Mobile storytelling as a technique for exploring the migration experience and construction of transnational identities: A case study of Ukrainian migrants in the United Kingdom.

Abstract

The increasing accessibility of mobile technology has transformed how migrants document and share their experiences, shaping narratives of identity, belonging and displacement. This article examines mobile storytelling as a participatory research method for exploring migration experiences and transnational identity formation, focusing on Ukrainian migrants in the United Kingdom. As thousands of Ukrainians resettle in the aftermath of the 2022 Russian invasion, their stories offer critical insights into the emotional, social and cultural dimensions of migration. Based on the pilot study ‘Once Upon a Time in Ukraine: Mobile Storytelling with Ukrainian Migrants’, conducted in Dorset in May 2023, this research engaged ten Ukrainian female migrants in a mobile storytelling workshop. Participants used their mobile phones to record personal narratives, reflecting on their journeys, adaptation and evolving identities. The study highlights how mobile storytelling enables migrants to assert agency over their own stories, fostering self-expression and emotional processing while also contributing to collective memory and public discourse. Findings suggest that mobile storytelling facilitates a hybrid sense of identity, allowing migrants to navigate between past and present, homeland and host country. By leveraging accessible technology, migrants can actively shape their representations, challenging dominant migration narratives and creating a space for their voices in academic and media discourse. This article argues that mobile storytelling is a valuable methodological approach for migration studies, providing a deeper understanding of transnational identity construction and the role of digital media in contemporary migration experiences.