Anglo-Maltese hybridity : fragments of an anthropological autobiography

Abstract

The term "hybridity" as used to denote the offspring of humans of different races came about in the twentieth century. In the nineteenth century, "hybridity" was employed as a term to denote a "physiological phenomenon" as opposed to a cultural one (Young 1995: 6). My interest in Anglo-Maltese hybridity came about through my observation of the lack of awareness, on the part of some Maltese citizens whose parents are both Maltese, of the potentially high degree of influence of the foreign parent, termed .. alien" under Maltese law, on the hybrid. By extension, the nature of influence of the rest of the kin, both paternal and maternal, is to be taken into consideration when assessing the identity of the hybrid. The social roles played by family members as well as the place of birth, place of abode, type of school attended, education attained, travel patterns and social class of the hybrid are factors which frame the background monitoring the formation of the individual concerned. I am an Anglo-Maltese hybrid brought up in Malta. The island is the largest of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean between North Africa and Europe. It is seventeen by nine miles and is densely populated. Throughout my upbringing, I tended to emphasise my English heritage over my Maltese one. I embarked upon this thesis after realising that my own crisis of identity, which has somewhat been resolved through reflection and introspection, could be shared by others who have experienced a similar mixed background.