Intergenerational Conflict In Asian American Families

The overarching theme of our projects highlights generational dissonance in Asian American immigrant families. Our individual exhibits focus in on types of intergenerational cultural conflict that Asian American families face. This includes Kylie’s exhibit covering conflict over dating and marriage choices, Roshni’s exhibit highlighting conflict concerning career choice, and Makala’s exhibit discussing cultural beliefs, values, and norms. Additionally, some other themes will be sprinkled in to each exhibit covering themes involving conflict over pop culture, school, and socialization. The similarities between the three exhibits involves how they highlight the broader conflict between generations of immigrants. Asian American immigrant parents have strong sentiments regarding their children’s futures, and all three exhibits attempt to acknowledge these feelings. However, differences stem from Kylie’s exhibit highlighting specific marital and dating expectations, Roshni’s exhibit focusing on parental expectations of occupational prestige and societal status, and Makala’s exhibit highlighting the impact that a host-country’s society has on the attainment of traditional expectations. These differing expectations between exhibits create three different senses of generational conflict. The group project is relevant for sociology of Asian America as it highlights the recurring theme of generational dissonance in American media. Through analyzing our specific media objects, we attempt to ground Asian American stereotypes in sociological concepts and highlight the broad experience of Asian American immigrants in America. For media objects, Kylie used a Ted Talk, an NPR podcast, segments from poetry, and two movies. Roshni used various Asian American comedy segments, a television show, interviews, and a podcast. Makala used scenes from Asian American-centered movies and television shows, interviews, YouTube videos, and opinion pieces