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.
Full Product Details
Author: Esra Yaghi ,
Roger Barnard
Publisher: Multilingual Matters
Imprint: Multilingual Matters
Dimensions:
Width: 15.60cm
, Height: 1.50cm
, Length: 23.40cm
Weight: 0.470kg
ISBN: 9781800416222
ISBN 10: 1800416229
Pages: 202
Publication Date: 15 April 2025
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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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, Brock University, Canada * 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, Texas A&M International University, USA * 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, DePauw University, USA *
Author Information
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).
