How ‘social bulimia’ determines the self-image of Dutch Moroccans

He was awarded the prize for his research on the social identity and sense of belonging of Dutch Moroccans, which he published in Tijdschrift Sociologie.

Bouabid analyzed how Dutch Moroccans adapt to Dutch society, which tries to integrate them on the one hand and discriminates and stigmatizes them on the other.

He introduced the concept of “social gluttony”: the constant sucking and spitting out of cultural elements in order to fit into different social contexts. Show how this process affects their self-image and sense of belonging in the Netherlands.

The NSV awards a prize every two years for the best article published in a Dutch social journal. The jury commended Bouabid for his original and relevant contribution to the social debate about inclusion and exclusion, identity and sense of homeland. The jury also praised his clear writing style, which makes complex concepts accessible.

Bouabid said he considered it a “great honor” to win this social prize as a criminologist. He hoped that his article would lead to more cooperation between the two disciplines. He also stressed the importance of easy access to writing for scholars, in order to have a greater social impact.