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Abstract

Background: Vocalizing is key to the individual’s psychological development, and singing can be vital in creating a sense of community. There is, however, scant knowledge on how singing can contribute to finding a voice of one’s own in youth. Method: We explored the impact of singing in a qualitative study with Bangladeshi village girls learning folk songs. The data material includes in-depth interviews with 10 girls coming from rural areas where girls often get married off early. Results: Analysis resulted in three main themes: 1) To become oneself through singing, 2) To comfort oneself through singing, and 3) To get to know oneself through the teacher. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that the girls discover and integrate affect through singing, giving them courage to stand up for themselves. The paper argues that singing may be a driving force in psychological individuation processes towards increased autonomy. Keywords: voice, folk song traditions, singing, individuation, affect integration