Community Membership among Samoans raised in Hawaiʻi
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2023
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Humans are social beings with a fundamental need to connect and belong with others (Baumeister & Leary, 1995), further actualizing this need for belonging in the development of communities. McMillan & Chavis (1986) identify membership or how much an individual feels a part of their respective community as a fundamental element in maintaining a sense of community. Membership may be complex, for example, for those a part of communities with extensive histories of migration and with upbringings in ethnically diverse environments, like Samoans raised in Hawaiʻi. To better understand this experience, this qualitative study explores meanings of membership for Samoans raised in Hawaiʻi as well as how meanings are manifested in their daily lives. Semi-structured interviews with a talk story approach were conducted via Zoom with 17 individuals. Thematic analysis and activity settings analysis were conducted on interview data. Results revealed seven themes within three superordinate categories including defining community, experiences of belonging, and investment in community. Three exemplar activity settings reflecting how meanings of the three categories are manifested in daily lives are also provided. As the Samoan community continues to grow in Hawaiʻi and throughout the diaspora, it is important to not only acknowledge the distinct experiences among members, but to support the momentum of cultural maintenance through wider systemic approaches that promote positive relationships within the community.
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Psychology, community, Hawaiʻi, membership, Samoan
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