Sixteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

This paper presents research on Irish diaspora identity focusing on the hybridity of identity among Irish diaspora women in England. This research takes phenomenological qualitative approaches to explore Irish women’s migration. Keri E Smith suggests reasons for the emergence of hybrid identity (Smith, 2008). A number of theorists deal with identity and diaspora, among them, Homi K Bhabha, who says that the colonial subject is located in a place of hybridity, its identity is formed in a space of iteration and translation by the coloniser, defining hybridity of identity as “a form of in-between space”. The practical element of this research centres around photographing Irish women who have emigrated to London. Through their portraits and interviews centred around the immigrant experience, this project hopes to use the sentimental object as a method of loci, to enhance memories of the homeland and the diasporic journey, and uses both digital and analogue ethnographic methodology, beginning with a historical review of representations of Irish people. The study participants were sourced online, using Irish studies forums and calling for participants on Twitter and Instagram. Fieldwork interview questions were concerned with Irish identity post-Brexit and also the notion of hybrid identities. The expected outcome is a body of moving image work, a photographic book of portraits and recorded interview texts. This research is new in terms of the focus on women and the impact of hybrid identities of the Irish diaspora.