Li, Wendy Wen (2009) Narratives of older Chinese immigrants living in New Zealand: the meaning of home. In: Proceedings of the 8th East-West Center International Graduate Student Conference. pp. 1-29. From: 8th East-West Center International Graduate Student Conference, 12-14 February 2009, Honolulu, HI, USA.

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Abstract

Inspired by symbolic interactionism, this paper explores the meaning of home for older Chinese immigrants. According to symbolic interactionism, homes may exist in physical form, but for the person or the group, they are pointed out, categorised, interpreted, and given meanings through social interaction. In that regard, homes are social objects which are constantly changing as they are defined and redefined, constructed and reconstructed in social interaction. This paper investigates the meaning of home amongst a group of older Chinese immigrants interviewed from April to October 2008. The methods of data collection and analysis were informed by a narrative approach. Initial and follow-up interviews were conducted with 22 households of older Chinese immigrants, with a total of 34 individual participants who were currently resident in New Zealand with permanent residency or New Zealand citizenship, who were born overseas and entered New Zealand under an immigration programme, and who self-identified as Chinese and were 65 and over years of age. For this group, home means a process of reconstructing the disruptive and discrepant self, and a process of negotiating domestic power. The findings suggest that the participant's narrative is a quest narrative, which reframes the biographical disruption as a challenge.

Item ID:	18901
Item Type:	Conference Item (Non-Refereed Research Paper)
Keywords:	narratives, older Chinese immigrants, migration, meaning of home
Date Deposited:	26 Oct 2011 01:01
FoR Codes:	17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170102 Developmental Psychology and Ageing @ 50% 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170113 Social and Community Psychology @ 50%
SEO Codes:	92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920502 Health Related to Ageing @ 50% 92 HEALTH > 9205 Specific Population Health (excl. Indigenous Health) > 920503 Health Related to Specific Ethnic Groups @ 50%
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