Agyaaku K (Motivation and Relevance).edited

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1 Motivation and Relevance Agyaaku Kyei Rutgers University 11/23/2023

2 Motivation and Relevance Introduction The problem addressed in this study is the experience of adult Ghanaians who were raised in the U.S. by Ghanaian immigrants. There are no studies specific to this population as most studies cluster African migrant families into broad categories making it hard to understand the unique experiences of these people this study seeks to assess perceptions and experiences of adult children raised by Ghanaian immigrant parents regarding guidance and love in childhood. The study would also investigate how these people view their cultural upbringing in contrast to their American counterparts. The research questions that will guide this study are The guidance and love received from the parents during childhood and how the Ghanaian immigrant adults raised in the U.S. perceive the same. How do these individuals view their cultural background as being different from other Americans or the people around them? First, this study is important because it has several reasons. Secondly, it fills a gap in the literature by studying the experiences of a largely under-researched population. The findings of this study will add to the existing knowledge about the challenges, strengths, and cultural dynamics within the Ghanaian immigrant community in the U.S. The study also contributes to the social justice and culturally competent practice in the social work profession. It is vital to understand the experiences of people from different ethnic groups so that they can offer appropriate and culture-sensitive services. This study on perceptions and experiences of adults born to Ghanaian immigrants will inform and help with practice in this population.

3 This paper's objective is to create an avenue through which Ghanaian adult children would share their narratives, experiences, and insights. This study intends to amplify their voice, validate their experience, and also be part of the bigger conversation within the Ghanaian immigrant community among others. The aim of this study, therefore, is to increase understanding and support for individuals brought up by Ghanaian immigrant parents in the U.S. Literature Review Theoretical background Through the prism of transnationalism, one can see the experiences of Ghanaian immigrants and their children growing up in America. Transnationalism is the social, economic, and cultural relations among people across national borders ( Dahinden, 2019 ). This idea acknowledges that a lot of immigrant communities are linked to their countries of origin even as they participate in their new host country. Transnationalism is particularly meaningful for Ghanaian immigrant families because immigrants retain a deep connection to their home country. This is often shown through remittances that involve sending money and resources back to Ghana to cater to the needs of their members. Ghanaian immigrants value remittances in fulfilling their filial duties and sustaining their cultural heritage ( Appiah‐Yeboah et al., 2013). This transnational practice has a far-reaching impact on the parent-child relationship where the parental investment in Ghana affects the degree of guidance and love given to the children brought up in the US. The idea of assimilation and acculturation are two competing theories in the field of transnationalism. According to the assimilation theory, immigrants will gradually adopt the language, customs, and behavior of the nation-state until they are indistinguishable from the natives ( Galli & Russo, 2019 ). On the other hand, acculturation theory accepts that immigrants

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4 will keep some aspects of their original culture along with some aspects of the new culture ( Sam, 2006 ). These theories provide contrasting views on how Ghanaian immigrant parents and their children cope with the tension of keeping their cultural heritage and integrating into American society. Transnationalism and assimilation/acculturation can be viewed as complementary concepts. Ghanaian Americans and their children constantly negotiate a hybrid identity that combines their Ghanaian culture and American experiences. The identity formation process is, for example, affected by parenting practices, and childhood guidance given. Intersectionality theory should be incorporated to better understand the experiences of adult Ghanaians who are raised by Ghanaian immigrants. Intersectionality views that one's experiences are determined by the intersections of the different social identities that shape it, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status ( Twumasi-Ankrah, 2019 ). Through this lens, the study will analyze the dynamics of being Ghanaian and American and also how this is related to the guidance and love that immigrant parents offer to their children. This study will use a blend of transnational theory, assimilation/acculturation, and intersectionality theory. The framework enables the study of how Ghanaian refugee parents interact with their transnational ties and cultures, as they also try to assimilate into the American setting. It also informs on how their parenting styles and the care and love they give their children are affected. In addition, through the overlapping identities of adult children, the study will unveil how their experiences could vary in gender, social class, and generation. In terms of the research design, it would be better to use qualitative approaches like semi- structured interviews or focus groups to collect narratives on the lived experiences and perceptions of adult Ghanaians raised by Ghanaian immigrants. With this strategy, one can get

