MAPS TO THE SOUL

Aiding Latinas claim their stories, this study
focuses on the experience of migration. The women who
shared their stories were found to be Seekers who
believe that the process of migration has enriched
them despite the hardships it entails. Although they
often still feel as if they belong neither here-in
their adoptive country-nor there in their country of
origin these women continue to search for home.
A weaving of their stories of migration was
interpreted through the lens of the tale of The Ugly
Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen. Like the
immigrants'' this tale is a story of separation and
loss. It thus helps place the Latinas journey within
a universal, archetypal context and view their
stories against a mythological framework. Since the
heroic quest portrayed by the tale of the Ugly
Duckling is an archetypal pattern or blueprint of the
process of individuation, seeing an immigrant s
journey through this lens helps situate her personal
experiences within the larger human journey. In light
of this tale, these women are seen as heroines in a
quest, one that could, in the end, lead them to
individuation: healing their wounds and returning
them Home.

Autorentext

Forensic psychologist Dr. Claudia Ahumada Degrati performspsychological evaluations and conducts psycho-socialinvestigations in capital cases. She also provides victimoutreach services, acting as a vital link between the defense andvictims of crime. An immigrant from Argentina, her professionalinterests and expertise focus on immigrant issues.

Klappentext

Aiding Latinas "claim" their stories, this studyfocuses on the experience of migration. The women whoshared their stories were found to be Seekers whobelieve that the process of migration has enrichedthem despite the hardships it entails. Although theyoften still feel as if they belong neither here-intheir adoptive country-nor there-in their country oforigin-these women continue to search for home. A weaving of their stories of migration wasinterpreted through the lens of the tale of The UglyDuckling by Hans Christian Andersen. Like theimmigrants' this tale is a story of separation andloss. It thus helps place the Latinas' journey withina universal, archetypal context and view theirstories against a mythological framework. Since theheroic quest portrayed by the tale of the UglyDuckling is an archetypal pattern or blueprint of theprocess of individuation, seeing an immigrant'sjourney through this lens helps situate her personalexperiences within the larger human journey. In lightof this tale, these women are seen as heroines in aquest, one that could, in the end, lead them toindividuation: healing their wounds and returningthem Home.