Identity Struggles in Second Generation American Immigrant Children Nicholas Romanin Student ID: 72494 Independent Study Dr. A. Scott Moreau August 10, 2010
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Identity Struggles in Second Generation American Immigrant Children
Nicholas Romanin
Student ID: 72494
Independent Study
Dr. A. Scott Moreau
August 10, 2010
Introduction
Imagine that you are an Asian-American. You were born in the States, but your
parents werenʼt. You grew up speaking Tagalog, but when you started going to school
you noticed that everyone spoke English, no one had ever heard of Tagalog, and no
one quite looked like you. You learn English and you grow up playing and learning with
American kids. As you mature you realize something. You are very culturally and
philosophically different from your parents. However, you are not quite like the other
American kids you play with. Who are you? Are you Filipino or American?
As you explore this struggle, you realize that some of the things that your parents
do are very different from what parents of other kids do. Furthermore, you find that
many of the practices and ideas that your parents have are not ʻcool.ʼ You find that you
donʼt want to hang out with your parents and your friends at the same time; it would be
embarrassing. As this continues, you may even realize that the way you act around
your friends is very different from the person you are when you are with family. Which
one is the true you? Is it a combination of both?
The purpose of this paper is to explore these struggles and tensions in the
identities of second-generation immigrant children. Many second generation
immigrants go through a stage in their lives struggling with questions like “Who am I?”
or “Where do I belong?” Some find identities in the natal cultures of their parents while
others find more comfort being American. Some donʼt ever find a clear identity for
themselves. This paper explores the question “Why?”
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Presuppositions
Based on my own experience having a family filled with first and second
generation immigrants, and based on opinions and ideas gleaned from many articles
and research papers on similar topics, this paper focuses on two general areas of
influence. These areas are origin and surroundings. Origin is, in a basic sense, what
distinguishes a second generation immigrant from the natives of the host culture.
Surroundings describe the cloud of influence that may be different between one second
generation immigrant and another.
Origin
Influences of origin stem from all of those uncontrollable yet undeniable facts
about us and where we come from. They are things that from a very early age begin to
define who we are. These include religion, family background, natal culture, the
influence of parents, and even gender. All of these influences are contained within the
family unit and are present during the early stages of the childʼs upbringing. The
influences may remain throughout the personʼs life, though with varying degrees of
influence.
Religion
Religion is a very big factor; it is the root of worldview and often where people get
their sense of purpose and place. Religion can be partially organized and partially
attached to folklore and culture. Often times religion is so attached to a particular
culture that the two are inseparable. The parents of one Indian family in Canada,
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according to their daughter, “taught [her] everything and...told [her] to go to the temple
and to keep reading, to keep [her] culture alive.” (Pearson, 200?). Keeping Hinduism
alive was synonymous to keeping Indian culture alive. Islam, for instance, is part of
being Saudi Arabian. There is a very strong connection between the cultural practices
of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic faith. In fact, most of the types of dress and even the
salutations commonly associated with Middle Eastern people are in general Islamic in
nature. To cease to adhere to these cultural forms is to cease to practice Islam. To
cease to practice Islam is to cease being part of the culture. Other religions, like
Catholicism, or Buddhism can be less outwardly culturally invasive, yet morals, prayers,
and holiday traditions are all deeply effected by these religions and are also tied to the
cultures in which they are found.
Natal Culture
Natal culture is the culture that the first generation immigrants were born into.
Natal culture is therefore the lens through which the first geners will be teaching the
second geners. In some cultures, like Middle Eastern cultures as discussed above,
religion is incredibly important, while for some families in other cultures, religion may
take a back seat to practicality or family. There are some cultures like Chinese culture
that are very communal, where loyalty to the family means more than anything, there
are cultures where loyalty to the very people group is important, and there are cultures
that are much less collectivistic and more individualistic such as German or American
culture. These backgrounds are going to influence how the second generation
immigrant children are raised. A child being taught a collectivistic mindset may be more
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prone to favor people of his or her own color whereas a person who was brought up
more individualistically may seek more to do what is best for him regardless of who he
helps, hinders, or befriends.
Family Background
This category ties well into the first two, but is highlighted here more for the sake
of family size and location. For instance, one person may have a very large and
extended family with relatives living across the state as well as across the ocean.
Another person may have his father and mother, one sister, and one grandmother all in
one location. These two extremes of family style present two extremes of influence.
Someone with a tight-knit family of the former construction may produce a second
generation that is more closely tied to the natal culture and more prone to visit their
country of origin and study the language. A second generation immigrant with a family
of the latter construction may be relationally and emotionally close. However, that
family being in a new location may find itself relying on the community around them for
cultural guidance instead of the extended family.
