Å som i Ålidhem: Identifikation med ett miljonprogramsområde

Sammanfattning: The main purpose of this degree thesis is to, through memories, describe and analyze the identification with Ålidhem, a ‘Million Homes Programme’ in Umeå, Sweden, by adolescents living there mainly during the 1990’s. This by asking how young Ålidhem residents managed the definition coming from the surrounding society of how and what an Ålidhem’er is. How mutual we are in our fellowship and how the identity of a Ålidhem’er is constructed are also questions asked. I based my materials upon nine interviews, all of the informants former and one still present residents of Ålidhem. I grew up in Ålidhem and my identity as an ålidhem’er is very strong. It fascinates me how one can connect ones identity so strong to a community, something I know other ålidhem’ers do as well, not only I. This is a reason why I wrote about this in my degree thesis and also a reason for you as a reader to be aware of the fact that I am not only the writer but also an informant. Both the residents themselves and the society defined the area as a ghetto/hood and hand in hand with this came also the definition of the ålidhem’er as a gangster, someone to be afraid of. A definition which some took to oneself, someone tried to take in and that some took distance from, but yet a definition of the ålidhem’er, a definition that was never questioned.      The identity is a process and not static. There are two ways to "test" an identity. The first is to play. All participants in the play know the identity is only something temporary. In the second way, through the game, the identity is tested against the community. If it is met with no questioning and being accepted, it is also an identity that can ‘become’ one's identity. To test different identities is nothing unusual but in the case of the ålidhem’er as "dangerous", the dangerousness is an ascribed feature that only works if both the society and I believe in it.      The fellowship among the ones who define themselves as a ålidhem’er is something that defines the core of the community. Ålidhem is not homogenous regarding neither class nor origin, but instead of creating a divided society it creates a fellowship, a fellowship which might be something in common with other Million Homes Programmes.