ABSTRACT. This article delves into the intricate realm of not belonging through a dialogical and narrative approach centring on lived experiences of diverse contexts. We critique two frameworks for identity and belonging and integrate these into our exploration of not-belonging while challenging certain analytical limitations, particularly the concept of commonality. Our emergent data from autoethnographic accounts of not belonging underscores the interplay between identity and belonging, including instances where these two notions can be in direct opposition. The article cautiously subscribes to the post-structuralist perspective that views identity as an ongoing, socially constructed process shaped by interactions, contexts and power dynamics that challenge fixed notions of identity markers. However, our data highlights instances of limited individual agency resulting in not-belonging being acutely felt when aspects of our sense of self conflicted with surrounding institutional structures. This was particularly evident in experiences where the multifaceted nature of belonging was ignored, and a reduced version of belonging was imposed through preconceived ideas and othering statements. This leads us to argue that a sense of belonging can be strengthened through the process of sharing knowledge experientially.

Keywords: belonging; not-belonging; identity; autoethnography; experiential learning

How to cite: Boumechaal, S., Bayani, M., & Collins, H. (2024). Wrestling with not-belonging: The ongoing process of (re)-establishing small scale belonging through resistance and lived experience. Knowledge Cultures, 12(2), 187-202. https://doi.org/10.22381/kc122202411.

Received September 11, 2023 • Received in revised form January 15, 2024
Accepted January 31, 2024 • Available online September 1, 2024