The reason for coming to America is also an important aspect of family
background. Reasons for coming to America may influence how a parent views
America and the opportunity that future generations may have. The first and most
common reason that people emigrate to the U.S. is purely opportunistic. These people
have worked hard and saved up with the goal of starting something new in America.
Their dreams may include more financial freedom, a higher salary, higher standard of
living, or education. On the other side of the coin are the refugees; those fleeing from
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war and poverty. These immigrants are searching for a place to be at peace. They are
often willing to do anything for a living, as long as it means not going back to where they
came from. They have a very good work ethic, and they treat their existence in America
as a blessing and a gift not to be taken lightly. These reasons may play a large part in
how parents shape the worldviews of their children.
Parental Influence
Parents play a significant role in all of our lives. Almost every little boy thinks at
one point or another, “I want to be just like my Dad.” This attitude, of course, gives way
to the rebellious nature of teenagers, but subconsciously remains, waiting to mature in
adulthood. Although there is an inherent desire to be like ones parents, parents often
take this into their own hands especially when living and dealing with a new culture
whose values donʼt match up with their own. Some parents are very strict and
controlling of their children. They may forcibly insist that the “Chinese way is the only
way” and that the things that are taught in school are meaningless. There are parents
who would be heartbroken if their child left their faith. These parents insist on bringing
their children up in a traditional fashion despite their new progressive home. Other
parents may be far more understanding and far more supportive of a different path that
their child may take. These parents may be OK with their kids not growing up just like
they were brought up.
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Skin color
Skin color is an important aspect for a simple reason. There are second
generation immigrants in America who look like stereotypical white Americans, and
there are second generation immigrants in America who look like immigrants. They are
American by birth, but they donʼt look like the stereotypical average American. This
effects how second generation immigrant children are perceived in group settings. In
their article “What it means to be and feel like a ʻtrueʼ American,” Park-Taylor et al
(2008) explore the concept of what it means to be American. They mention Barlow,
Taylor and Lambertʼs (2000) experiment, which found that “although African Americans
felt American and Cuban Americans did not, both groups reported they were not
perceived as such by White Americans.” Furthermore, many groups of ethnic second
generation Americans think that “to be American is to be White” (Devos & Banaii, 2005).
It is much easier to fit in when one looks like everyone else. This certainly effects how
these persons perceive themselves.
Gender
Gender plays a role simply because each gender has been given its own set of
tools for how to deal with life on an emotional level. When dealing with rejection,
confusion, or simply when challenged to separate social life and family life due to
cultural difference, men and women respond in different ways. The roles of men and
women in the natal culture may also play in here since the immigrant children will be
conscious of these roles as they are taught by their parents.
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Surroundings
The influences of surroundings are manifold. These are the influences that one
is introduced to outside the home and influences that grow stronger once immediate
familial forces ebb and fade with time. Surroundings are all the influences outside of the
family that will no doubt contribute to a personʼs answering the question ʻWho am I?ʼ
These include friends and surrounding culture, nation of birth, and public opinion.
Friends and Surrounding Culture
Surrounding culture can be defined as the cultural setting into which the parents
have moved from their home countries. This will include home towns, the kids at
school, friends and neighbors, and parentsʼ friends and neighbors. Immigrants often
feel more comfortable living close to people of a similar background. Whether coming
from a collectivistic culture or not, people are more comfortable in a community of
people that speak their own language, hold their own values and traditions, and that
understand where they have come from. In big cities, this is manifested in little
communities of Italian people, Chinese people, or Japanese people all living together.
However, not every setting presents such an opportunity.
In Southern California there are entire communities of Chinese people or
Mexican immigrants. In these communities the Chinese population is so dense that the
culture, the architecture, and art all reflect Chinese language and culture. However, in
Cleveland, Ohio there is a small community of Slovenians. Slovenia is a very small and
sparsely populated country compared to China, and although there are many
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Slovenians in this part of Cleveland, there are few places that are just Slovenian.
Chinese children in Southern California probably go to school with many other Chinese
children, but Slovenians in Cleveland go to school with Americans.
Furthermore, skin color plays a vital role in this topic. As mentioned above, a
European immigrant child may blend in well with the Anglo-Saxon American backdrop.
An Asian, however, will stick out unless he or she is brought up in a predominantly Asian
neighborhood.
