Most studies on family culture focus on language, religion, socialization, identity, or power dynamics.
Sexual values are also transferred across generations within immigrant families through explicit and implicit means. This paper examines how immigrants' beliefs about gender roles, sexual norms, and family planning influence their children's attitudes toward sex and dating. It discusses how parents transmit expectations about appropriate behavior during courtship and marriage, from consent to contraception. It considers whether second-generation offspring follow these standards in their own lives and relationships. To illustrate this process, it draws on research findings from the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America, including interviews with individuals of diverse backgrounds, such as Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, and atheists.
The analysis suggests that while some families prioritize conservative views, others promote progressive values. Thus, the transmission of sexual ideals is shaped by cultural context, individual experiences, and personal choices.
Immigration has changed the global landscape by increasing diversity and mobility. According to UN data, there were nearly 270 million international migrants in 2019, up from just under 153 million in 1990. Many migrants have settled down permanently, starting new lives in a foreign country with different cultures and traditions. In doing so, they bring along their customs and beliefs, which often differ significantly from those of native populations. One aspect of culture that can be particularly sensitive is sexuality, encompassing everything from gender roles to sexual orientation to relationship dynamics.
Transferring Values
Parents pass on their beliefs and attitudes to their children through various channels. Some are explicit, like lecturing or modeling proper behavior. Others are implicit, based on body language, nonverbal cues, or social norms within family circles. These messages may influence how immigrant youth perceive sex and intimacy, from dating practices to contraception use to marriage timing. While parents play an important role, other members of the extended family, including grandparents, uncles, and aunts, may also influence young people's values. This dynamic is especially true when parents embrace traditional views on gender roles, which vary across regions and religions.
Cultural Differences
The definition of sex differs across countries and communities.
Western societies typically view it as recreational, casual, and consensual, while Eastern ones emphasize procreation and fidelity.
Some societies value virginity before marriage, while others promote premarital abstinence. Moreover, different religious groups may hold conflicting beliefs about homosexuality, pornography, abortion, and birth control, affecting family planning decisions. Thus, understanding cultural differences is critical for studying sexual transmission between generations.
Research Findings
Several studies have explored this topic in diverse settings. In one US study, Asian-American adults reported receiving mixed messages about sex growing up but noted that their parents valued monogamy and commitment over promiscuity. Another European study found that Muslim women felt pressure to conform to strict dress codes and behavioral standards, while men were expected to be financially responsible providers. In India, Sikh families stressed the importance of arranged marriages with premarital chastity. Latin American immigrants often face stigma if they engage in same-sex relationships or defy conservative norms.
There are complex patterns in how immigrant families transmit sexual ideals. Some prioritize conservative values, such as modesty and faithfulness. Others promote progressive views on gender roles, body autonomy, and reproductive rights. The process can be shaped by culture, individual experiences, and personal choices, influencing youth's attitudes toward intimacy, dating, and relationships.
How do immigrant families transfer sexual values across generations?
Research shows that parental roles play an important role in passing down cultural and social norms about gender and sexuality from one generation to the next. Immigrants who arrive in the United States with traditional beliefs may continue these norms in their families even if they have become integrated into American culture. This can include limiting dating opportunities for their children based on their parents' expectations of whom their children should date, such as individuals within the same ethnic group, religion, or country of origin.