These empowering stories by young writers challenge stereotypes and shatter expectations. Exploring their own multiple identities and how they intersect, they write about class, colourism, being caught between cultures, being neurodivergent – and how they overcome the feeling of being an outsider.
If you don’t define who you are, the world will. These empowering young voices defy the labels assigned to them and own their stories.
After feeling alienated, seven young writers take us through journeys of self-discovery and what it means to come of age between two worlds.
As society becomes increasingly diverse, more and more individuals with multi-identities are learning to overcome the feeling of not belonging to just one place and instead appreciating that they belong to many.
Growing up is hard, but the growing pains are even harder when you’re stretched between identities.
These stories show how language, sexism, class, colourism, western beauty standards, cultural appropriation, sexual orientation and religion can be restrictive and confining.
In one story, a resilient second-generation Nepali woman born in Britain, makes it her mission to embrace both Nepali and British roots.
In another, a writer who belongs to both the Muslim and LGBT community explores how the two can co-exist.
“My identity as a Muslim lesbian is one that I will continue to keep close to my chest. For some people, that mere label is a misnomer – or, worse, an oxymoron.”
These stories hope to cultivate an acceptance, understanding and an awareness of the deep-rooted issues of identity, culture, and how the two intersect.
“I am Chinese”: On identity and belonging in both Asia and the UK
Visiting a riverbank in Malaysia, where her grandparents fled from China because of war, our writer observes her relatives – and questions her own identity as Malaysian-Chinese and British.
Exploring my Arab Irish identity through language and beauty
Nour Ghantous writes about moving to Ireland from Lebanon as a young girl, her experience of “othering”, western beauty standards and cultural appropriation, and her journey to self-acceptance.
“You don’t look autistic”: On stereotypes and late diagnosis
Our writer describes her experience of being neurodivergent. In this honest and original piece, she explores the discrimination she faces because of preconceptions, stereotyping and a lack of adequate support.
From round here: A portrait of life in a northern town
This short fictional story, based on the writer’s hometown, explores issues of class, economy, austerity, immigration, politics, health and education, through a reunion of old school friends in a local pub.
From an outsider: The reality of being lesbian and Muslim
Protests have raised questions about how Muslims and the LGBTQ community can co-exist. Our writer’s life straddles that divide, leaving her an outsider in two senses of the word.
‘Coconut woman’: Resolving my ethno-cultural identity crisis
A second-generation Nepali woman born in Britain, reflects on her experience of an ethno-cultural identity crisis, working through deep-rooted sexism and colourism to embrace both her Nepali and British roots.
‘Tell me everything’: Uncovering my identity in Sri Lanka’s monsoon
During a visit to her family’s homeland, Sri Lanka, Shobi Keerthy uncovers a personal and national history of conflict that had previously been kept hidden.