Nation of Birth
For this paper, the nation of birth will only include America. However, this topic
will be discussed here because some cultures consider the passport as proof for ethnic
identity. Not only that, growing up in America, a second generation immigrant will learn
far more about America than he or she will about his or her parentsʼ natal country. Be
that as it may, if a white person were to be born and grow up in China with a Chinese
passport, that person will still be considered a foreigner by the Chinese because of skin
color. Therefore, depending on a personʼs worldview concerning the root of identity, one
may be more prone to identify with blood over nation of birth or vice versa.
Public Opinion
Public opinion can be defined as the light that the media and popular culture may
cast on a particular race or ethnic people. A community of people may develop
generalizations or prejudices about a race of people based on passed experience,
gossip, or the news. These opinions could be positive or negative, but whatever they
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are, they will most likely form the assumptions that one person may make about another
person of a certain ethnic background upon their first meeting.
Methods
Aim of the research
The aim of this paper is to explore the reasons and factors for which second
generation immigrants may choose to highlight or suppress their ethnic identities in an
American cultural context. This research also explores the role that faith plays in this
search for identity.
Research tools
To gather information for this research, the author read many research papers,
articles, and essays regarding immigration, identity, and acculturation. These sources
came from newspapers, journals, and magazines spanning over 40 years. These
articles were about peoples from South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa,
and Europe, all of which were immigrants to America. The articles discussed various
issues regarding these immigrants.
Surveys and interviews were also used to obtain information. A copy of the
survey can be found in Appendix A. Two surveys were sent out to about 40 people, and
32% (13 people) responded. Six of the participants were men and seven were women.
Five of the participants were of Asian origin, and eight were from Europe. Several of
those who participated in the surveys also participated in interviews.
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Analyzing the data
Understanding that the topic of this paper is a fluid topic that has very complex
factors one being the individual personalities of each person, I looked for, in the papers
that were read as well as the surveys and interviews that were conducted, similarities
that could be found between people of similar backgrounds, people that grew up in
similar neighborhoods, or peoples of the same gender. I looked for similarities that may
be expressed in the ways that people choose to identify themselves in certain
situations, the ways that people look at America or their home countries, and similarities
in how people relate to parents and friends.
Findings
Gender differences
Several things that differed between the sexes were reflected in the surveys.
One of the differences was fluency in their parentʼs language. While all the participants
expressed knowledge of the language of their parents, nearly 75% of the women
considered themselves to be fluent in their parentsʼ language while only 50% of the men
did. Furthermore, the women interviewed and surveyed considered themselves to be,
on average, ʻvery closeʼ with their families while the men on average considered
themselves as just ʻclose.' (see surveys and results in Appendix A)
On the other hand, men proved to be more critical than women; not only of their
parentsʼ countries and cultures, but also of America. When asked if they had a positive
or negative perception of America or their parentsʼ natal countries, all the women had
positive responses, but when asked the same question, 80% of the men had a positive
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perception of America, and only 50% of the men had a positive perception of their
parentsʼ natal countries. Further, nearly 85% of the men interviewed claimed to have
experienced racism in their childhood, while only about 60% of women did.
These data lead me to believe that women, in general, grow more comfortable
with their roots than men do. However, there is one piece of data that suggests
otherwise. When asked whether they had ever wished they or their parents were
different, almost 60% of the women surveyed indicated that at some point or another,
they wished that they were of a different background. However, only 33% of the men
indicated this feeling.
Background Differences
I noticed a very distinct set of differences between Asian immigrants and those
from Europe. The first difference noticed in this study was knowledge of their parentsʼ
language. When asked about language knowledge, 100% of the Asian participants said
that they knew the language of their parents, but only 80% of the Europeans knew their
ethnic languages. When asked about fluency, nearly 90% of the Asian participants
claimed to be fluent in the tongues of their ancestors, but only 20% of the Western
immigrants said they were fluent. This striking difference may show a difference in the
values that the parents may have had in bringing up their children, but it also may show
a difference in how these second geners value their ethnic identities.
Contrasting this last statistic, the first survey discovered that second generation
Asian immigrants are far more critical of their natal cultures than their Western
counterparts were. Almost 100% of the European rooted sample claimed that both they
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and their parents had high opinions of “the old country.” A little more than half of the
second-gen Asians had positive opinions about their root countries.
Finally, in the second survey, participants were asked to freely make five
statements about who they say they are. Afterward, participants were to give five
statements regarding what they speculate others would say about them. Out of five
Asian participants, there were ten statements that were ethnic in nature. Six of the
statements were statements about how the participants would describe themselves.
Four European participants yielded only four statements regarding race, and two were
self proclaimed.
