Navigating Borders and Bytes: The Reconstruction of Parenting Narratives by Chinese Immigrant Mothers

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Saturday 9:45 am
  In Poster Session: Counseling Poster Session B

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates how a group of Chinese immigrant mothers in Canada reconstruct their parenting narratives by drawing on life experiences and engaging with childrearing philosophies accessed through digital platforms. Grounded in a narrative approach, our analysis of in-depth interview data examines these mothers’ beliefs and highlights the coherence, contradictions, and evolution within their stories. Our findings reveal that social media serve as discursive spaces that transcend geographic boundaries. These platforms enable the reimagining of parenting goals but also limit integration into local contexts. Tensions emerge as mothers critique traditional Chinese practices while idealizing "Western" approaches. By exploring these dynamics, this study illuminates how transnational experiences and digital ecologies reshape parental belief systems in a digital age.

Authors

• Xu Zhao, University of Calgary

• Dongzhao Liu, University of Calgary