Bicultural Conflicts in Chinese Immigrant Children

The bases upon which we think, act, and conduct ourselves are shaped by our culture and upbringing at a very early age. These bases are called values, customs, traditions, and heritage, which are commonly shared by people within a national or ethnic group. However, when immigrants leave their homeland and settle in another country, the new ways may be different from that of the old country. Bi cultural conflict results when the former values and ways clash with the new attitudes and behavior. This premise is quite evident, but exactly how and where do we encounter bicultural conflict? This article gives specific instances of bicultural conflicts that pose dilemmas for immigrant children. Teachers or parents may not even recognize the cultural basis of these dilemmas and may insist upon the child doing things according to their own upbringing and outlook, thus creating confusion and anxiety when the two authority figures do not agree. Specific instances dealt with in this article include differing values in such areas as aggressive behavior, sexuality, thrift, affection, dependency, individualism, and others.