| This qualitative study uses grounded theory and social constructivism to explore American-born teenage daughters being raised by Haitian-born mothers. Findings include strong vibrant mother-daughter dyads that work in reciprocal ways, intertwined in powerful, dialectic, and reciprocal relationships that can only exist between mothers and daughters. The girls' strong bi-cultural identity provides a holding and facilitating environment and gives them positive self-regard and self-esteem. The mothers' integrative tendencies included the passing down of Haitian values to their children, their search for the American Dream, and the success of their daughters. Findings included an expectation of a "payback" from the daughters to the mothers, specific issues regarding self-expression and how it is mediated through cultural transmission, and negative and positive changes that take place with the mothers as the result of their migration. Data was from 90 to 120 minute semi-structured audiotape interviews and field note observations of 20 individuals. The mothers were asked, (a) "What is your experience as a Haitian-born mother raising an adolescent daughter born in the United States?" and daughters, (b) "What is your experience as a teenage daughter born in the United States being raised by a Haitian parent who was born in Haiti?"... |
