Post 152: Biculturalism Among Americanized Cbildren--The Asian American Experience

Post 152: Processes in the Development of Cultural Identities---Biculturalism

Biculturalism is when a person has the capacity to negotiate effectively within two different cultures. Being a bicultural person does not mean you spend equal time in each culture. Instead, you are able to switch back and forth between the two cultures seamlessly. However, sometimes if the two cultures have conflicting values, then a bicultural person will struggle between the two cultures. Is he part of the dominant American culture or his minority heritage culture? Which becomes more important? or less important?

I identify myself as Asian American. So, am I Asian? or am I American? or both. What does it mean to be 'Asian'?  What does it mean to be 'American'?  I have to grapple with these two cultures all the time. Does being Asian mean eating Chinese food? speaking fluently the Chinese language? knowing about Chinese culture, history and literature adhering to Confucian values of group think and the importance of obedience to elders? Does being American mean adhering to American ideas of individuality? eating a hot dog? eating a hamburger? liking football? celebrating American heroes like George Washington? Lincoln? What happens when the two cultures collide?  I like to think that I am both, as much Asian, as I am American.

When I am with my Asian family, I adhere more to the Confucian standards of obedience to my elders and when I am with my American friends, I feel more free to express my emotions, tell people what I want to do and define my personal idea of happiness to my partner.  I find it like code-switching between languages. I act one way when I am with my Asian family, and I act another way when I am with Americans. When I am angry and want my way, I think of this as my American side and when I am obedient, I see this as my Asian side.

This kind of duality confuses my parents who expect me to act 'Asian' and obey them thoroughly while being American means being more individual and pursuing your own happiness.  Conflicting cultural values in a bicultural person causes family arguments to occur. Trust me, I have had those with my parents. But in the end, we all love each other and learn to accept each other unconditionally.

Interestingly, no matter how I see myself as either Asian or American, I am considered the 'other' in both America and in China. I will discuss how others perceive Asian Americans in another blog post.

Ovando, Carlos & Combs, Mary Carol  Bilingual and ESL Classrooms 6th Ed.