Cultural identity and the sense of belonging in the context of migration: Focus on Portuguese families in Luxembourg

Developing a sense of belonging is fundamental to the well-being of migrants who often do not only establish new bonds to their countries of settlement but also retain links to their countries of origin. Whereas multiple cultural belongings can be a resource for people with a migrant background, the negotiation of different aspects of cultural identity can also constitute a challenging task.
Cultural diversity has become a characteristic of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg due to high levels of immigration in the past years, and the question of how inhabitants establish a sense of belonging to their country of residence is thus key for social cohesion and an inclusive society.
This presentation will draw on data from semi-structured interviews with 10 Portuguese family dyads (one parent and one adult child per family) living in Luxembourg.
We will focus on two interrelated topics: 1) identity constructions of parents and their adult children, and 2) the regulation of intergenerational family relations.
Earlier studies have shown that the older generation presented clear belongingness to Luxembourg as their country of settlement although affiliation to the Luxembourgish community and culture remained lower compared to the high connectedness to the Portuguese culture. On the contrary, the younger generation reported a stronger attachment to Luxembourg, while they also displayed a connection to their Portuguese heritage.
On the basis of these earlier findings, we will employ qualitative content analysis to further explore the dynamic processes between and within family members of different generations when it comes to the renegotiation of different aspects of cultural identity and belonging. Results will be discussed in the framework of an integrative model on intergenerational relations in the light of migration and ageing.