The “Home Self” Versus “Social Self”: Acculturation of Gujarati Women Living in London and Balancing Two Cultures

Research on the Indian culture is limited, with even less on the Gujarati culture specifically. The present study involved 25–35-year-old Indian Gujarati women living in London. The aim was to explore their experiences with balancing two cultures, and whether they portrayed a divided “home self” and “social self”. Data was collected through virtual, semi-structured interviews with ten participants and analysis was conducted using inductive thematic analysis. Being the primary researcher a member of the Gujarati community, autoethnography was integrated in the study. Three key themes emerged from the data: restrictions, gender inequality, and communication barriers. The themes portrayed experiences of balancing two cultures and how acculturation can steer individuals away from rigid Indian traditions to enable harmonious embodiment of both cultures. The concept of a divided “home self” and “social self” can aid in understanding the experiences of Gujarati women in the context of healthcare and social support settings.