Blogs
Blogs also reveal something about the subcultures being examined here. When
searching for blogs by Asian-Americans, I found many that discussed things that Asian
Americans are commonly into, as well as little tidbits about the lives of the writers.
These topics commonly included video games, girls, college life, photography, etc. The
blogs were distinctly Asian and seemed to be for an Asian American audience, but most
of the blogs had little to do with Asia.
When searching for Russian-American blogs, I found many blogs that were about
Russia and her politics and culture. Many blog sites even had information about the
language and some had lessons. These blogs were more centered on the country of
Russia rather than the modern Russian-American subculture.
Latino blogs often discussed the trials, struggles, and joys of being Latino in
America. Topics included music, dancing, politics, immigration, and language learning.
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These blogs were not focused on the countries of origin like the Russian blogs, nor
were they focused on Latin-American subculture, but on living as a Latino in America.
These three themes found in these three ethnic online blog styles show distinct
attitudes toward origin and present situation.
Discussion
Although there was not much literature about the topic of gender, the survey
showed that there is a difference between how men and women handle the identity
struggles of growing up in a new culture. Overall, women seem to be able to handle the
pressures and transitions better than men. Second generation men expressed higher
levels of insecurity regarding both their natal cultures and American culture. As
expressed above, 25% more women claimed to be fluent with their familiesʼ natal
languages. Women claimed to be closer to their families. It seems that second
generation women are less influenced by their surroundings and possibly more
influenced by their families than men. The survey shows that they are not as critical
with their ethnicity and language. 100% of women said that they have a positive
perception of their parentsʼ cultures while only 50% of men showed this sentiment. Men
seem much more critical of their origins. This discomfort in men could be due to many
things including pressure to conform or to fit in to their surrounding cultures or groups of
friends.
With regard to American culture, women again show a higher level of comfort.
When asked how comfortable each participant was with Americans versus their comfort
level with other ethnic Americans, over 70% of women said that they were just as
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comfortable with both. 33% of men, however, claimed to be comfortable with both. This
means that 67% of the men interviewed felt alienated either from white Americans or
from their ethnic peers. Although it seems women can operate in both realms, men feel
that they have to pick a side. This can lead to confusion and a deepening of that
internal struggle with the question of identity. To further serve this point, about 50% of
women remember racist comments or actions directed toward them while growing up.
Over 80% of the men perceived racism growing up. This could be because men took it
to heart more often than the women did.
The differences in the data between participants from different backgrounds is
most interesting. Judging from the results of the survey, second generation European
immigrants seem to have a more positive outlook on their origins, have a more
comfortable time in America, seem to be more comfortable with almost anyone, but
have less of the language of their parents. For Asian immigrants it seems to be the
opposite. Asians, although they seem to be more in touch with their linguistic roots,
have more negative views of their ethnic origins, and yet are less comfortable around
Americans of different backgrounds.
Culture and skin color play a big role in this phenomenon. European-Americans
are from the cultures of which America was constructed, and are of the same races that
compose the bulk of Americaʼs middle class. European immigrants look like Americans
and can learn to think like Americans quite easily. Asian-Americans, however, look
Asian. An Asian-American might have four generations of parents in America, and
people might still ask the question “Where are you from?” because that person would
still look like a “foreigner.” This type of visual alienation can become a big stumbling
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block for many Asians in the way of integrating or assimilating into American culture.
The survey showed that more than half of the second generation Asian-Americans are
most comfortable around other Asian-Americans compared to 80% of the European-
Americans being comfortable with both. This kind of cultural impedance could also be
the reason for why many second generation Asian-Americans have negative feelings
toward their own ethnic cultures and countries. This seems to suggest a longing to
belong and to adapt fully to the host culture.
Contrary to this idea, Gaudet discovers in his research paper entitled “Daily
hassles, ethnic identity and psychological adjustment among Lebanese-Canadians,”
that those Lebanese-Canadians that keep their identity as Lebanese have higher self-
confidence. He writes: “...loss of [Lebanese] support coupled with high [Canadian]
support was related to greater levels of depression… [T]he positive relation between
Canadian identity and depression may, therefore, be due to an implied isolation from the
Lebanese group.” However, the same author quotes Noels, Pon, and Clement (1996) in
showing that Chinese minority groups behave in the opposite way as I have seen in my
own research; second generation Chinese immigrants that show more of an identity
with Americans have greater confidence and self esteem while a lower level of self
esteem is experienced by those who simultaneously identify with their natal culture and
have negative feelings about that culture.
