African parenting in Ireland, an exploration on hurdles faced by African rearing children in multicultural Ireland

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank my supervisor for supporting me throughout my project and giving his valuable suggestions. Finally thanks to all my friends and family for their utmost support and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I, (Your name), would like to declare that all contents included in this dissertation stand for my individual work without any aid, & this dissertation has not been submitted for any examination at academic as well as professional level previously. It also represents my own views & not essentially the ones associated with university.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

The multicultural environment of Ireland has distinctive characteristics in which various problems have been faced by the African parents and their descendants getting education and living there for earning their livelihood. Establishing one's personal identity is a central task of adolescence and is often accompanied by an in-depth understanding of one's self, one's relationship with others, and one's values and roles within society. As an adolescent, his or her sense of independence increases as they begin to shift their allegiance from their family to their peer group and self. The process of finding a balance between becoming an individual, feeling accepted and maintaining connections to others is a challenge and can lead to numerous detriments if not assisted by meaningful relationships. According to relational-cultural theory, a concept rooted in the work of Jean Baker Miller (1978), building responsive relationships and connections are essential for healthy psychological development. Unfortunately for an adolescent girl, maintaining these connections becomes so important that she abandons her own voice in order to conform to the cultural gender-role expectations of the dominant society. In many cases, girls silence themselves in relationships rather than risking an open conflict that could lead to isolation and rejection.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: RESEARCH FOCUS AND RATIONALE1

Background of the Research1

Areas of Research2

Problem Statement3

Significance of the Research3

Rationale of the Research4

Research Questions4

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW5

Theoretical Framework5

Details of the Study5

Socialization Experiences8

Racial Socialization8

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY14

Introduction14

Research Philosophy15

Research Design17

Justification of Research Method17

Research design18

Method of Analysis18

Research Approach20

Theories in the Study21

Important Findings of the Study21

Data Collection Methods22

Research Instrument23

Reliability/Dependability23

Validity23

Confidentiality24

Ethical Considerations24

CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF DATA26

Data Analysis Technique26

Data Collection Procedure26

Suitability of Data Addressing Research Question27

Importance of Culture27

Definition and Past Studies on Culture28

Cultural Variations in Gender Socialization31

Changes to the Cultural Bodies in Ireland32

Parent's Role towards Children32

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION34

Current Study35

REFERENCES37

CHAPTER 1: RESEARCH FOCUS AND RATIONALE

Background of the Research

The multicultural environment of Ireland has distinctive characteristics in which various problems have been faced by the African parents and their descendants getting education and living there for earning their livelihood. Establishing one's personal identity is a central task of adolescence and is often accompanied by an in-depth understanding of one's self, one's relationship with others, and one's values and roles within society. As an adolescent, his or her sense of independence increases as they begin to shift their allegiance from their family to their peer group and self. The process of finding a balance between becoming an individual, feeling accepted and maintaining connections to ...