Foreign workers, collective representations and identities. The case of immigrants in the neighborhood of the Aghia Triada in Heraklion, Crete

Abstract

The presence of foreign workers in our country,
contests their stereotypes, ‘representations’,
beliefs as well as their ‘identity’. Their social
and professional acceptance in the country
of ‘reception’ requires a change in the social
beliefs and representations and the distinct
acceptance of new cultural values. This transformation
to a divergent society provokes a
break-through in the self- perception which
leads to a new assessment and meaning of identity.
The ‘self- preservation’ strategies adopted
by the immigrants jeopardize their collective
identity when pursuing their symbolic and social
recognition. Against this background, the
expansion of their “networks”, the education
of the next generation and the change in their
personal preferences pave the way for new social
and symbolic opportunities.