Another article by Jensen entitled “Cultural identities as sources of civic
engagement,” discusses attitudes of second generation immigrants in terms of civic
engagement and activity. Jensen finds that second generation immigrants who find
their identities in their natal cultures are more prone to be active in their communities
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and in politics, while those who identify themselves as Americans tend to be less active.
Due in part to the influence of their parents, second generation immigrants who
understand where they came from and who they are may experience a greater gratitude
and appreciation for the system of government and opportunities that they have in
America. Others that may consider themselves as American may take for granted the
country and culture from which they originated and find less interest in the blessings
they have in America.
Yet another researcher focused more on parenting. Abad and Sheldon (2008)
observed that many first generation immigrants had less stress and anxiety than many
second generation immigrants. They hypothesized that there was a “tendency for first-
generation immigrants to maintain and assert their ties to the natal culture when faced
with perceived discrimination from the host culture.” Their general diagnosis was that
many first generation parents will be quite strict and quick to enforce their natal cultural
beliefs and tenets especially when they conflict with the host culture. This results in
higher levels of stress for the second generation compared to a parent with an open
mind who is a little more liberal with integrating their natal culture with the host culture.
Speaking with some of my Chinese-American participants, I can see this phenomenon
taking place. Many Chinese parents work to engrain Chinese culture into their children.
85% of the Asian participants claim to be fluent in their natal languages, while only 20%
of the European participants did. This in itself proclaims that to a degree, that Asian
participants had their natal culture pressed upon them more than their European
counterparts resulting in their contrasting levels of comfort.
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Conclusions
When a person is asked “Who are you?” or when one asks him/herself the same
question, the answer can sometimes be difficult and complex. The way one chooses to
identify him/herself has a lot to do with the worldview and culture that the parents have
instilled coupled with the pressures from the surrounding culture and society, whether
negative and discriminatory or just plain different. It also has to do with how each
person chooses to deal with these issues. Does one have to fully conform? Does one
hide? Or does one accept that they are different and move forward?
European immigrant children seem to have fewer struggles than Asian immigrant
children or other non-White immigrants. This is because of both skin color and culture.
Those that are able to come to terms with these differences seem to find their place in
America more easily. Unfortunately, the term ʻmelting-potʼ regarding American culture
primarily refers to a mixture of European immigrant culture. Non-White immigrant
culture is still regarded as ʻdifferentʼ in many places in America making transition into
American culture slightly harder for people of color.
I attended a church in Shanghai that was for foreign passport holders only. This
church was the best example of a melting pot that I have ever experienced. There was
a congregation of about 1000 people with representation from more than 48 nations.
There was hardly a majority, and I found myself becoming friends with a group of people
from about 5 or 6 different countries from around the world. There was no room for
prejudice because no one had the majority.
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Biblical reflection
In the Old Testament, it was taboo for any Jew to intermarry with a non-Jew. In
fact, the Jewish culture was in many ways xenophobic (like Chinese culture in its
isolationistic yet collectivistic tendencies). Israel was meant to be a light to all nations, a
nation of priests to the world around them, but in order for that to be, the culture had to
be preserved and the Law had to be kept so that Israel would be clean before the Lord.
In the Old Testament Law, Israel is commanded not to intermarry with the people
around them. The book of Ezra documents a time when Ezra forced numerous
disobedient men to divorce women that they had married outside of Israel; the men
subsequently left their wives and any children they had by them. Before Israel is able to
enter the promised land, they are commanded to destroy the peoples living in Canaan,
even the women and children. Even sojourners had to be circumcised and had to
conform to Israelʼs law if they were to live there.
When Israel was in Diaspora, Israel had the task of integrating themselves into
the host culture while remaining Israelite. They were to take jobs in their new culture,
to build houses there, and to minister to the people around them while remaining
culturally Israelite; they were not to forget the things God had done, nor were they to
forget the laws of their fathers. In this way, they had to live in another culture while
being distinctly different. To this day, many Jewish people that have lived in America for
generations still consider themselves to be native to Israel and consider themselves to
be Jewish first.
After the law and sin were nailed to the cross with Christ, Paul is able to “become
all things to all people.” We are now commanded to find fellowship with the lost of the
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world. We are to make those from other tribes, tongues, and nations our brothers and
sisters. We can now intermarry with men and women from other cultures, but we may
not be “unequally yoked” with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14). We can live anywhere under
anyoneʼs law and culture, but we are to be a spiritual beacon of light, and therefore, be
different from the darkness. The laws of the Old Testament regarding blood are now
precepts in the New Testament regarding faith and the spirit. As Christians, we may
hold to our ethnic identities as we wish, but we must hold our faith closer than these.
