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Publication #FAR5045

 

Immigrant Families1

Suzanna Smith2

Figure 1. 
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Immigrants come to the U.S. for many reasons and from many different regions of the world and cultural backgrounds. One thing they have in common is the struggle to adjust to the different lifestyles and beliefs that are part of U.S. culture. The strains of adjusting to these differences affect family relationships.

One common issue is conflict between immigrant children and their parents. While immigrant children accept parts of the U.S. culture, such as food, music, clothing, and language, their parents often hold fast to their home culture's traditional values and ways of life. In addition, the older generation often relies on their children for translating and surviving in the U.S. Under these circumstances, keeping harmony between the generations is challenging.

Another issue is that married couples may find it difficult to carry on their traditional roles. For example, immigrant women may take on jobs outside the home for the first time, which may lead to tension and conflict at home.

Immigrant families may not understand family norms in the U.S. related to child care, or how to be involved in their children's education. They tend to live in crowded and inferior housing and often have trouble finding jobs.

Despite these seemingly overwhelming barriers, immigrant families do adapt and thrive. Research suggests that they are most successful when they can pull together, maintain value systems while adjusting to U.S. norms, and have access to needed resources.

Listening, learning, and living together: it's the science of life. "Family Album" is a co-production of University of Florida IFAS Extension, the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, and of WUFT-FM. If you'd like to learn more, please visit our website at http://www.familyalbumradio.org.

To listen to the radio broadcast:

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Footnotes

1.

This document is FAR5045, one of a series of the Family Youth and Community Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Broadcast as program 447. Published February 2009. Reviewed March 2012. In the interest of time and/or clarity, the broadcast version of this script may have been modified. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Suzanna Smith, associate professor, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.