ERIC Number: EJ1398734
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1050-8406
EISSN: EISSN-1532-7809
From "Carrier" to "Creator": The Re-Construction of National Identity in More Inclusive Terms
Journal of the Learning Sciences, v32 n3 p427-454 2023
Background: The sociocultural turn redefined learning in terms of shifting identities. In recent years, learning scientists have explored the connections between learning and various types of identities, including disciplinary identity, gender, race, and more. In this article we focus on national identity, to understand how it is constructed and how it might be made more inclusive through learning. Methods: Drawing on sociolinguistics and discourse analysis methods, we present a telling case study aimed at elucidating previously obscure theoretical relations by providing a rich and detailed account of a single student whose national identity shifted over the course of a school year. Findings: Our analysis shows how Joshua, a 9th grade secular Jewish-Israeli student, constructed his national identity. Joshua's identity developed across three stages, which were marked by a shift from an essentialist disposition to a constructionist one and by an increasing sense of belonging. Contribution: We highlight a connection between learners' views on the continuum between essentialism and constructionism and their degree of belongingness. Our findings suggest that a constructionist approach to identity can translate into a greater sense of belonging and help ameliorate some cases of social marginalization.
Descriptors: Nationalism, Grade 9, Jews, Self Concept, Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Language Usage, Sociolinguistics
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 9; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A