Navigating cultures: immigrant mothers’ parenting beliefs

Abstract

Parenting beliefs of immigrant mothers typically emerge from their culture of origin; each woman negotiates the new challenges that are presented in parenting their “American” children through her own cultural lens (Bornstein & Cote, 2004). A mixed-methods study of nine immigrant women living in New York State was conducted. The present research examined the parenting beliefs of immigrant mothers who arrived in the United States after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. The “developmental niche” model (Super & Harkness, 1996) and Bronfenbrenner’s (1986) “ecological” model provided the theoretical basis for this study. Qualitative themes that emerged included the importance of social support, the formative experience of immigration, and hybridized discipline styles. Findings suggest that immigrant mothers do hold unique parenting beliefs as a marginalized group.