Abstract

Urban refugee and asylum seeker (URAS) identities are negotiated amidst the complex social and psychological dynamics of internal and external factors. This article explores identity negotiation processes amongst Pakistani urban refugees and asylum seekers (PURAS), living in Bangkok, Thailand. The article presents data from 22 qualitative semi-structured interviews with PURAS, which were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using in-depth thematic analysis. Participant responses revealed that identity negotiation processes amongst PURAS, are characterized by various modes of identity dissonance in relation to social status and family roles, and identity distancing from Pakistani, and refugee and asylum seeker (RAS) identities. The paper adds to the broader picture of refugee and asylum seeker disempowerment by highlighting identity negotiation as yet another area of disadvantage that is shaped by the contours of the socio-political context.

摘要

城市难民和寻求庇护者 (URAS) 的身份是在内部和外部因素的复杂社会和心理动态中协商确定的。本文探讨了居住在泰国曼谷的巴基斯坦城市难民和寻求庇护者 (PURAS) 之间的身份协商过程。本文提供了来自 PURAS 的 22 次定性半结构化访谈的数据，这些访谈被逐字转录并使用深入的主题分析进行了分析。参与者的回应表明，PURAS 之间的身份协商过程的特点是与社会地位和家庭角色相关的各种身份不和谐模式，以及与巴基斯坦、难民和寻求庇护者 (RAS) 身份的身份疏远。