The Infrastructure and Integration Lab

Presentation held at 2025 The Annual Canadian Sociological Association (CSA) Conference

Presenter(s): Ka Po (Capri) Kong

Non-Presenter(s): Dr Miu Chung Yan, University of British Columbia

This study examines how parental interpretations of diaspora identity influence their children’s acculturation experiences and identity development. As global diaspora populations continue to grow, studying the transmission and formation of diaspora identities becomes increasingly important for understanding integration experiences across diaspora generations. However, existing research on this topic often relies on retrospective, child-centric perspectives that assume uniform and consistent parental intentions to transmit cultural heritage. This approach tends to overlook the complex and potentially divergent ways parents negotiate and navigate their diaspora identities, ultimately limiting the understanding of the diverse pathways of intergenerational identity transmission. Our study addresses this gap by prioritising the viewpoints of diaspora parents. Using semi-structured interviews with twelve Hong Konger parents, we identify two hybrid forms of diaspora identity: separated, prioritising homeland connections and returns, and integrated, balancing belonging in both homeland and hostland contexts. Our findings demonstrate that these parental identities directly influence children’s acculturation and identity development, shaping their navigation of multiple cultural affiliations and even fostering a sense of global citizenship. We challenge the notion of diaspora identity as a singular construct defined solely by opposition to the host society, revealing its nuanced, coexisting, and reciprocal nature. Our findings contribute to broader sociological discussions on identity formation, acculturation processes, and the dynamics of belonging in an increasingly interconnected world.