Ayad Akhtar’s American Dervish: Analysis and Revaluation

Apparently the best and yet the most famous work by Ayad Akhtar is American Dervish which was published in 2012. It has gained quick attention, but not by many, as a debut novel about the identity issue. Yet, no studies have been devoted to studying the novel from an analytical point of view of Pakistani-American migrants’ issues in America, in general. However, the novel has received some attention, there remain some aspects, in our view, and an essential aspect amongst them is the analytical study of the novel, which is not explored yet. In general migrants to new countries will usually face difficulty and especially if they are followers of a different religion. Also, the difference in their culture with culture of the country they migrate to will be an obstacle in integrating themselves into the new culture as seen in the character of Hayat Shah’s father; whereas to some extent different for Hayat himself. Hayat befriends a Jewish girl and neglects Islam and similarly his father becomes friend with a Jewish teacher, Nathan. It is not easy for the migrant people to integrate into the American culture and tolerate the other religious beliefs such as Judaism as it is quite a novel experience for them. The migrants obligingly ignore their surrender to their own Islamic religion and assimilate into the Judaism and American culture, which is very difficult. These are the two key aspects that the paper focuses on by analyzing and highlighting the challenges that Hayat Shah and his family members face in America. Akhtar demonstrates the difficulty for the migrant characters between either choosing Islam or Judaism or secularism to be able to live like Americans.

Caring for Others, Managing Migrants: Local and Institutional Hospitality in Lampedusa (Italy)

In my chapter I analyze, first, the social elements explaining the hospitable, and not hostile, attitude Lampedusa inhabitants have shown over the years toward migrant people. I argue hospitality cannot be understood as a cultural element or an intrinsic characteristic of the Mediterranean identity. This attitude is mostly linked to historical dynamics and structural factors that characterize this Italian borderland. As the concept of reciprocity suggests, the fact that Lampedusa has historically been a place of emigration to Sicily and other Italian or Northern Africa regions led to a sort of identification with migrant people. At the same time, foreign migrants have always been temporary guests on this island. This situation facilitated, I suggest, the perception of migrants as non-dangerous visitors, unable to change the social landscape. Secondly, I explore the negative effects the transition in the perception of migrants from guests to take care to people the Italian state is entitled to manage has produced on the island. The replacement of a local model of hospitality based on informal practices and spontaneous places with an institutional model characterized by bureaucratic procedures and militarized sites led to a forced separation between local and migrant people.

Discontents of Globalization and Post Traumatic Stress in Hamid’s Exit West

The core objective of the work was to investigate and reconnoiter globalization and its heinous impacts on modern society. Xenophobia and hostility towards migrants are some of the greatest issues faced by the migrant people in this globalized world. As a result, they have suffered from psychological trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, which may follow a variety of traumatic events. The researcher tried to analyze the discontents of globalization and post-traumatic stress concerning the fictional world created by Mohsin Hamid in his novel Exit West (2017). This study was based on qualitative research, interpretation of the novel in the light of globalization and its impacts in the present scenario. For thematic analysis, the model of acculturation proposed by Berry (2006) had been adopted. The researcher mainly focused on the characters and the impact of migration on these characters in the context of globalization and psychological trauma.

Challenges and Lessons Learned through Initiating Patient Engagement with Migrant People Living with HIV During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED Background Patient engagement (PE) refers to the meaningful and active involvement of patients and other stakeholders (i.e. family members) in the conduct of research and transfer of knowledge. PE is usually an immersive experience for both stakeholders and researchers, based on direct dialogue and equitable partnerships. However, in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing measures have been introduced globally. These measures, which may remain in effect for a long duration, or be re-introduced periodically, prevent in-person gathering, and thereby, foster dependence on technologies to remain connected remotely. This affects PE methods. Thus, an understanding of how remote work affects PE is necessary. Main Text In this narrative, we present the experience of a research team that began engaging an advisory committee of recent migrant people living with HIV in Montréal, Canada, amidst social distancing measures put in place due to COVID-19. We highlight three major challenges faced by our team of researchers and the advisory committee. These challenges include (1) ensuring access to technology for both patients and researchers; (2) managing disclosure and comfort with online tools; and (3) creating meaningful communication and peer-to-peer rapport. Subsequently, we list the main lessons we gained through responding to these challenges: (1) the importance of allowing time, dialogue, and reflection to enable adjustment to the new context we are working in; (2) the need to evolve our teamwork dynamics; and (3) implementing hands-on experiences for patients is essential to establishing feelings of meaningful engagement Conclusion PE is not an easy task and its implementation can become even more complex amidst social distancing measures and other disruptions caused by COVID-19 (i.e. fear of contracting COVID-19). However, if appropriate methods are taken up, PE can serve as an instrumental pillar for research activities that seek to create an impact in communities and populations.

Doing, being and verbalizing: Narratives of queer migrants from Muslim backgrounds in Spain

The hegemonic narrative in the West establishes that having same-sex relationships constitutes an identity that must be public. This article analyses how this narrative is reproduced and/or subverted in the discourses of queer migrant people from Muslim backgrounds in Catalonia (Spain). The analysis of 10 interviews reveals a more fluid notion of sexual orientation, an uncomfortableness with the identity categories regarding sexuality, and a stronger distinction between the public and the private boundaries. The informants found themselves in a complex situation that made it impossible for them to completely reproduce or subvert the overlapping normativities of both the origin and host society, compelling them to devise hybrid strategies to live their sexuality. The article closes with a reflection on the implications of the different ways of living sexuality in relation to the theorization of sexual/intimate citizenship and LGBT equality policies, which also reproduce the western hegemonic understanding of sexuality.

