Narratives on Partner-Choice

Abstract

Young men and women of Moroccan descent in the Netherlands live in a world of many different social groups. Brought up by their parents to be 'good' Moroccans and Muslims, many have - well into their teens - lived with the expectation that their family would some day return to Morocco. From their peers in school and at work, they have learned about Dutch culture, which has also become part of them. Together with Moroccan and other Muslim friends, they seek ways to live in Dutch society with their particular cultural heritage. In the past, these 'second-generation migrants' have often been described as living 'between two cultures'. Analysis of the life stories of highly educated women of Moroccan descent, however, demonstrates that these women are able to creatively construct and combine their multiple social identifications, although their drawing upon multicultural capital to create new strategies of living is not without constraints.