Identity awoken in second-generation British Poles in the UK—personal journeys
Article
Bifulco, A. and Smojkis, M. 2023. Identity awoken in second-generation British Poles in the UK—personal journeys. Genealogy. 7 (3). https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy7030059
Type | Article |
---|---|
Title | Identity awoken in second-generation British Poles in the UK—personal journeys |
Authors | Bifulco, A. and Smojkis, M. |
Abstract | We examine the identity of British Poles born in the UK, whose parents arrived as allied servicemen and their families, seeking asylum following WW2. The two authors are from this community, and here examine their British-Polish identity along with other second-generation Poles in the UK. These individuals grew up in distinct communities exposed to the Polish language and culture but with restricted contact with communist Poland. The themes of response to parents’ trauma experience, Polish identity in childhood and in midlife, Polish language, and visiting family in Poland were explored. Many described parents as secretive about the horrors of war but keen to retain and propagate their Polish identity. Some felt they were not fully Polish, but their identity increased with access to modern Poland as adults. The Polish language was important to identity but linked to feeling inadequacy when not fluent. Visiting family in Poland enhanced identity, was valued, and provided information on family history. European identity was adopted by some to cover both their British and Polish identity. Genealogy and family history are popular and linked to community, and British Poles have a distinct contribution and a voice in showing how identity can emerge out of family trauma. |
Keywords | identity; Polish community; WW2; asylum-seekers; trauma; Polish language; family history |
Sustainable Development Goals | 3 Good health and well-being |
Middlesex University Theme | Health & Wellbeing |
Research Group | Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies (CATS) |
Publisher | MDPI AG |
Journal | Genealogy |
ISSN | |
Electronic | 2313-5778 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 14 Aug 2023 |
14 Aug 2023 | |
Publication process dates | |
Submitted | 29 Jun 2023 |
Accepted | 08 Aug 2023 |
Deposited | 17 Jul 2024 |
Output status | Published |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Copyright Statement | © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy7030059 |
Web of Science identifier | WOS:001073708100001 |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/132vx3
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