Like the Jews in Diaspora, I may be a citizen of any town, but I am first a citizen of the
Kingdom of God. Because of that, I consider myself a sojourner wherever I go. The
international church in Shanghai gave me the best example of what this looks like.
Everyone in that church was a sojourner in a strange land, but all were brothers and
sisters with their identities in Christ. Perhaps one day those who struggle with who they
are would find their true identity, the one that transcends international borders and
requires no passport: their identity as Christʼs children.
Wordcount: 5,051 words
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References
Abad, N. & Sheldon, K. (2008). Parental autonomy support and ethnic culture identification among second-generation immigrants. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(3), 652-657.
Gaudet, S., Clement, R., Deuzeman, K., (2005). Daily hassles, ethnic identity and psychological adjustment among Lebanese-Canadians. International Journal of Psychology, 40(3), 157-168.
Jensen, L. (2008). Immigrants' cultural identities as sources of civic engagement. Applied Developmental Science, 12(2), 74-83.
Noels, K.A., Pon, G., & Clement, R. (1996). Language, identity and adjustment: the role of linguistic confidence in the adjustment process. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 15, 246-264.
Park-Taylor, J., Ng, V., Ventura, A.B., Kang, A.E., Morris, C.R., Gilbert, T., Srivastava, D. & Androsiglio, R.A. (2008). What it means to be and feel like a "true" American: perceptions and experiences of second-generation Americans. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14(2), 128-137.
Pearson, A. (2004). Being Hindu in Canada: personal narratives from first and second generation immigrant Hindu women. Religious Studies and Theology, 23(1), 55-88.
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Survey 1
(1) What country were your parents born and raised in? ________________
(2) What country were you born and raised in? ____________________________
(3) On a scale from 1 to 10, how “American” do you consider yourself to be?
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
(4) When people ask you about your “ethnicity” or “heritage” what do you say?
I am a/an _Chinese American.
(5) How often was English used in your home growing up?
Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never
(6) Do you speak the language of your parents? Yes No
(7) Are you fluent in the language of your parents? Yes No
(8) Did your parents teach you about the history and the culture of their native
country? Yes No
(9) Did your parents encourage you to learn about the language, history and culture of
their native country? Yes No
(10) Have you spent any time in your parentʼs home country? Yes No
Appendix A
(11) If you answered ʻYesʼ to question 10, how long were you there during your longest
stint? ________________
(12) Are your parentsʼ views about America primarily negative or positive?
Negative Positive
(13) Are your views about America primarily negative or positive?
Negative Positive
(14) Are your parentsʼ views about their natal country negative or positive?
Negative Positive
(15) Are your views about your parentsʼ home country negative or positive?
Negative Positive
(16) Growing up and attending school, what was the “heritage” of your friends and the
majority of the children around you? ____________________________
(17) How close are you with your parents?
Very close Close Kinda close Not so close Not close
(18) Did your friends at school know that your parents were of foreign origin? Yes No
(19) Were you ever made fun of because of your background? Yes No
Appendix A
(20) Growing up, did you ever wish you were different, or that your parents were
different? Yes No
(21) Today do you have many friends that are of the same heritage as you? Yes No
(22) Who are you most comfortable around?
Americans People like me Neither Both
(23) Where do you believe is your home? _______________________________
(24) Why did your parents come to America? _____________________________
(25) Did they find what they were looking for? Yes No
(26) Would you ever go back to the country of your fathers to live? Yes No
Appendix A
Survey 1 Results
Origin
Overall
Italy Italy Chnorway
S. Kore
a
Thailand
Slovenjia
Taiwan
Yugoslavi
a
China/
Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan
Q1
Q2
Q3Q4
Q5
Q6
Q7
Q8
Q9
Q10
Q11
Q12
Q13
Q14
46% male
Female
Male Female
Male Female
Female
Female
Male Female
Male Male Female
Male
America
America
America
America
America
America
America
America
America
America
America
America
America
7.615 6 7 8 8 6 9 8 10 8 8 7 7 71 amer 5 -
Italian Italian American
Korean-American
Thai-American
Slovenian
Chinese-American
Canadian
Asian/Chns-American
Chinese
Chinese
Chinese
Chinese-American
2.5 sometimes
Sometims
Sometimes
Always
Often Never Often Often Often Sometimes
Sometimes
Always
Often Sometimes
92.3% yes
Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
61.5% yes
No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
76.9% yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes
Traditions/Food
L T F S
H T F S
L T F L H F S
n/a n/a N/a L H T F S
L F N/A N/A L H T F
92.3% yes
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
1.46 mo
3 mo. 6 w 2 w 3 mo. 2 mo. 6 w N/a 4 wks 1 mo 1.5 mo.
