‘This identity is part of you, you cannot run away from it’: identity experiences among young Israelis of Ethiopian origin

While theory around identity processes is abundant, scarce literature has examined how immigrants themselves identify and experience issues related to their identity. This phenomenological study aims to understand how young Israelis of Ethiopian origin relate to their identity and what, for them, are the salient issues involved in their identity negotiations. Nineteen participants, who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia as children and adolescents, were interviewed for this study. Data analysis yielded themes related to participants’ experiences of identity-related issues: their sense of identity and its’ components, skin colour and identity, personal versus group identity, processes and routes for searching for identity. The findings highlight the interplay between society and personal identity negotiation and have practical and theoretical implications.