‘I’m Dutch, even though I don’t feel accepted’: Hybrid identities and belonging in a pandemic context

This study explores how second-generation Chinese women in the Netherlands navigated their hybrid identities and sense of belonging in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with nine participants from Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, the research examines how societal interactions in the context of the pandemic prompted renegotiations of ethnic and national identities. The findings show that while hybrid identities offered a relatively stable framework, the pandemic heightened participants’ awareness of their ethnic backgrounds and made the fragility of their Dutch belonging more visible. A strong sense of attachment to Dutch society coexisted with recurring experiences of foreignness when participants’ Chinese heritage was foregrounded in everyday interactions. These negotiations took diverse forms: some participants developed a broader pan-Asian identification, others found belonging in Amsterdam’s diverse urban spaces, and for some, the pandemic prompted activism. By examining the pandemic as a moment that made existing identity tensions more visible, this research contributes to our understanding of how second-generation Chinese-Dutch women negotiate hybrid identities in times of crisis.