Navigating Identity Negotiation and Cultural Adaptation in 'American Fever': A Critical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This research examines the processes of cultural adaptation and identity negotiation among Pakistani diaspora students in America, focusing on power dynamics. Using Fairclough's 3D model and informed by Homi. K. Bhabha's concepts of hybridity and mimicry, the analysis centers on Dur e Aziz Amna's novel "American Fever". The findings reveal that Pakistani students adapt their identity negotiation strategies upon arrival in America, embracing American cultural norms despite contrasts with their native culture. Power dynamics significantly influence identity negotiation, with participants facing Islamophobia and navigating differing gender roles and cultural norms. The novel's evocative language, intertextual references, and code-switching illustrate the complexities of cultural adaptation. Through metaphorical language and vivid imagery, the author sheds light on the challenges faced by Pakistani immigrants. Despite its autobiographical nature, the novel maintains neutrality, resisting dominant power structures and cultural norms. Amna's narrative strategies and linguistic choices manifest her resistance to prevailing ideologies, including Islamophobia and gender norms, ultimately empowering her characters and challenging societal norms.