Leaving Care with “Cultural Baggage”: The Development of an Identity within a Transnational Space

Abstract

The transition from care is a critical phase for care leavers in general, and even more complex for those who have arrived in Sweden as unaccompanied minors and belong to an ethnic minority group. The aim of this article is to examine unaccompanied minors' experiences of leaving care, and to explore the experience in relation to perceptions about ethnicity and culture within a transnational space. Interviews were completed with 11 care leavers who had been received in Sweden as unaccompanied minors. The results show that these young people have to deal with multiple adjustments. Conquering obstacles as care leavers involves not only resolving general issues such as reintegration into society, but also adjustment to perceived and created views of how to become Swedish. From the young people's point of view, this seems to be necessary to make a successful transition from care into adulthood.

由看护过渡到非看护，一般而言，对于脱离看护的人是一个关键时期，对于没有陪伴来到瑞典的未成年人和少数族裔，情况尤为复杂。本文意在考察无陪伴少年脱离看护的经历，探讨与跨国空间内族裔感受有关的经历及文化。作者对脱离看护独自来到瑞典的11位少年做了访谈。研究显示，这些青年人需要应对多重的调整。脱离看护要克服障碍，不但要解决诸如融入社会的 一般性问题，还要调整自己，建构观念，想象如何成为一个瑞典人。从青年人的角度看，这对于从看护向成年的成功过渡是非常必要的。

Keywords:

• Out-of-home Care
• Culture
• Immigrants

Acknowledgements

The author has benefited from research assistance from Associate Professor Yvonne Sjöblom, Stockholm University and Jönköping University, and Pia Bulow, PhD, Jönköping University.