Karim & Tsiory & being "forever foreigners"
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Martin’s interviewees including Karim and Tsiory shows the deep and persistent sense of feeling like “forever foreigners” despite their efforts to assimilate and integrate. Karim speaks to reveal the deeply ingrained barriers that prevent full acceptance into French society. Although a French citizen who has lived and worked in France for over 25 years, Karim's personal experiences emphasize a painful realization of perpetual foreignness that doesn't leave. essentially, the workplace demographics where the overwhelming presence of "Français de souche"(ethnically French) in workplace, especially in high positions. Although Karim received a promotion 4 years prior and believes the process was unbiased, the demographics highlight an implicit barrier. Cultural assimilation is another limitation, for Karim who adopted French values and fully “assimilated” to the point of identifying himself as “more French than the French.” A form of “false assimilation,” emerges which reflects the disillusionment of performing cultural assimilation without achieving social belonging of the all these immigrants who are bound to call the new land as their home. Something else Karim talks about is the feeling of “forever foreignness” which extends beyond himself and to his children, who have spent their entire lives in France, have French first names, and have a mother who is Française de souche. Despite all this, he says that his children cannot be considered fully French because they “have kinky hair and are métis.” This perception highlights how visible markers of ethnicity overrides the legal status or cultural upbringing. The unchangeable nature of appearance remains around and adds to the "foreigner forever,” solidifying his belief that non-White individuals are perpetually viewed as outsiders. Tsiory’s experience also complements Karim's experience, in having experienced the feeling of exclusion and how perceived foreignness manifests in professional and social interactions. Tsiory was overqualified for his job and accepted a job below his qualifications (relevant if we think about the Canadian Work Experience need for all the immigrants). He internalized his fear of appearing as the "foreigner" which would later show how inferior he would feel. He talks about self-subordination - deliberately presenting himself as less knowledgeable and capable, to prevent confrontation and reinforce French colleagues' feeling of superiority.
Overall emotional burden, feeling of alienation and identity conflict faced by the non-White/immigrants in France. The legal status doesn't matter because this runs deeper than just legal status, it's ingrained in the minds which leads to feelings of being “forever foreigners,” irrespective of how integrated or generationally rooted individuals are in France. The sense of exclusion that shapes their social and personal identities, perpetuates a cycle of alienation.