The thesis addresses issues of belonging and identity through 42 interviews with second generation Pakistani Muslims in three Swedish cities. Using an intersectional perspective, the research highlights how individuals navigate between three cultural repertoires - Pakistani, Muslim and Swedish - to create a sense of belonging.
A duality emerges in the participants' stories: the joy of belonging, but also the pain of being outside. A recurring theme is that even those born in Sweden are often considered 'outsiders' by the majority society.
- They are asked 'How long have you lived here', even though they were born in Sweden. As an immigrant, it is easier to feel like an American in the US than a Swede in Sweden,' said Uzma Kazi in her defence.
Opponent Tahseen Shams from the University of Pennsylvania highlighted the contribution of the thesis and suggested that it should be developed further:
- It was a pleasure to read it and discuss its contents. I would recommend either rewriting the thesis for publication as a book or adapting selected parts into scholarly articles.
Uzma Kazi's research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of identity and belonging in a multicultural society. By giving voice to the experiences of those involved, it highlights both the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly globalised world.
About the thesis
Uzma Kazi's thesis is called Swedish-(Par)Desi: Belonging Narratives of Second-Generation Pakistani Muslims in Sweden. The supervisors were Christofer Edling and Erika Willander.
The thesis can be found in the Lund University Research Portal.