The Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese Migrant Women in Ireland: A Qualitative Exploration of Interviews Conducted with 12 Chinese Women Living in Ireland

In a globalised world, more and more people are going abroad for work, study and vacation. Every individual who enters a new culture must cope with the difficulty of adjusting to a new system with new people, norms, rules and values. Chinese women migrants, due to the special characteristics of Eastern culture, face great challenges when living in Western countries. This research presents an original qualitative study on the cross-cultural adaptation process of Chinese women migrants in Ireland. Using a Thematic analysis Approach, 12 in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with Chinese women currently living in Ireland. The data was analyzed through a process of themed analysis to produce findings grounded in Chinese women’s personal life experiences. This research investigates the factors facilitating and hindering the process of cross-cultural adaptation of Chinese migrant women in Ireland. The findings suggest that from their perspective, cross-cultural adaptation is a multifaceted process influenced by complex, interconnected factors. This study contributes to existing knowledge in the field of Intercultural Studies, targeting the specific area of cross-cultural adaptation. The intention of this study is to assist the host society to gain a greater understanding of the situations and feelings of ethnic minorities, and to encourage feelings of respect and learning about cultures that differ from the mainstream. Irish society is becoming increasingly diverse and this presents challenges to both host society and migrants. The current research provides an account of the myriad factors influencing migrants’ cross-cultural adaptation. These findings should contribute to the host society’s awareness and understanding of the migrants’ experience; this may, in turn, facilitate migrants’ adaptation and integration.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

ma

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Dublin City University

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Ni, Jun

• Culture

Language dc:language

en