The construction of identity between social space and digital space: The case of residents of marginalized neighborhoods in Morocco

Abstract

Marginalized neighborhoods constitute spaces that generate social stigmatization of their residents; however, they also become strategic resources that inhabitants mobilize in defense of their interests. Adequate housing represents the most prominent of these interests, alongside access to essential services such as water and electricity. Previous studies have shown that residents of these areas rely on diverse negotiation strategies with public authorities to secure these demands. They have also demonstrated that inhabitants develop argumentative patterns that enable them to reconstruct an alternative urban identity. Building on this body of literature, this article aims to examine the formation of urban identity among residents of marginalized neighborhoods through digital spaces, with a particular focus on its manifestations on social media platforms. The central research question addresses how social networking sites have become mediators in the reconfiguration of urban identity. The study adopts a qualitative approach and analyzes widely circulated social media recordings, framed within theoretical perspectives inspired by studies of social marginality