National Identity and Attachment Among Overseas Chinese Children: Diaspora Tourism Experiences

Abstract

Immigrants’ national identities in relation to their homelands have received considerable academic attention. Although childhood plays a substantial part in national identity, studies on diaspora tourism and immigrants have often overlooked children’s experiences. Ethnic and cultural symbols are embedded in place and contribute to one’s attachment to a territory for identity development. This study explores the nexus between diaspora tourism, national identity, and place attachment from children’s perspectives. Metaphor elicitation technique and participant observations were used to examine how overseas Chinese children make sense of their “homeland” national identity and place attachment in a diaspora tourism context. Findings address how overseas Chinese children’s cultural pride, social connections, and self-representation intertwine with meaningful symbols tied to China and Chineseness. Major theoretical implications derived from the research include delineating how children’s diaspora tourism experiences influence their place attachment and national identities, and revealing the corresponding relationship between place attachment and national identity.