2 Weeks
2 weeks
A summer
92.3% pos
Pos Neg Pos Pos pos pos Pos pos Pos Pos. Pos. Pos. Pos.
92.3% pos
Pos Pos Pos Neg pos pos Pos pos Pos Pos. Pos. Pos. Pos.
69.2 % pos
Pos Pos Pos Pos neg neg Neu pos Pos Neg. Pos. Pos. Pos.
Appendix A
Origin
Overall
Italy Italy Chnorway
S. Kore
a
Thailand
Slovenjia
Taiwan
Yugoslavi
a
China/
Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan
Q15
Q16
Q17
Q18
Q19
Q20
Q21
Q22
Q23
Q24
Q25Q26
76.9% pos
Pos Pos Pos Neg pos pos Pos pos Pos Neg. Neg. Pos. Pos.
61.5% amer
American
American
Am/scando/jew
AZN pol/germ/irish
WASPS
Chinese-American
American
Anglo Caucasian
ABC W/ Chinese Parents
American
Chinese
African/White/Azn
3.1 close
Very Close
Close Very Close
Kinda Close
Very Close
Very Close
Very Close
Kind of Close
Very Close
Close Kind of Close
Close Kind of Close
100% friends knew
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
69.2% racism
No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes
46% wanted diff
Yes/Yes
Yes/Yes
No/No
Yes/Yes
Yes/No
No/No
Yes/Yes
No/No
Yes No/No
No/No
No/No
No/No
84.6% friends today
Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
53.8% both
Both Americans
Both Neither
Thai people
Both Both Both Both People Like Me
People like me
People like me
Both
84.6% usa
Italy America
America
California
America
United States
United States
America
America
America
America
America
Earth(America)
Opportunity
Opportunity
Opportunity
Economic Opp
Better life/ ed
escape war
Ed/Work
Opportunity
Ed, Better life, Freedom
Education
1974 Education
1970’a
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes53.8% abroad
Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes
Appendix A
Survey 2
Family:
1 How many brothers and sisters do you have? ______________
2 How many Aunts and Uncles do you have? _________________
3 Would you say that you have a big family? _________________
4 Do you have family that still live in your parentʼs home country? _____________
5 How close would you say you are with them? ____________
Religion:
6 Is your family religious? ____________
7 If so, what religion does your family practice? _______
8 Do you practice the same religion? ____________
9 Why or why not? ______________
10 Are you involved in your church and or community? ________
11 In what way? Please describe.
_____________________
Self
12 Please take time to think about this. Write five sentences beginning with “I am…” that you feel best describe you.
-I am ______________
-I am ______________
-I am ______________
-I am ______________
-I am ______________
Appendix B
13 Write five sentences beginning with “He/She is” that you feel every-day Americans would use to describe you.
-He/She is ______________
-He/She is ______________
-He/She is ______________
-He/She is ______________
-He/She is ______________
14 When you think of the question “who are you?” what aspects of your life seem most important in answering that question? Please choose one from the following. If you have an answer that is not presented, please write it in the item labeled ʻotherʼ.
Religion or faith______
Blood or ethnic origin_______
Your family __________
The place you grew up (country, state, town, etc.)______
Your friends ________
Your career_______
Other (specify) _______________________________
Feel free to write any other comments or tidbits that you feel may be pertinent, helpful, or interesting to this study.
Appendix B
Survey 2 Results
Note: Numbers in left-hand column denote question number on survey. Letter markers ʻFʼ, ʻRʼ, and ʻSʼ denote ʻFamilyʼ, ʻReligionʼ, and ʻSelfʼ respectively.
SURVEY II
Korean
Taiwanese
Slovenian
Slovenian
Taiwanese Taiwanese
Indian Norse Italian
GENDERF1F2
F3F4F5
R6R7
R8
Male Male Male Female Female Female Male Female Female
2 1 4 4 2 2 1 2 310 7 6 15
including deceased and no spouses
6 17 12 5 9
no Yes no Yes no Yes yes No yesyes Yes Yes Yes yes Yes yes Yes yesnot close
not very, but still connected
Pretty close
very not close, only see them when we have traveled back to china, most are distant relatives
not very close, but i enjoy visiting
not very close
not close, have met them a coupe of times
close in heart but distant in communication due to language barrier
yes Yes Yes varies no yes Yes Yes Yeschristianity
Christianity
Catholic
catholicism
n/a protestant c
Christianity
Christianity catholicism
yes Yes Yes no no yes Yes Yes no
Appendix B
SURVEY II
Korean
Taiwanese
Slovenian
Slovenian
Taiwanese Taiwanese
Indian Norse Italian
R9
R10
faith is strong part of family
Raised together with it
I can’t practice a religion which I do not believe in
I became a christian in the 9th grade. I still veiw my family traditions as my cultural background, but not as what I believe and live passionately by.
