Growing Up in Betweenness: A Case Study of Asian Global Elites' Transnational Life Trajectory

• In Event: Intercultural Perspectives on Education

Abstract

Drawing from the twin-lenses of cosmopolitanism and Bourdieusian notion of capital, this study examines how Asian global elites who lived in multiple countries in their formative years reflect their mobile upbringing in relation to multiple linguistic and cultural ties. This qualitative case study contributes to “studying up” in order to fully capture the discursive construction of identity and sense of belonging among the privileged. Contrary to the widespread belief that they do not belong anywhere; in fact, these global elites actively pursue a sense of belonging with multiple parts of the world with multilingual identity at the center of it. The finding invites us to reflect on the social construction of privilege, intertwined with language learning in the globalized world.

Author

• Ahrum Jeon, Boston College