Ethnographic Experience with Chinese

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Ethnographic Experience Introduction Chinese families are highly misunderstood and stereotyped in the United States. It is important to understand a different culture before one makes the assumptions produced by these stereotypes. In order to find a better understanding about Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans, one must do research on that countries heritage, traditions, and other customs before submerging one-self into a Chinese families home. I chose to experience and observe a Chinese family who was kind enough to let me be a guest in their home to share dinner. Literary Review The world is always changing which forces people to modify their ways of life. Some people label changes in society, politics, economics, technology, and fashion as modernization. One might say it is only natural for cultures to also go through modernization. The Chinese culture is very resilient to change because of the values they hold for their traditions and customs (Li & Mengyan, 2013). According to Guan, LÜ, and Yu (2012), Chinese culture is deeply rooted in respect for elders, social relationships, and overall harmony and honor. I think what many people do not take into account is the pressures many adolescent immigrants or Chinese-American offspring endure. In a case study of essays, many adolescents felt the stress of “struggling with high parental expectations and intergenerational conflicts at home and suffered acculturative stresses and ethnic peer divides at school” (Li, J., 2009). These children are very adaptive as are their families. What many people do not realize is that there are many ways in which one could accidentally disrespect the Chinese culture. Baldwin explains the key rules of simple dinner etiquette: “do not r... ... middle of paper ... ...ened my eyes to the importance of being informed and aware. References Baldwin, T., (2011, January 31). 5 Chinese eating habits explained. Cable News Network. Retrieved from http://travel.cnn.com/shaghai/eat/5-chinese-eating-habbits-explained-311204 Guan, W., LÜ, S., & Yu, Q. (2012). Chinese culture and modern life-on the theory of resources and basic context of Chinese cultural soft power to enhance. Cross-Cultural Communication, 8(6), 87-92. doi:10.3968/j.ccc.1923670020120806.ZRGLY Li, J. (2009). Forging the future between two different worlds: recent Chinese immigrant adolescents tell their cross-cultural experiences. Journal of Adolescent Research, 24(4), 477-504. Li, K., & Mengyan, F. (2013). A historical survey on modernization of Chinese culture. Asian Social Science, 9(4), 129-132. doi:10.5539/ass.v9n4p129

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