5 into their minds and find out how they perceive things, which is more specific. Thematic analysis can be used to analyze the data collected and common themes and patterns can be identified from the participants' narratives. Essentially, the proposed theoretical framework recognizes the intricacy of the experiences of adult Ghanaians raised by Ghanaians in the U.S. The study seeks to shed light on how immigrant parents can provide guidance and love by considering transnationalism, assimilation/acculturation, and intersectionality. Prior Empirical Literature The empirical literature on African immigrant parenting, however, has mostly examined different immigrant groups, including West African and Sub-Saharan nations. Some research shows that African parents are religious and most of them feel there is no connection between American culture and their African-based child-rearing (Adekoya & Sinacore, 2019). Some of the parents tend to deny the children's involvement in decision-making and may apply corporal punishment as well as persuasive discipline ( Salami et al., 2020). However, the research is not specific on the parenting practices of Ghanaian immigrant families. Unfortunately, few studies exist on the lives of Ghanaian children who were raised in the US by foreign immigrants. Additionally, very few studies exist on adult perceptions and experiences of love and nurture within childhood from US-Ghanaian immigrant parents. The literature review shows a gap which indicates the need for qualitative study to be conducted so it will help to understand the special experiences of people. This study attempts to bridge a gap in the social work literature by providing vital perspectives on the lived experiences of adult Ghanaians who were raised by Ghanaian immigrants in the US. Through qualitative interviews, this study will generate an account of their

6 upbringing, love and Through this research, the experience of this particular group will be brought to light and it will provide a voice for it. This study will enhance the knowledge of the Ghanaian immigrant community in America. The study will be beneficial to social workers, educators, and policymakers, especially those working with immigrant families. The study will also contribute to the current literature on African immigrant parenting where it will bring a detailed understanding of the Ghanaian immigrant experience by highlighting cultural values and practices that constitute parenting styles. In summary, this study will enhance cultural competence and the provision of better services to Ghanaian immigrant family members in the US. Methods Design/Approach to Interviews A qualitative research design will be used for this study. The study will involve conducting in-depth interviews that will provide extensive information regarding the perspectives and experiences of adults raised by Ghanaian immigrant parents in the U.S. Semi- structured interviews will be administered to allow participants to narrate their own stories while addressing the key themes and topics in the literature review. Sampling A purposive sampling strategy will be used to select participants who meet the criteria of being adults raised by Ghanaian immigrant parents in the US. Key stakeholders in the Ghanaian community such as community leaders, cultural organizations, and churches will be contacted to assist in identifying potential participants. The aim is to select a heterogeneous sample, including participants with different age groups, genders, and geographical locations within the U.S. The

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7 ideal sample size is around 15-20, however, it will depend on data saturation where no new themes or insights are emerging from the Data Collection and Management Plan Participants will be interviewed either face-to-face or via video conferencing based on feasibility and convenience. All the interviews will be recorded with the consent of participants and transcribed verbatim. Transcriptions will be de-identified to guarantee anonymity. This will include taking field notes in and after the interviews to add further context and depth to the study. The data will be password-protected in computers which will be accessible to the research team only. Data Analytic strategy Thematic analysis will provide the means for analysis of the interview data. Afterward, the transcripts will be perused repeatedly to get acquainted with the data. The process of identifying codes and themes will be iterative and use deductive and inductive procedures. The qualitative data will be analyzed through qualitative data analysis software like NVivo and codes and themes will be organized. The research team will hold regular meetings to discuss evolving findings and discrepancies and make further refinements to the coding framework. The last step will be to examine the themes further, and provide meaningful interpretations of the data.

8 References Adekoya , I., & Sinacore , A. L. (2019). Parenting practices among African immigrant families in North America. Nigerian Journal of Social Psychology , 2 (3). Appiah‐Yeboah, K., Bosomtwi, A., & Yeboah, M. A. (2013). Factors impacting remittances by skilled Ghanaians abroad. International Migration , 51 , e118-e132. Dahinden, J. (2019). Transnationalism reloaded: The historical trajectory of a concept. In Celebrating 40 Years of Ethnic and Racial Studies (pp. 202-213). Routledge. Galli, F., & Russo, G. (2019). Immigration restrictions and second-generation cultural assimilation: Theory and quasi-experimental evidence. Journal of Population Economics , 32 , 23-51. Parent–child relationships among African immigrant families in Canada. Family Relations , 69 (4), 743-755. Sam, D. L. (2006). Acculturation: Conceptual background and core components. The Cambridge handbook of acculturation psychology , 11-26. Salami, B., Alaazi, D. A., Yohani, S., Vallianatos, H., Okeke‐Ihejirika, P., Ayalew, T., & Nsaliwa, C. (2020). Twumasi-Ankrah, Y. (2019). Being Black, being British, being Ghanaian: Second generation Ghanaians, class, identity, ethnicity and belonging (Doctoral dissertation, UCL (University College London)).

Agyaaku K (Motivation and Relevance).edited

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