Cultural Identities in Transition: Voices of Saudi Arabian Mothers in New Zealand

by Esra Yaghi, Roger Barnard

Overview

This book explores the social, educational and linguistic acculturation of a group of Saudi wives and mothers sojourning in New Zealand while their husbands undertook full time study. Such sojourners, and their families, are faced with many challenges due to linguistic, social and cultural distance – as well as ethnic stereotyping and prejudice. They tell their stories in a series of interviews and focus groups, relating their pre-sojourn background, the challenges they faced and the changes they made during their sojourn, and their preparation for returning home post-sojourn. The narratives illustrate how these women renegotiated their own identities in relation to their changed circumstances and environment. The authors address the distinctive challenges faced by sojourners as opposed to immigrants, and present a nuanced and detailed picture of the women as individuals negotiating the complex interaction between the influence of the host country and the Saudi and Islamic identities of themselves and their children.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781800416222
Publisher:	Channel View Publications
Publication date:	04/15/2025
Series:	Language, Education and Diversity , #4
Pages:	202
Product dimensions:	6.15(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Esra Yaghi is an English Language Developer at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. Her research interests include issues in ethical research and second culture identity.

Roger Barnard is a recently retired Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. His research interests include second language education and language policy. His most recent book is Narratives of Qualitative PhD Research: Identities, Languages and Cultures in Transition (co-edited with L. Gurney and Y. Wang, Routledge, 2023).

Table of Contents

Glossary

Esra Yaghi: Preface

Part 1: The Background of the Book

Chapter 1. Adjusting to a New Culture

Chapter 2. Saudi Arabia: Religion, Culture and the Role of Women

Chapter 3. Saudi Mothers Sojourning in New Zealand: A Case Study

Part 2: The Mothers Tell Their Stories

Chapter 4. The Participants' Lives in Saudi Arabia

Chapter 5. The Participants’ Initial Experiences in New Zealand

Chapter 6. Maintaining Children’s Arabic Language and Religious Identity

Chapter 7. The Women Adapt Through a Community of Social Practice

Interlude: Focus Groups

Part 3: The Mothers Discuss Their Beliefs

Chapter 8. The Participants’ Beliefs about Parenting

Chapter 9. Comparing New Zealand and Saudi Arabia

Chapter 10. Looking Towards Repatriation 

Part 4: The Authors Reflect on the Study

Chapter 11. Discussion of the Findings

Chapter 12. Two Conceptual Models

Chapter 13. Implications of the Study

Gary Barkhuizen: Afterword: Coping Over Time

References

About the Authors

Index

Editorial Reviews

This brilliant work uniquely examines how Saudi Arabian mothers adapted to their new cultural environment in New Zealand through a community of social practice. The book provides excellent insights into the difficult task of acculturation that most immigrants experience in terms of identity adjustments, especially for parenting and children’s education in a new country.

Thomas S. C. Farrell

Yaghi and Barnard offer a unique and valuable perspective on acculturation processes by focusing on the experiences of Saudi women living in New Zealand and providing insights into the challenges and opportunities encountered among this demographic. Through rich narratives, this book makes a timely contribution to our understanding of identity (re)negotiation and its role in social and linguistic acculturation.

Farah Ali

An essential read for understanding the unique experiences of Saudi international families, this book sheds light on the often-overlooked journeys of Saudis in New Zealand and beyond. A compelling exploration of acculturation and daily life, it addresses a much-needed perspective in the field. Highly recommended.

Youmna Deiri