The impact of acculturation on the gender role development of second-generation Chinese American women

This study explored the gender role development of second-generation Chinese American women and the factors contributing to their gender role identity including acculturation and cultural values. It was speculated this population would reconstruct their identities and gender roles across multiple settings and contexts, and experience bicultural rather than acculturative stress, as a result of maintaining values of both heritage and host cultures.; The participants were ten second-generation Chinese American women between the ages of 26 to 37 years, and had at least one parent born in an Asian country. The participants were U.S. born and English-speaking, with the exception of one participant who was born in Canada and emigrated to the U.S. at age 5. The results of this study were analyzed based on the participants' narrative responses to two questionnaires that intended to gather information pertaining to various aspects of gender role identity and adherence to Chinese cultural values. The Asian Values Scale (AVS) was administered to measure adherence to Asian cultural values as it related to acculturation level.; The original speculation was supported by the findings of this study. The study results indicated that gender role behavior does shift and change according to context. A common factor for what influences behavior for these women was the quality of their relationships across different settings. Factors that affected the quality of relationships were perceived similarities and differences and having a connection based on these attributes. Contextual gender role behavior occurred at various life stages in young adulthood for these women where cultural values changed and were renegotiated into one's bicultural identity.; Study results suggested that the quality of relationships in these women's social networks provided the foundations for coping and resiliency in promoting a positive sense of self and bicultural identity when they experience cultural conflicts. In addition, when there was a transmission of culture, values, and interconnectedness between these women and their immigrant parents, contributed to experiences of strength and courage in forging their own bicultural identities.