Giving Back in an Asian American Community in the South: An Intergenerational Perspective

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the intergenerational dynamics of “giving back” among immigrants in an Asian American community in the southern region of the United States. The paper is guided by the intergenerational ambivalence paradigm to explore dynamics between first and second generations in their community involvement. The study used the qualitative method of phenomenological approach to identify emerging themes that include (a) importance of ethnic organizations; (b) defined roles and responsibilities within the ethnic organizations that exist between first and second generations; and (c) the second generation wanting to give back and manage ethnic organizations differently from the first generation.

KEYWORDS:

• Civic engagement
• community involvement
• ethnic organizations
• first generation
• immigrants
• second generation