Research Topic + Reading Details

Hi there! My research topic has been very much influenced by what I see and observe every day. The purpose of my research is to answer the question: How has the Vietnamese culture in America become Americanized, as a result of Vietnamese immigrants coming to the U.S.? As I am an American born Vietnamese-American, I definitely have different look on certain things in comparison to my parents and relatives. My family really does value our culture, though, and we try to uphold it as much as we can. We usually never speak to each other in English, and we keep the same customs as our traditional ancestors did. We greatly respect our elders the most, and we always wait for the elders to eat before we do. Showing disrespect to them is prohibited. When going out to eat, there is only one person who pays for the bill, which is the person who invited everyone there. People paying separate bills would be inappropriate. Shoes are never worn in the house. Religion and marriage are incredibly important aspects in the family, as they are both huge social events and bring people together. You can’t forget about the food, either! What I have observed so far, though, is that the culture is gradually disappearing and becoming more Western. I have a few friends who don’t even know how to speak Vietnamese. Their families even wear shoes inside of the house. General customs and traditions are not followed anymore. People usually got married really early; my grandmother was 15 when she had her first child. I guess because of the Western influence, the Vietnamese have become totally different. Usually, you live with your parents even after you get married and have children. But in America, grandparents live separately from their children. From my research, I’ve learned that Vietnamese street gangs have sprung up! I was surprised since being involved with crime and violence is dishonoring to the family. I also didn’t know about how most “Amer-asians” were treated. Having American soldier fathers and Vietnamese mothers, most were thrown out on streets and abandoned. My aunts also had an American military father who abandoned them, as well. But I didn’t know that there was a specific term for them and how many were left on street corners and were just dumped there. Basically, the culture has become Americanized by losing its Vietnamese roots and adopting the American values and traditions.

Growing up as a American-born Vietnamese, I've observed a variety of changes within my culture in my life. The purpose of my research is to understand how my culture has become Americanized as a result of Vietnamese immigrants settling in America. There are many components that make up the culture: food, traditions, morals, religion, music, and most importantly, our family. My family greatly honors our Vietnamese culture. We always aim to preserve our culture as much as possible by always speaking Vietnamese to each other. Our elders must be shown the most respect out of all. Showing disrespect to them would eating before they do during mealtime, or touching the top of their heads. Shoes must never be worn inside of the house. When eating at a restaurant, only one person pays for the bill for everybody there: the person who originally invited everyone to come. However, a conflict in the new Vietnamese generation has become evident. They are gradually beginning to become more Americanized as they lose their original Vietnamese roots. Most of my Vietnamese friends living in America are not able to speak the native language. Some families allow the household members to wear shoes inside of the house. Respect towards your elders are rarely ever seen anymore. Vietnamese couples were married unusually early; my grandmother was 15 when she gave birth for the first time. But here, that would be scorned at. The custom is to live with your parents even after getting married and having children, to be able to take care of them as they are of older age. In America, with the children living far away from their parents, they are unable to look after and care for them. From my research, I've learned many new things that I never knew about. For instance, many Vietnamese street gangs have arose. This surprises me due to the fact that being involved with crime and violence is a huge dishonor to the family. I also did not know the specific term for "Amer-Asians" and how they were treated back in Vietnam. Having "Amer-Asians" as aunts, they were abandoned by their American father in the Army during the Vietnamese War. But most other Amer-Asians were left abandoned on streets by both of their parents. Basically, the Vietnamese culture is becoming more and more Americanized each day from leaving behind components of their culture and adopting Western values and traditions.

Reading details:

1/23: Found, read, and annotated 4 sources: 240 min.

1/24: Found, read, and annotated 2 sources: 120 min.

Brian Wansick, Mindless Eating

1/23: 10 min., 1/24: 30 min., 1/25: 60 min. pp. 172-248

Total time: 420 min.