Manchester, migrations and culture: a discursive and dialogical exploration of subjectivities

• Main Author: Mottram, Pauline Mary
• Published: Manchester Metropolitan University 2008
• Subjects: 307.2
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.585528

In this thesis several strands of enquiry are braided together. Accounts eo-created with migrant participants are privileged, theoretical material is critically appraised and a range of analytical resources employed. The various explorations follow particular trajectories that make some aspects visible whilst occluding others. Critical appraisal of selected examples of empirical psychological research provides insight into processes by which constructs of migration may be generated and employed, and the authority conferred to this type of research in social and political migration policies is questioned. In recognition of the importance of the host locality in a migrant's ability to adapt, an overview of Manchester's historical, economic and social features is presented and the policy ofmulti-culturalism is discussed. Understandings ofloss and stress that may be associated with migrations are examined through close critique of particular psychoanalytic perspectives on migrations. A resulting broad analytic frame is developed to explore the participants' accounts. To expand understandings of self and culture as intertwined, the meta- theories of the Dialogical Self and Dialogism are examined. Through engaging these meta-theories a deeper exploration of psycho cultural subjectivities is undertaken. Particular contested polyvocalities are identified as themata of "Culture" and "Colour of skin, 'race', belonging". These themata are explored through progressive braiding of pertinent theoretical resources and further critical discursive and dialogical analyses of constructed subjectivities. A concluding discussion appraises the contributions, strengths and weaknesses of this thesis and identifies its particular contributions to knowledge. Words: 237 Keywords: migration, psycho-cultural, subjectivities, discursive, dialogical, dialogism, themata. Acknowledgements. I would like to thank my participants for sharing with me their experiences and understandings of migration. I am grateful to Prof Erica Burman who has consistently given me invaluable fe~dback on drafts of my work and in supervision. She has adeptly balanced challenge wIth.en~ouragement in helping me to identify my occlusions, prejudices, anxieties and my limits of understanding. By so doing she has enabled me to move beyond many of my previously habitual or normalised understandings.