Date of Award

Spring 5-18-2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

PhD Counseling Psychology

Department

Professional Psychology and Family Therapy

Advisor

Minsun Lee, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Jason D. Reynolds (Taewon Choi), Ph.D.

Committee Member

Corinne Datchi, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Noelany Pelc, Ph.D.

Keywords

racial-ethnic socialization, second-generation parenting, Asian American, intergenerational influence

Abstract

Racial-ethnic socialization within Asian American families involves the intergenerational transmission of racial and cultural messages and practices, which reflects their unique perspectives and experiences as racial/ethnic minority individuals and families in a racialized society. This qualitative study examines six second-generation East Asian American mothers who are raising children aged five to eight, with the goal of exploring intergenerational influences on their racial-ethnic socialization experiences. Using a set of two interviews, the results show how childhood experiences of immigration, racism, and racial-ethnic socialization shaped parents’ perceptions and experiences of racial-ethnic socialization practices with their children. Particularly, the study presents how parents’ experience of communication and non-communication about race during childhood influenced their ambivalent attitude about race-related communication with their children. The results also indicate the challenges of second-generation mothers in their racial-ethnic socialization practices with their own experiences of identity struggles and conflict with their parents. The findings highlight unique aspects of how second-generation Asian American mothers understand and navigate the familial and societal dynamics that underlie their racial-ethnic socialization practices.

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