Cultural identity is a complex concept that refers to the ways in which individuals understand and express their cultural background and experiences. This includes things like language, nationality, race, leisure activities, values, and gender². For many Asian Americans, the immigration process has played a significant role in shaping their cultural identities and experiences, especially in regard to the development of their children’s identities and values. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2020), Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial and ethnic group in the United States, with over 23 million Americans tracing their roots to over 20 countries in East, South, and Southeast Asia³ . Many of these individuals are immigrants who have faced challenges in terms of navigating their cultural identities and adjusting to life in the United States.

The film Everything Everywhere All at Once touches on themes of cultural identity and self-differentiation as Joy navigates the challenges of balancing their heritage culture with mainstream American culture. Joy’s relationship with Evelyn is an accurate portrayal of the complex and multifaceted struggles related to cultural identity among second-generation Asian Americans. The laundromat scene where Joy brings her girlfriend or just 朋友 (friend) according to Evelyn, depicts how the topic of LGBT among second-generation Asian Americans can be complex due to the intersecting layers of their cultural and sexual/gender identities. Many Asian American cultures traditionally emphasize conformity to traditional gender roles and expectations, which can make it difficult for LGBT individuals to openly express their identities⁴. These challenges can lead to feelings of isolation and a sense of not belonging within their heritage culture. This is why Evelyn is so hesitant to tell her father since she is afraid he will disapprove, further revealing the cultural gap between the two cultures as a result of the immigration process.

Evelyn’s hesitation and Joy’s struggle with self-expression are also related to the concept of intergenerational trauma. Intergenerational trauma is the transmission of emotional and psychological harm from one generation to the next, often as a result of traumatic events or experiences that have occurred within a community⁵. These experiences and events can shape the way in which individuals view themselves and others, especially in regard to family. It is clear that Joy’s grandfather grew up in a country that enforced traditional gender roles and expectations which was then carried over to his perception of Joy. This is a form of intergeneration trauma as the parents’ experience not only contributes to their own sense of cultural identity but influences their children’s sense as well.

For Asian Americans, the immigration process poses the challenge to navigate the demands of their heritage culture and the dominant culture in the United States. This process of cultural negotiation can be particularly difficult for those from collectivist cultures, in which individualism is not highly valued and the needs of the group are prioritized over those of the individual⁴. For example, Korean American immigrants may feel pressure to conform to traditional gender roles and expectations within their heritage culture, while also trying to navigate the more individualistic and gender-egalitarian values of mainstream American culture⁴. This can lead to feelings of conflict and confusion as individuals struggle to reconcile their cultural identities and find a sense of belonging in both their heritage culture and mainstream American culture.

Another aspect of the immigration process that can contribute to struggles for cultural identity is the experience of discrimination and marginalization. Many Asian Americans face discrimination and racism in the United States, which can have a profound impact on their sense of cultural identity and belonging⁶. For instance, Asian Americans, particularly those perceived as being "perpetual foreigners," are often subjected to negative stereotypes and discrimination in the United States⁶. These experiences of discrimination can lead to feelings of alienation and a sense of not belonging in mainstream American society, which can be particularly difficult for those trying to navigate the complexities of cultural identity in the immigration process.

One way in which intergenerational trauma and cultural identity and self-differentiation are related in Fresh Off the Boat is through the portrayal of the main character's parents, who immigrated to the United States from Taiwan. The parents' experiences of discrimination and other challenges as immigrants may have contributed to their own sense of cultural identity and self-differentiation, and these experiences may also have influenced their children's sense of cultural identity and self-differentiation.

In addition, the show explores how the main character's family grapples with the expectations and traditions of their culture, while also trying to assimilate and fit in with mainstream American culture. This process of acculturation can be a source of both pride and conflict for the characters, and can impact their sense of cultural identity and self-differentiation.

Self-differentiation is closely related to cultural identity, as it refers to the process of developing a sense of self that is distinct from one's cultural background and experiences⁷. For many Asian Americans, the immigration process can be a driving force in the development of self-differentiation, as they are often forced to confront the complexities and challenges of navigating multiple cultural identities. One way Asian Americans may seek to differentiate themselves is through the adoption of new cultural practices and values that are more in line with mainstream American culture. This process, known as "cultural distancing," can be difficult as it often involves a sense of loss and a need to negotiate one's cultural identity in the face of discrimination and marginalization. This is similar to the class concept of color-blind racism which “principally operates through the expression of conversations, media, and other forms of communication”. This type of racism refuses to examine racism within a social and historical context and downplays issues with race as matters of isolated individual prejudice, invalidating the existence of a larger socioeconomic racial structure with real economic, social, and political consequences for people of color¹⁷. Research on this issue with second-generation Asian Americans found that elite campus culture, as white institutionalized space, leads Asian Americans who are socialized in this environment to both adopt and resist racialized messages, potentially perpetuating stereotypes like “forever foreigners” or “model minorities”.

However, self-differentiation can also be a positive and empowering process, as it allows individuals to assert their own unique identities and create a sense of belonging that transcends cultural boundaries⁷. For instance, the concept of "cultural hybridity" refers to the ways in which individuals can draw on multiple cultural influences and experiences to create a unique and dynamic cultural identity⁷. This process of cultural hybridity can be particularly empowering for Asian Americans in the immigration process, as it allows them to create a sense of belonging and connection that is not limited by the boundaries of their heritage culture or mainstream American culture. This is touched upon multiple times near the end of Everything Everywhere All at Once when Joy and Evelyn finally reconcile their relationship with each other, choosing to let go of all the pressure and demands placed upon them by the world. Evelyn ultimately proclaims her love for Joy despite their many differences and the film outlines their journey.

Thus, the immigration process can be a challenging experience for Asian Americans in terms of cultural identity and self-differentiation. Navigating the demands of multiple cultural contexts and the experience of discrimination and marginalization can be difficult, but the process of self-differentiation can also be empowering and allow individuals to assert their own unique identities. Further research is needed to better understand the experiences of Asian Americans in the immigration process and the ways in which they negotiate their cultural identities.

Pictured Above:

Jobu Tupaki better known as Joy Wang¹

This visual exhibit focuses on the theme of cultural identity and self-differentiation, referring to examples within Everything Everywhere All At Once in specific, Jobu Tupaki’s Joy’s struggle with cultural identity and self-differentiation, along with other visual representations.