they taught it to me
I believe it grandparents were missionaries in china, strong heritage of christian faith and service in our family
I decided that what I really needed whas not a religion but a relationship with God. Since I personally did not feel nurtured in that area in the catholic church, i found a church that teaches the word of god ina way that I understand well
yes Yes no Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Appendix B
SURVEY II
Korean
Taiwanese
Slovenian
Slovenian
Taiwanese Taiwanese
Indian Norse Italian
R11
S12
Help w/childrens ministry
Intern service projects, small group
teach religious ed at unitarian universalist church
Young-adult fellowship, we meet once a week for small group/bible study. We have also started abeing a part of the hospitality ministry at our church and serving the homeless near our small gorup. I also serve on the worship team as a singer, I serve as a counselor for the youth during camps and I am ccurrently a nominee for the missions committee
attend, play on music team, trying to find a small group to join
worship team
small group leadership/discipleship
I have participated in small group bible studies, chruch activities, and have formed many valuable friendships.
I am a good listener
I am a follower of Christ
I am 52 years old
I am rational
I am seeking after truth
I am asian american
I am smart
I am a follower of jesus christ
I am grateful that jesus died for me and that I hae made a decision to accept him and therefore have salvation through him
Appendix B
SURVEY II
Korean
Taiwanese
Slovenian
Slovenian
Taiwanese Taiwanese
Indian Norse Italian
I am more weak than strong
I am a chinese-american
I am 5’9”
I am reasonable
I am a woman that loves christ
I am a believer
I am independant
I am dedicated to my family
I am grateful for everything god has provided for me in my life including my parents, husbantd, children, grand children, family, friends, and job
I am interested in social justice/environmental care
I am a husband n father
I am tired of working
I am not capable of being convinced of that which I do not believe to be true by using my own capacity to reason
I am emotional
I am trying to embrace the tension of my identity.
I am christian
I am in love with my husband
I am prayerful that my children, grand children, family will all respond to god’s call and accept him as their lord and saviour too
I am not consistent in how my actions reflect the values I hold and profess
I am a teacher
I am out of money
I am a devoted wife and mother
I am a passionate follower of all sports
I am working in marketing
I am indian
I ama good manager
I am saddenned by all of the corruption in this world, especially in the white house where many godless decisions are being made that affect us all
Appendix B
SURVEY II
Korean
Taiwanese
Slovenian
Slovenian
Taiwanese Taiwanese
Indian Norse Italian
S13
I am a life-long learner
I am a nice guy
I am american
I am empathetic and am trying to make the world a better place through inviting people to avoid delusional religious fantasies and trust their reasoning abilities
I am blessed by my famliy, boyfriend and dog
I am an expat in china
I am a teacher
I am a daughter of an immigrant
I am trusting god who is still in control
He is musical
He is asian american
He is over 50 years old
She is self-confident
She is a teacher
she is chinese
He is straight faced
She is good to her family
She is a good christian who is not perfect but still learning
He is friendly
He is a nice guy
He is shorter than average
She is not a follower
She is a young adult
she is strange
He is well rounded
She is a great boss
she is trying her best to be a good wife, mother, and grandmother
He is skinny
He is outgoing
He is looking tired
She is a devoted wife and mother
She is chinese?? (doesn’t look like it)
she is religious
He is a christian
She is compassionate
she is trying her best to be a good daughter
He is weird
He is religious
He is cheap
She is encouraging
She is bilingual
she is conservative
He is an athlete
She is religioius
she is trying her best to be a good friend
He is tech-savvy
He is busy
He is an american
She is outspoken about not being religious
She is friendly
she is idealistic
He is a good teacher
She is scandinavian/minnesotan
she is trying her best to be an honest, hard working, loveing, compassionate, and generous person
Appendix B
SURVEY II
Korean
Taiwanese
Slovenian
Slovenian
Taiwanese Taiwanese
Indian Norse Italian
S14 Faith Faith Family/my own person not afraid of the truth
faith Faith
Appendix B
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