Accidental Immigrants and the Search for Home: Women, Cultural Identity, and Community

by Carol E. Kelley

The effect of immigration on individual lives is not short lived. Those who stay in an adopted country permanently go through a continual process of adjustment and learning both about their new country-and about themselves. The four women profiled in Carol Kelley's poignant "Accidental Immigrants and the Search for Home" challenge immigrant stereotypes as their lives are transformed by moving to new countries for reasons of marriage, education, or career--not economics or politics.
The intimate stories of these accidental immigrants broaden conventional notions of home. From a Maori woman who moves to Norway to the daughter of an Iranian diplomat now living in France, Kelley weaves together these stories of the personal and emotional effects of immigration with interdisciplinary discussions drawn from anthropology and psychology. Ultimately, she reveals how the lifelong process of immigration affects each woman's sense of identity and belonging and contributes to better understanding today's globalized society.
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190 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Vicki Mager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I get homesick, which is a problem because I don't know where home is. This was the right book at the right time.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome if a bit academic look on 4 different women's journey far away from original home. Enjoyed this VERY much.