Autonomy as an immigrant is difficult. They can feel a foreigner in the situation where they live. And that makes it difficult for them to take up their autonomy. They feel it an insult to the people they live with, that they should be glad to be allowed to live in the foreign country. On the other hand they feel the need to be free and independent. This will bring them into a double bind, where they can’t do anything anymore. They feel they are in no-man's land, as if they don't know where they belong.
It can also take the form of wanting to be a therapist, but they feel too foreign to take up that challenge.
AnalysisStating their autonomy as an immigrant
Emigrating from having stated their independence
Emigrating to be able to be free
Expelled because too independent
Stating their autonomy with humor
Emigrating to be freeThey can emigrate to be able to state their autonomy. The home country and culture can feel so limiting that they need to emigrate to another country or another part of their country to find freedom.
Expelled because too independentThey can also come into situations where they feel they won’t be accepted anymore when they declare their independence. They fear exile if they declare their autonomy. This makes them hesitant and makes them feel like they can’t move in any direction, as if they are locked in.