Description
Ascribed elements of one's self-identity such as sex, race, and the place of birth are deeply related to one's national identity among Japanese immigrant women. Spouses, offspring, friends, networks in the U.S., or even information about their local area also represent the nation they feel they belong to. The feelings of belonging and comfort are the basis for their achieved sphere of identification with the U.S. This study found that few elderly immigrants would identify only with the host county. Likewise, very few elderly immigrants would identify only with the homeland. Therefore, most of them identify with both countries (transnational), or they identify with neither country (liminal) to an extent. Developing transnational or liminal identity is a result of how Japanese elderly immigrant women have been experiencing mundane events in the host country and how they think the power relations of the sending and receiving countries have changed over the years. Japanese elderly immigrant women with transnational identity expressed their confidence and little anxiety for their aging. Their confidence comes from strong connection with the local community in the host country or/and homeland. Contrarily, those with liminal identity indicated stronger anxiety toward their aging. Their anxiety comes from disassociation from the local community in the U.S. and Japan. With regard to the decisiveness of future plan such as where to live and how to cope with aging, indecisiveness seems to create more options for elderly Japanese immigrant women with the transnational identity, while it exacerbates the anxiety among those who have liminal identity.
Details
Title
- Aging and identity among Japanese immigrant women
Contributors
- Kawakami, Atsuko (Author)
- Tsuda, Takeyuki (Thesis advisor)
- John, Johnson (Committee member)
- Menjivar, Cecilia (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2012
Subjects
- Asian American Studies
- Aging
- Asian studies
- Aging
- assimilation
- Identity
- Japanese women
- transnational migration
- Women immigrants--Arizona--Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
- Women immigrants
- Older Japanese Americans--Arizona--Phoenix Metropolitan Area--Ethnic identity.
- Older Japanese Americans
- Older Japanese Americans--Cultural assimilation--Arizona--Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
- Older Japanese Americans
- Aging--Arizona--Phoenix Metropolitan Area--Psychological aspects.
- Aging
Resource Type
Collections this item is in
Note
- thesisPartial requirement for: Ph. D., Arizona State University, 2012
- bibliographyIncludes bibliographical references (p. 235-247)
- Field of study: Sociology
Citation and reuse
Statement of Responsibility
by Atsuko Kawakami