Description
Book SynopsisThis book explores how parents make sense of, and respond to, differing cultural influences within their family. Chapters identify the communication strategies employed by the parents as they strive to create affirming relationships between children and their heritages.
Trade ReviewWith a few notable exceptions, cultural diversity has been overlooked and neglected in family communication literature. I am delighted to see the publication of Mediating Cultures, which focuses so clearly on filling this void. The chapters are all situated at the nexus of intercultural communication and family communication, and this is a welcome addition to the field. -- Lynn H. Turner, Marquette University
Communication scholars González (Bowling Green State Univ.) and Harris (Univ. of Georgia) make a long overdue contribution to their discipline with this collection. Covering topics from parenting in the White House to parenting in ABC's Modern Family, this thought-provoking volume examines significant contemporary intercultural and family communication issues. The ten essays coalesce to form a coherent narrative that goes from micro- (section 1) to macro-level (section 2) communication to address parenting in intercultural contexts. The collection's key contribution is to extend the discussion from a black/white racial/cultural binary to bi- and multicultural persons. Representing a wide breadth of cultural and intellectual perspectives, the contributors include both veteran scholars (e.g., Jennifer Willis-Rivera and both the editors) and emerging scholars (e.g., Natalia Rybas, Suchitra Shenoy). Of particular significance is Kimberly Moffitt's essay about the Obamas; as the first multicultural family to inhabit the White House, the Obamas are hyper-scrutinized and their actions carry weight that shapes the US's collective psyche. Such influence includes their parenting practices as a multicultural family. Missing is discussion of parenting in the Native American population, a group social sciences continues to neglect. A good resource for those interested in family and interpersonal communication, media studies, and critical cultural studies. Summing Up: Recommended. * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Parenting in Intercultural Contexts, Alberto González and Tina M. Harris Section I: Interpersonal Settings and Intercultural Parenting Chapter One: Digging (in) the Playground: (In)visibility of Difference in Multicultural Parenting, Natalia Rybas Chapter Two: Cultural Ambiguity, Ethnic Identity, and the Bicultural Experience: South Asian Indian Parents and their American-born Kids, Suchitra Shenoy and Tara A. Kulkarni Chapter Three: The Trouble With Family Stories, Melissa Aleman and Carlos Aleman Chapter Four: How Caucasian Parents Communicate Identity to Chinese Adopted Daughters, May H. Gao and Deanna Womack Chapter Five: Black Parenting in The White House: The Emergence of an Intercultural Model, Kimberly Moffet Section II: Media, Social Networks and Intercultural Parenting Chapter Six: Islam in the Midwest: Parental Values in The Learning Channel’s All American Muslim, Souhad Kahil Chapter Seven: Googling “Latin@”: Using Technology to Construct Cultural Identity in a Bicultural Family, Jennifer Willis-Rivera Chapter Eight: Like Tiger Mother, Like Tiger Daughter: A Content Analysis of Eastern and Western Parenting Styles, Chin-Chung (Joy) Chao and Dexin Tian Chapter Nine: We’re Not Like the Cleavers Any More!: Diversity and Parenting Communication in ABC’s Modern Family, Candice Thomas-Maddox and Nicole Blau Epilogue: The Future and Multicultural Parenting Chapter Ten: “Dogmamis çocuga don biçmek”: Visions of a Multicultural Family, Ali E. Erol and Joris Gjata
