“There are different parts of me”: Acculturation of Gujarati women living in London and balancing two cultures

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of 25–35-year-old second-generation Indian Gujarati women living in London with balancing two cultures, and whether they portrayed a divided “home self” and “social self”. Data was collected through virtual, semi-structured interviews with ten participants, and analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. Being the primary researcher a member of the Gujarati community, autoethnography was a precursor of the study. Three key themes emerged from the data: restrictions, gender inequality, and communication barriers. The themes portrayed experiences of struggle with balancing two cultural identities, and how acculturation can steer young women away from rigid Indian traditions to enable harmonious embodiment of both cultures. The concept of a divided “home self” and “social self” can aid in understanding the experiences of Gujarati women in the context of healthcare and social support settings.