Date of Award

6-1996

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication

First Advisor

Shereen Bingham

Abstract

Asian-American women have faced certain difficulties in growing up due to the distinct differences in Asian and American cultures. The two cultures have philosophical differences as well as differences in acceptable manners of behaving and communicating. The expression of emotion is one of these areas. This research study looks at the differences in the two cultures concerning the expression of emotions and how this affects the women who are trying to live within both worlds. Ten first-generation Asian-American women were interviewed, using an oral history method, concerning three different situations. One situation involving just their parents, another involving their friends, and the final situation involving a situation where both parents and friends were present. The research showed that even though humans may feel emotions in the same way, the two cultures place different emphasis on the expression and the consequences of expressing emotions. The women were in varying stages of attempting to integrate the two cultures and their interviews show this process to be painful and confusing. But a dominant view from the women was that integration of the two cultures was the only way to achieve harmony within themselves.

Comments

Thesis Presented to the Department of Communication and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha.

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