What Does "White Girl" Say About Youth, Identity, Modernist And Post-Modernist Concepts Of Identity?
In 'White Girl' it tells the story of a girl who moves to Bradford and takes on the identity of the Muslim culture surrounding her. Anthony Giddens’ theory suggests that the identity is self made, rather than inherited by family or natural surroundings. In White Girl, Leah has created her own identity by using post-modernist concepts of identity by trying on an identity to see if it works for her. She originated from a catholic background with a fragmented family, and when she moved, she shifted her identity to fit in with the Muslim culture, as she believes this lifestyle choice safer for her, and can help her to separate herself form her complex family. Her change of identity relates to Michel Maffesoli's theory that identity is constantly changing and our identity is formed through consumption and our surroundings.
In the TV drama, Leah's family are modernist and believe that her identity should be inherited from the rest of her family, so when Leah ties the scarf around her head, her parents do not agree with her choice to change identity. Leah's reflexive identity is changing, however according to Mikhail Baklin's theory, he would suggest that someone's identity is never finalised, therefore it is forever changing as she is constructing a post modernist lifestyle.
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