‘You Can't Exactly Act American Here In Israel!’: Identity Negotiations of Transnational North American–Israeli Children and Youth

Abstract

An increasing number of migrant families around the world maintain strong, simultaneous connections in their country of residence and their country of origin. North Americans in Israel are one migrant group representing this worldwide phenomenon. This study employs child- and youth-oriented ethnographic research methods with children of North American–Israeli transnational families. We present a phenomenological look at their identity negotiations and transnational experiences which straddle the North American–Israeli divide. The article focuses on perceived social-behavioural codes in peer groups of the social environments to which these transnational children belong. We find that the manner in which the transnational children and youth develop and understand their sense of self varies by gender. Their experience of transnationalism leads to the formation of a compartmentalised identity and to the development of skills that prepare the children and youth for effective global participation.