Bi-Culturalism and Second-Generation South Asian Women in Canada
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Authors
Bratch, Namrata
Issue Date
2016-10-28
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
bi-culturalism , autoethnography , South Asian cultural heritage , Sikh cultural heritage
Alternative Title
Abstract
The spectrum of bi-culturalism is vast in how second-generation individuals decide to balance or not balance cultures. Traditional values and belief systems alongside the new values and beliefs that immigrants are exposed can mold the children of immigrants. The following thesis aims to specifically examine bicultural experiences of second-generation South Asian Women in Canada. I am a second-generation South Asian Woman and come from two very influential cultures. The first culture being the Jat Sikh culture inherited from parents, and the second being, the Western Canadian culture in which they settled in. Each culture in their own way has molded my own values and beliefs. Diversity and bi-culturalism are ever growing, especially within North America. Thus, this thesis will be beneficial in understanding the experiences of South Asian Women and aid in future counselling approaches. Moreover, this can be extended across to many other minority collectivist cultures. A non-empirical manuscript style will be taken in this thesis. Dividing it into five sections. Beginning with an introductory literature review compiled from research that will focus on biculturality experiences of South Asians. The thesis will further be broken down into four different chapters based on themes drawn from the literature review. The focus of these will be love and marriage, education, acculturation and family, and religion. All of these themes impact the experiences of bi-culturalism. Throughout the thesis, I will tie in personal thoughts and experiences in relation to the content and research written.