IDENTITY

CONSTRUCTION
OF 1.5
GENERATIONS IN
THE UNITED
STATES
APLNG 597B
Lejiao Wang

Dec. 02, 2014

OUTLINE OF THIS PAPER

1.Introduction
2.Methodology
Theoretical framework
Data collection and analysis

3.Results and discussion

4.Conclusion
5.Suggestions for future study

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS 1.5 GENERATION

The term 1.5 generation or 1.5G refers to
people who immigrate to a new country before
or during their early teens.
Bring with them the characteristics of their original
-culture

- Keep being socialized into the new culture

(Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigrant_generations#cite_note-2)

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS
STUDY
According to the Census Bureau's 2009 American
Community Survey, the U.S. immigrant
population was 38,517,234, or 12.5 percent of
the total U.S. population. The number of foreign
born living in the United States increased by 1.5
percent (about 556,000 people) between 2008
and 2009.
("Foreign born" and "immigrants" are used
interchangeably and refer to persons with no U.S.
citizenship at birth. This population includes naturalized
citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylees,
persons on certain temporary visas, and the
unauthorized. )

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS
STUDY
At the heart of the figure is a
generation of children who exist
between two nations, cultures, and
identities from all over the world.

METHODOLOGY

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Critical Discourse Analysis
Indexicality

DATA COLLECTION & DATA

ANALYSIS
5 pieces of narratives of 1.5 generations.
https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//
api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120737542 (Imana Gunawan, 19
Jakarta, Indonesia)
https://soundcloud.com/alisareznick/generation15-an (An Huyhn,
22 Saigon, Vietnam)
https://soundcloud.com/the-seattle-times/jessica-final-2 (Jessica
Oscoy, 22 Mexico City, Mexico)
https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//
api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120742302 (Moses Chege, 18
Nairobi, Kenya)
https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//

DATA COLLECTION & DATA

ANALYSIS
An interview with 2 Indonesian1.5 generations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaJpxRk1dKM
(Yafet Jonatan 30, Felicia Surjono 21)

RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION

1. WHY DO THOSE 1.5GS

COME TO THE US?
Parents seeking more professional opportunities in the
US.
all my dads family was already in the US, before we
moved. And he actually moved to the US before my mom and
I. He moved when my mom was pregnant with me. My dad
was able to gain citizenship and then get my mom to come
over here with me.
(An Huyhn, 22 Saigon, Vietnam)
My dad came here as a student, on, like, its called the J-1
visa. And then the rest of the family comes on like a J-2. It was
two-year visa and during that time you apply for, you know,
green cards and permanent residency. you cant go back to,
you know, Kenya and come back and still be eligible for the
green cards. So, um, they just decided that it was going to
be better to stay.

1. WHY DO THOSE 1.5GS

COME TO THE US?
Political/economic pressure in their original country.
because in 1997 there was a big riot, and the post-riot
effect affected my family and I came to America as a refugee.
(Felicia Surjono 21 Surabaya, Indonesia)

1. WHY DO THOSE 1.5GS

COME TO THE US?
These 1.5 generations are not coming to the US on their
own free will.
Forced to come and live here.
Dont have other choices.

2. WHAT STRUGGLE DO
THEY FACE WHEN COMING
TO THE US?
Language
Culture
Get along with different ethnicity backgrounds
Identity crisis
Feel left out
Maintain the connection with the original culture

2. WHAT STRUGGLE DO
THEY FACE WHEN COMING
TO THE US?
mostly, language. And, um, the culture itself, because
there is a big difference between Indonesian culture and
American culture..
(Do you feel like an outsider based on your ethnicity or
cultural background?) Um, sometimes. Because, I mean,
we are not, you know, we dont have a big, um, culture,
Indonesian culture in the United States, so sometimes,
yeah, we do feel like I do feel left out, and I do feel
that its not a you know a its not a place for me,
that you know, where I belong.
(Yafet Jonatan 30 Bandung, Indonesia)

2. WHAT STRUGGLE DO
THEY FACE WHEN COMING
TO THE US?
My initial struggles were learning to speak the
language, and um interacting with kids that did not look
like me. Um because Ive never really interacted with
kids who had a different skin color than I did.
(Felicia Surjono 21 Surabaya, Indonesia)

2. WHAT STRUGGLE DO
THEY FACE WHEN COMING
TO THE US?
When I was younger, it was definitely that I was very,
very full Korean, and then it just only took about a year
and a half to two years for me to almost completely
forget Korean and change myself to just like full English
speaker. And then I think at one point in junior high and
coand high school, there, there was definitely a lot of
identity crisis, would like who am I? and where do I
belong? which community do I belong in? and am I
supposed to choose?
(Joon Yi, 21 Seoul, Korea)

3. WHERE DO THEY FEEL

MOST AT HOME?
The US:
I mean, I dont know, I guess, this is where I feel most at
home. This is where Ive grown up. Ive had, all my best friends
are here and everything that Ive, kind of found familiar and put
meaning to, um is in Seattle, is in the US. So I have definitely
more of an attachment here. I feel more American than
anything. (An Huyhn, 22 Saigon, Vietnam)

3. WHERE DO THEY FEEL

MOST AT HOME?
The original country:
Um, it would definitely be Indonesia, uh, just because when I
went there, it was just so easy to uh, I dont know, just BE.
Um, I interacted with the locals, and it was like, so natural for
me. Um, seeing my family that I havent seen for 15 years, um,
was great. And I dont feel like Im American at all when I go
there, so (Felicia Surjono 21 Surabaya, Indonesia)
Um, I would consider Indonesia my home. Um, its a place
that, you know, Im very comfortable with. And um, even
though I, you know, Ive been here, you know, a long time and
Ive adapted to this kind of life style, but I still do think that,
you know, I am Indonesian and because thats where Im from.
(Yafet Jonatan 30 Bandung, Indonesia)

4. WHAT DEFINES 1.5GS

IDENTITY, LANGUAGE,
CULTURE, OR NATIONALITY?

5. WHATS THE ROLE OF

LANGUAGE PLAY IN HERE?
1. Initial barrier to the new culture.
2. Tie to the original culture.

CONCLUSION

1.5 generations identities can

vary

wildly.
They can play bridge-builder and cultural
interpreter, helping parents and
grandparents navigate their new home. Or
they can feel like outcasts, neither here nor
there.

THANK YOU!