The nuances of Bengali identity construction among Dhaka’s affluent middle class

Abstract

This auto-ethnographic thesis examines how members of Dhaka’s affluent middle class, aged 22 to 36, conceptualise their Bengali identities through consumption and representation. This study recognises the fluid nature of identity and that it is in constant production over time. Continuous interaction with historical presences and the contemporary forces of globalisation in a neo-colonial era has resulted in a hybrid and syncretic Bengali identity. Seeking to answer the following research questions: (1) how does the affluent middle class perceive and conceptualise their identity? (2) How are they constituting their identity through their material consumption? Lastly, (3) do particular representations help them achieve certain distinctions; this study relies on Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus and capital to explore the class markers based on each interlocutor’s family units, qualifications, and preferences for material consumption. This narrative is cross-examined with Hall’s notions of ‘oneness’ and ‘becoming’ to understand the nuances that may arise when Bengali identities are represented on the market.