Bicultural.pdf

GROWING UP BICULTURAL: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF ACCULTURATION

AND ETHNIC IDENTITY IN SECOND GENERATION INDIAN AMERICANS

by

Chhaya Nanu Maisuria

B.A., May, 1993, The College of New Jersey

M.A., May, 1997, University of Hartford

Psy. D. Dissertation submitted to the

Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology

Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology

University of Hartford

in partial fulfillment o f the

requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Psychology

2003

R eproduced with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.

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UMI Number: 3112103

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G r a d u a t e I n s t i t u t e o f

P r o f e s s i o n a l P s y c h o l o g y

mWNI-

UNIVERSITYof

HARTFORD103 W oodland S treet H artfo rd , C T 061 OS 860.520.1151 Fax 860.520.1156 w w w .hartfo rd .edu

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Revised 12/02


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Acknowledgements

I would like to first acknowledge my friends and family for their love, and support throughout this process. I would like to thank my parents, Nanu and Lilavati Maisuria for encouraging me to pursue my goals.

I would like to thank; all the participants in this project for sharing their opinions and experiences with me. It is my hope that there will be a better understanding of the difficulties as well as the advantages of growing up in two cultures.

I would like to express special appreciation to Dr. David Singer who has been a constant in my graduate school training; initially as my first year advisor and concluding as my thesis advisor. I wish to thank Dr. Sarah Pearlman for being a part o f my dissertation committee. I would like to thank them both for their guidance, wisdom, and understanding throughout this process.

iii


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S ............................................................................. Hi

L IS T O F T A B L E S ............................................................................................

viI. IN T R O D U C T IO N ........................................................................................... 1

Asian Indian Immigration to the United States........................................ 3Who Is an Indian American?...................................................................... 4The Importance of Cultural Identity........................................................... 6Prior Research on Ethnic Identity................................................................ 8Second Generation Issues and Concerns.................................................... 11Statement of Problem.................................................................................. 12

II. R E V IE W O F L IT E R A T U R E ...................................................................... 14

The Influence of Race and Ethnicity on Identity....................................... 14Models of Ethnic Identity Development................................ :............... 16Biculturalism... .What Is It?......................................................................... 21Acculturation and Adjustment..................................................................... 25Acculturative Stress....................................................................................... 27Summary........................................................................................................ 29

Culture and Values........................................................................................ 30The Core of the Asian-American Identity.................................................. 30Family............................................................................................................. 31Acculturation and Fam ily............................................................................ 34Marriage and Dating................. 36Religion and Spirituality.............................................................................. 38Summary........................................................................................................ 40

Intergenerational Conflict Amongst Indian Americans........................... 41First Generation Indian American Issues and Concerns.......................... 41Second Generation Indian American Women........................................... 44College........................................................................................................... 46Marriage......................................................................................................... 47Conclusion..................................................................................................... 48

iv


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III. METHODOLOGY 51

Multi-Method Research & Design............................................................ 51The Qualitative Interview Method............................................................. 52Participants.................................................................................................... 53Materials/Measures...................................................................................... 54Procedure for Data Collection................................................................... 59Data Analysis............................................................................................... 60

IV . R E S U L T S ............................................................................................... 64

V . D IS C U S S IO N .............................. 81Implications for counseling.......................................................................... 84Therapeutic Perspectives............................... v ................................. 85Conclusion..................................................................................................... 88

R E F E R E N C E S ................................... 90

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Bicultural.pdf