East meets west, perceptions of Sikh women living in Canada

Abstract

East Indians come from a culture that emphasizes familial obligations and gender segregation. It also maintains strict rules regarding marriage and dating procedures. On the other hand, Canadian culture is characterized by individualism, gender integration and an egalitarian social structure. The goal of this study was to understand the perceptions of East Indian Sikh mothers who immigrated to Canada as adults and their adult daughters raised in Canada, regarding these issues. Many of the conflicts that emerged were in accordance with the changes that first and second-generation immigrants experience when settling in a western country. Both mothers and daughters reported experiencing many conflicting values and behaviors. Mothers were struggling to hold on to traditions they felt were important in maintaining their culture. Daughters were trying to find a middle ground between maintaining respectful relationships with their parents and adopting a more liberal Canadian way of life.