The Hyphenated Life

An insightful guide for “Hyphenates” seeking to better understand themselves and help others understand them, too. What does it mean to live a hyphenated life? So many of us exist in a constant state of flux, toggling across the multiple layers of who we are and the diverse spaces we occupy. Perhaps we’re an immigrant or child of immigrants, a person of color, disabled, neurodivergent, queer, or all of the above. Regardless of our identities, we exist in in-between spaces while also trying to fit into the dominant culture. With a foot in multiple worlds, belonging fully to none, it can be hard to just fit in, let alone find belonging. Dr. Han Ren, licensed psychologist and a Hyphenate herself, offers solutions for those with intersectional identities who want to fully express who they are across environments. The Hyphenated Life is an inside-out excavation of how existing in marginalized bodies affects the ways folks show up in dominant culture and predominantly white spaces. For Hyphenates seeking to move from the margins to exploring their growth edges, within these pages, you’ll find: perspectives for people with diverse backgrounds and multiple identities to understand themselves more fully, frameworks for those who hold dominant identities and privilege, to better understand the invisible battles their peers face, action-oriented exercises and reflection questions to support identity exploration and integration With evidence-based tools, stories, conversations, and insights, The Hyphenated Life will resonate with anyone who is navigating the intricacies of their multicultural, intersectional identity development.