An Educational Odyssey: Navigating Palestinian, Muslim, and American Identities in U.S. Schools

• In Event: Education Across Borders: Identity and Transformation in Global Contexts

Abstract

This paper explores the complex educational journey of a Palestinian American Muslim woman, examining how her experiences across U.S. schooling environments shaped her intersecting identities. Utilizing a Critical Narrative Inquiry approach, the study analyzes an in-depth interview to illuminate how institutional climates, experiences of discrimination, and opportunities for cultural socialization influenced her development from childhood through university. Findings reveal a trajectory from early identity suppression in a non-affirming public school to empowerment and belonging in a culturally congruent middle school, followed by navigating significant institutional challenges and asserting a politicized identity in higher education. The study highlights Samira’s powerful agency in building community and creating counter-spaces in the face of marginalization. This case study contributes qualitative depth to research on identity development, school climate, and discrimination, particularly those with politicized identities, underscoring the crucial interplay between personal narrative and sociohistorical context and the vital role of student resistance.

Author

• Orwa Sedawi, Ben Gurion University, Eastern Michigan University