Negotiating identities and communities: Unheard voices of Korean immigrant parents and young children

This study examines social narratives of Korean immigrant families with their young children focusing on how Korean immigrant families describe themselves based on their ethnic community experiences. This study helps uncover their dynamic identities as a Korean, which cannot be bound by a single level of racial identity development. The findings indicate that the parents repeatedly expressed strong resistance against certain stereotypes attributed to their ethnic group, problematizing such stereotypes and critically consciously setting themselves apart, different from the label of “Typical Korean,” whereas the children showed a firm and positive perspective toward their ethnic and sociocultural identity as either Korean or Korean American. Findings suggest that immigrant parents may pay more careful attention building strong and healthy communities where children can develop a positive sense of identity. This study also sheds light on diverse aspects that have not yet been emphasized in the research on how the Korean families negotiate their identities and communities while living as immigrants.