Navigating Home: Exploring Notions, Structures, and Values in Haiti and the United States

Presenter

Elisabeth Fils-Aime

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Ray Kinoshita Mann, Department of Architecture, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C38, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 4 (C31-C40) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to investigate and compare the notions of home, the structure of home environments, and the value attributed to the concept of home in Haiti in comparison to that of the United States. Given the devastating and ongoing consequences of the earthquake in 2010 and political instabilities in Haiti, people in the US typically have established one perception that has represented the entire population of the country in a limited and homogenizing way, both regarding living environments and cultural practices. Contrary to such a limited view, I argue that Haitian history, culture, and homeways embody depth and resilience that offer unique advantages to understanding the concept of home and how differing socio-cultural contexts shape perceptions and experiences of home. Drawing on methods such as interviews and literature analysis, this paper examines how factors such as cultural norms and expectations surrounding the home, socioeconomic conditions, historical contexts, and migration experiences shape individuals' perceptions and experiences of home. Moreover, by juxtaposing the lived experiences of households in Haiti and the United States through in-depth interviews, this paper aims to provide insight into the complexities of transnational identity and the negotiation of cultural practices within immigrant communities in the United States, which ultimately shapes an individual's sense of place and belonging.

Keywords

Home construction and restoration , Natural disaster response, Immigrant culture experience

Research Area

Architecture and Urban Planning

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