5 Thoughts on Generational Acculturation Gap
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Acculturation is the adaption of a new culture & adopting its traits and values. However, in some cases, conflict arises when two different generations adapt differently to the new culture (generational acculturation gap). Below are some ways in which this gap can manifest in parent-child relationships as they are growing up.
Fleck & Fleck (2013) describe four ways in which immigrant families can react to their new cultures: assimilation (adopting the new dominant culture with little interest in heritage culture, separation (rejecting the new dominant culture and focusing only on heritage culture), marginalisation (interaction with neither culture) and integration (where both cultures are embraced). Below are some of the ways different acculturation styles can impact development.
1. Language Barriers
Parents may have moved for a better future for their children. As adults, they may not be keen on learning a new language as they do not have enough time nor interest. The priority might lay more with earning money and providing for the family.
For children, this is the opposite, as their brains are still developing and quick to absorb new learning. As they grow older, children may no longer speak their mother tongue nor understand it well creating a gap.
Knowing a language that their parent doesn't could also leave the child with a lot of responsibility. This can sometimes create family enmeshment and a lack of boundaries.
2. Economic Stressors
Often times, jobs and qualifications held by parents become meaningless in a new country, meaning that they end up working long and difficult hours in order to provide for the family.
This commitment and sacrifice to the family can leave children emotionally unattended, although there is everything practical in place, there is little time for emotional attunement and bonding.
This can lead to children becoming independent very quickly, resentful for not having their parents understand their social or emotional worries or suppressing all their worries.
3. Differing Parenting Practices
Disciplining children looks very different across the world, which may have been acceptable for parents in their home countries, towns or villages might have serious consequences in a new cultural context.
Having learnt one way of being brought up and not understanding why this does not work can be quite confusing for parents who have migrated. This is even more confusing for the children as their peers might be receiving completely different parenting than them. This again can create a gap between parent-child relationships.
4. Identity Development
Identity development throughout childhood and adolescence is a crucial part of building a relationship with oneself. Without having the opportunity to integrate both cultures in a way that is comfortable and acceptable, it can become very difficult to form a 'secure self'.
Individuals might grow up looking for their parents or others around them to make decisions for them. Alternatively, individuals might reject one culture completely and feel conflicted about this. The rejection of culture and not quite understanding oneself can lead to resentment being projected towards family members.
5. Risk Factors of Acculturation
As both generations grow further from each other, this can leave children and young adolescence quite vulnerable without having an adult influence to guide them through developmental stages emotionally. This can have a lasting impact on individuals as they grow older, particularly when developing their own identities.
sources
Fleck, J. R., & Fleck, D. T. (2013). The immigrant family: Parent-child dilemmas and therapy considerations. American International Journal of Contemporary Research, 3(8), 13-17.
Lui, P. P. (2015). Intergenerational cultural conflict, mental health, and educational outcomes among Asian and Latino/a Americans: Qualitative and meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 141(2), 404.