South Asian Indian Families in America

Subject  > Social Science Essays  > Society and community

Asian Indian community in the United States is one of the most numerous. According to the data of 2000 Census, there are currently 1.7 million people of Indian origin in the US (Rediff US Special). This number includes all those who identify themselves as Indian American or Asian Indian irrespective of what immigration generation they belong to. My focus in this paper is family life of Asian Indians in America. Family roles and structure, attitude towards family in society are different in America and in India. Thus, it is interesting to investigate how new environment changes or challenges Indian families in America and whether Indians manage to maintain their culture and previous customs through time and generations. Most of my statements ...

... that are normal for dominant American groups is not natural for people that were raised in India. Life in such a different society surely causes stress, which becomes even worse when they see that their children tend to follow American lead instead of holding on to national customs. This intergenerational conflict is especially vivid for families that unite first- and second generation immigrants, which is currently the most common case. Bibliography1. Bhagwat, Kishor. Personal interview. 26 November 2005. 2. Bhattacharya, Gauri. “Drug Use Among Asian-Indian Adolescents: Identifying Protective/Risk Factors.” Adolescence. Spring 1998. Available: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2248/is_n129_v33/ai_20740167/pg_2 (29 November 2005). 3. Dublish, Chhavi. “South Asian Gays find US Voice.” BBC News. 12 April 2004. Available: (28 November 2005). 4. Gawlick, Mechthild. “Silicon

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