Multicultural identity development of foreign college students from international marriage families

Abstract

This study aimed to discover and understand how foreign college students who come from international marriage families develop their multicultural identities. By using the qualitative research methodology, six foreign college students were interviewed. The major findings from their stories were organized into ten main themes under three categories including given-, chosen-, and globalmulticultural identities. Their multicultural identities were formed and strongly influenced by their parents and church during childhood. They strengthened their multicultural identity by overcoming the challenges or discrimination they faced at school and the greater society. They finally developed global mindsets and perspectives over their chosen multicultural identity. They planned their future careers and personal goals, which are to work for humankind and world peace as global citizens matched with the characteristics of the sixth stage of cultural identity development suggested by Banks(2006). Based on these findings, their multicultural identity given from their family and church became a foundation helping them to chose and achieve their global multicultural identity. It is ‘becoming’ rather than ‘being’. Thus, this study brings some suggestions related to multicultural families and children, and roles of multicultural education in Korea.