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Zhao Wentao

ESL 33B - Project 3

Dr, Karen Carlisi

6/8/2018

The conflicts in Asian-American families

Introduction:

Nowadays, a huge number of people come to America to begin their new life as the

first-generation immigrants. A big reason for them is for their kids could get a good education.

However, things are not that simple. Many of them find out that during a period living in

America, their kids turn to hardly obey their order. Those Asian-American parents have a high

expectation on their children’s achievement (Parental Expectations 76). Nevertheless, the kids’

behavior appears not follow their parents’ aspiration. A lot of the second-generation kids or

adolescents perceived that their parents are too serious and not flexible compare with their

classmates’ parents who are White-Americans (Academic social sup 25). In addition to that,

during a period of educational process, many of the second-generation youths’ attitude to their

parents have changed-turn to very different from their parents’ thought. Youths of Asian-

American show a strong disagreement toward to their parents’ attitude which includes the

respecting and expectation to them. (Attitudes toward Family 1037). On the other hand, the

high positive relationship can help people to be a well help-seeking behavior and increase the

possibility in solving problems in family members (The social relationships 118); and domestic

peace is a very important aspect to scale the mental health condition (Family structure 302).
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Thus, it is important to figure out the reason of causes about the conflict between the first-

generation immigrants and the second-generation American kids and find out the solution for

their families.

Problem:

According to some researches pointed out that there are some academic expectation

differences in Asian-American families between parents and children.

For the parents, most of them have a high expectation on their children. There is a study

found that because of their own culture’s influence, the Asian and Latin American family

members place a higher familial duty and responsibility than the families which have European

culture do. (Fuligni, Andrew J. and Vivian Tseng 1) Another research shows that due to the

influence of Asian culture, Asian always think about they can’t lose, they must do their best to

be the best in anyway. (Dave Breitenstein 5) The third one said that many Asian-American

parents have higher educational expectations to their kids than most White-American do. And

most of them believe that those expectations may impact their children to touch a higher

achievement. (Sy, Susan R. and John E. Schulenberg 505) Through these researches show that

the high expectation from the parents to their kids because of the influence of their original

culture and the parents usually put their expectation to their children automatically when they

are in the new environment.

However, the second or later generation’s expectation possibly changed during the period

which they were living for couple of years in America. For one reason is the expectation could

be changed by the effect of many aspects. (Kiang, Lisa, et al. 253) In addition to that, some
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other study shows that there are some elements, such as the discrimination on academic

achievement may affect the Asian-American students’ academic expectations. (Kiang, Lisa, et

al 259) Therefore, as the original culture influence their parents thought, the new environment

also impacts the new generation’s mind.

Because of the differences of first-generation parents and their kids, there are some

negative results be caused. According to some researches, the offspring of the first-generation

may get less benefits from their parents’ expectations. Those high expectation may cause

youths to get more stress than their parents expect. (Cherng, Hua-Yu Sebastian and Jia-Lin Liu

25) In addition to that, the parents’ high expectation may cause some other negative influence

which is not relate to the academic education. (Cherng, Hua-Yu Sebastian and Jia-Lin Liu 25)

Result and Resolution:

There are some results of the differences between parents and kids. The first is those

differences may cause conflict between the parents and their offspring. (Michael M. Omizo,

Bryan S. K. Kim, and Nicholas R. Abel 24) The second is the high educational expectation to

youths or younger person may lead to heavy workloads which may cause negative results.

(Dave Breitenstein 8).

However, there also have some resolutions could improve their relationship. The one is let

the second-generation adolescents to get more self-identify educations may have positive

influences. (Michael M. Omizo, Bryan S. K. Kim, and Nicholas R. Abel 24) Thus, the family

members treat to each other is very important and will produce very different influences.

(Rachel U. Chung 144)

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Conclusion:

As the article have mentioned before, the family relationship is a very important aspect

and a norm to scale the mental condition. (Emily Walton and David T. Takeuchi 302) Because

of this reason, a positive and supportive relationship can lead to a very positive results in Asian-

American families (Kristin M. Wong 119) and a good relationship between the family members

is very important and very helpful for adolescents to get higher academic achievement. (Kristin

M. Wong 119)
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Works Cited

Airan Liu and Yu Xie, “Culture and Asian-White Achievement Difference”, The Trustees of

Princeton University, https://scholar.princeton.edu/yuxie/publications/culture-and-

asian-white-achievement-difference, Published October 22, 2015

Chae, Mark H.. “Acculturation Conflicts Among Asian Americans: Implications for

Practice.” Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence,

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Acculturation-Conflicts-Among-Asian-

Americans%3A-for-Chae/b0b0cbc1c80ef302472d6c04ede91d8a64331a5c, Published

2002

Cherng, Hua-Yu Sebastian and Jia-Lin Liu. "Academic Social Support and Student

Expectations: The Case of Second-Generation Asian Americans." Asian American

Journal of Psychology, vol. 8, no. 1, Mar. 2017, pp. 16-30. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1037/aap0000072.

Dave Breitenstein, “Asian students carry high expectations for success”, USA TODAY, a

division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC,

www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/04/asian-students-carry-high-

expectations-for-success/2615483/, Published Aug. 4, 2013

Emily Walton and David T. Takeuchi, “Family Structure, Family Processes, and Well-Being

Among Asian Americans: Considering Gender and Nativity”, The Pennsylvania State

University,
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http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.865.1801&rep=rep1&type=

pdf, Published October 14, 2009

Fuligni, Andrew J. and Vivian Tseng. "Attitudes toward Family Obligations among

American Adolescents with Asian.." Child Development, vol. 70, no. 4, Jul/Aug1999,

p. 1030. EBSCOhost,

login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true

&db=a9h&AN=2163803&site=ehost-live.

Rachel U. Chung, “Parental Expectations for Asian American Men Who Entered College

Early: Influences on their Academic, Career, and Interpersonal Decision-Making”,

University of Washington Library, University of Washington Libraries

ResearchWorks Service,

https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/bitstream/handle/1773/33756/Chung

_washington_0250E_15126.pdf?sequence=1, Published 2015

Kiang, Lisa, et al. "Changes in Academic Aspirations and Expectations among Asian

American Adolescents." Asian American Journal of Psychology, vol. 6, no. 3, Sept.

2015, pp. 252-262. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1037/aap0000025.

Kristin M. Wong, “The Social Relationships of Asian Americans through a Cultural Lens:

Relationships as Outcomes and Contexts”, University of Michigan, University of

Michigan Library

https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/89814/kmwong_1.pdf?seque
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nce=1, Published 2011

Michael M. Omizo, Bryan S. K. Kim, and Nicholas R. Abel, “Asian and European American

Cultural Values, Bicultural Competence, and Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional

Psychological Help Among Asian American Adolescents”, Allen Institute for

Artificial Intelligence,

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c59e/a3c746cfcc93c00867c1d4314be25f993bce.pdf,

Published January 2008

Paik, Susan J., et al. "Ethnic Afterschool Programs and Language Schools in Diverse Asian

American Communities: Varying Resources, Opportunities, and Educational

Experiences (Part 2: How They Differ)." School Community Journal, vol. 27, no. 2,

01 Jan. 2017, pp. 67-97. EBSCOhost,

login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true

&db=eric&AN=EJ1165624&site=ehost-live.

Sy, Susan R. and John E. Schulenberg. "Parent Beliefs and Children's Achievement

Trajectories during the Transition to School in Asian American and European

American Families." International Journal of Behavioral Development, vol. 29, no. 6,

Nov. 2005, pp. 505-515. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/01650250500147329.