White Girl challenges the modernist concept of identity by using a change of location to remove a child (Leah) from the identity that she knows which forces Leah to try on new identities, new cultures/beliefs. The identity given to them by where they lived, and her family. The concept of 'trying on' identities from Michel Maffesoli brings about a method whereby post-modernism is possible. Where we do not have to accept the identity that we 'inherit' or are 'given.
Leah is the oldest daughter of the family. She has a younger brother and sister who stay with their parents throughout the story, adopting their parents fragmented identities. Leah however resists her parents in their battle with morals by finding an alternative identity to escape to. This she uses instead of her parents fragmented relationship to build morals and to be a better person. This lends strongly to the ideas or Paul Ricoeur and Anthony Giddens who believe that we create a narrative of ourselves and that we are constantly creating and evloving our identities. Leah's head scarf is a clear metaphor for her own choice of identity over her parents 'inherited' identity.
Leah's mother eventually comes to accept the post modernist concept and accepts her own freedom as well as her daughters beliefs.
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