Gender and Cultural Socialization in Indian Immigrant Families in the United States

Abstract

This study sought to examine the processes of cultural and gender socialization within a sample of the Indian immigrant community in the United States. It examines the nature of the mother-daughter relationship, and the messages daughters receive about their Indian heritage and their roles as women in the family and community. Interview data were collected from 25 Indian-American women. The article argues that mothers are primarily responsible for the cultural and gender socialization of daughters; however, this transmission is based on a relatively essentialized view of Indian culture, which the daughters also endorse. This method may reflect a need on the part of parents in the Indian community to retain what they perceive as vital to their cultural heritage in the face of assimilation into mainstream US society through the behavior of women, who reflect the community’s standing. This process often elicits feelings of ambivalence in the younger generation, but, ultimately, these women create discourses around gender and culture that represent their own understanding of their place within their community.