Longitudinal panel data study of self-rated health among migrants in French-speaking Switzerland, 2003–2017

IntroductionStudies have documented poorer health among migrants than natives of several European countries, but little is known for Switzerland. We assessed the association between country of birth, socioeconomic factors and self-reported health (SRH) in a prospective cohort of adults living in Lausanne, Switzerland.MethodsWe used the data from the Colaus panel data study for three periods: 2003–2006 (n=6733), 2009–2012 (n=5064) and 2014–2017 (n=4555) corresponding to 35% of the source population. The response variable was SRH. Main explanatory variables were socioeconomic status, educational level, professional status, income, gender, age and years in Switzerland. The main covariate was country of birth, dichotomised as born in Switzerland or not. We specified random effects logistic regressions and used Bayesian methods for the inference.ResultsBeing born outside of Switzerland was not associated with worse SRH (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.52 to 2.31). Several other patient variables were, however, predictive of poor health. Educational level was inversely associated with the risk of reporting poor health. Monthly household income showed a gradient where higher income was associated with lower odds of reporting poor SRH, for both for migrants and non-migrants. Migrant women had lower odds of reporting poor SRH than men (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.98). Migrant people living in couple have less risk of reporting poor SRH than people who live alone and the risk is lower for migrant people living in couple with children (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.80).DiscussionMigrant status was not associated with poorer SRH. However, differences in SRH were observed based on gender, age and several social determinants of health.

Actitudes de los escolares ante la llegada de población migrante: Estudio comparativo y aproximación al desarrollo de buenas prácticas educativas

Algunos estudios señalan que los grupos sociales más próximos o en contacto con población migrante pueden desarrollar prejuicios, tanto explícitos como más sutiles que los que se generan entre poblaciones en las que el contacto con miembros de otras culturas es todavía poco significativo (Retortillo y Rodríguez, 2008; Cea D’Ancona, 2009; Checa y Arjona, 2011). Este trabajo tiene como objetivos conocer qué opinan y cuáles son las actitudes de los escolares ante la llegada de migrantes a las aulas y a otros contextos cercanos. Se han comparado dichas opiniones y actitudes en dos zonas españolas con distinta trayectoria en la presencia de migrantes, Salamanca y Murcia; analizando las posibles diferencias en dichas actitudes, atendiendo también al sexo y el nivel educativo. La metodología incluye un estudio de carácter comparativo con una primera aproximación descriptiva, mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario. Los resultados indican la percepción generalizada del trato inadecuado que recibe el colectivo migrante, siendo las escolares quienes lo perciben en mayor medida. Con ciertos matices, la zona geográfica no es una variable que tenga importancia a la hora de considerar la influencia en clase de migrantes, como tampoco lo es el nivel educativo. Aunque las actitudes positivas son más frecuentes entre los escolares de Educación Primaria. El estudio finaliza apuntando algunas líneas de actuación educativa que fomenten la interacción y la convivencia positiva en el centro escolar. Some studies point out that the social groups closer to or in contact with migrant populations may develop prejudices, both explicit and subtler than those generated between populations in which the contact with members of other cultures is still insignificant (Retortillo y Rodríguez, 2008; Cea D’Ancona, 2009; Checa y Arjona, 2011). The aim of this work is to find out what schoolchildren think about and what their attitudes are towards the arrival of migrant people to the classroom and other nearby settings. These opinions and attitudes have been compared in two Spanish areas with different trajectories in the presence of migrant people, Salamanca and Murcia. The possible differences in these attitudes were examined, also taking into account the gender and the educational level of the participants. The methodology includes a comparative study with a first descriptive approximation, via a questionnaire. The results indicate the widespread perception, especially on the part of school children, that migrant groups are inappropriately treated. With certain nuances, geographic location and educational level are not important variables when it comes to considering the influence of migrant people on the class. However, positive attitudes are more frequent among Elementary Education students. The study concludes by highlighting educational actions that promote interaction and positive coexistence in schools.

Desarrollo de la competencia comunicativa intercultural en un programa de adquisición de la lengua criollo haitiana en Chile

This article aims to describe the results of a Haitian Creole language acquisition program, looking to foster intercultural communicative competence among Chilean officers, and favor migrant inclusion. The program, based on the intercultural communicative competence, had a duration of 50 hours, beginning with three sessions that present what the migration process means, the country of origin of the migrants, delivered by migrants, who then become linguistic mediators, and several linguistic aspects of Spanish and Haitian Creole languages. Data on the results of the program were collected through an interview and a language skills test, administered to the participants, to officers from the Investigation Police, and to health care practitioners, at the end of its implementation. The results show that the program favors the link between individuals from different cultural backgrounds, since it relies upon the exchange of participants having equally valued knowledge, and promotes the participation of learners in managing their learning and anticipating the context they will face. This facilitates the inclusion of migrant people, speaking a different language from that of the host society, which gives them a greater likelihood to successfully insert themselves in labor, educational and cultural settings.