendants’ lives. The aim of this paper is to get more in-depth knowledge of how the Lebanese community construct their identity in Sweden by focusing on Scania region. This is done by analysing their self-identification, ethnic identity, cultural identity and how they feel they are perceived by the mainstream society. This qualitative study is based on six semi-structured interviews with first-generation Lebanese immigrants who came to Sweden in the 1980s because of the civil war in Lebanon. In addition, six semi-structured interviews with the descendants who are born in Sweden to two Lebanese parents. The results of the study show that the first-generation immigrants have a strong sense of being Lebanese. However, the descendants have developed a bicultural identity that is context dependent.