Desiring Silence and Liminal Identities

This chapter reflects on my journey as an Eastern European migrant woman navigating belonging, silence and identity in Britain. Drawing on Ibarra and Obodaru’s reconceptualisation of liminality and Mazzei’s desiring silence , the author explores how in-between spaces, between cultures and classes, have shaped my identity and voice as both a migrant and an academic. Through personal narratives and critical reflection, the author examines how silence, framed through Lisa Mazzei’s desiring silence , operates as a generative force within these spaces. By situating my experiences within the broader context of migration and academia, this chapter contributes to the discourse on how migrant women academics navigate liminality, carve spaces of belonging and find their academic voice.