Interaction with Other Chinese Immigrant Parents

Abstract

This chapter deals with the mothers’ interaction with other Chinese immigrant parents, which constitutes the major source of information for them as far as Canadian schooling is concerned, and greatly influences their parental practice. The mothers made certain choices over their children’s education due to some peer pressure from other immigrant parents, and they also got many tips about the local school from the Chinese immigrant community. The importance of interpersonal relation in Chinese culture helps account for the ways how the mothers network with other Chinese immigrant parents. This chapter focuses on the mothers’ efforts to gain more support in their children’s schooling by establishing a network with other Chinese immigrant parents, and the difficulties faced by them as they socialize within relatively enclosed circle of Chinese people.