Multicultural Families as a Phenomenon of Acculturation

Due to the globalization process, the emergence of an increasing number of multicultural families has been observed around the globe. This upturn has made people more loyal to the phenomenon of acculturation and more accepting of its effects in modern reality. Multicultural individuals are making efforts to succeed in the processes of adjustment and adaptation to a new cultural environment. Nevertheless, social complications may still emerge in their lives. The present study aims at examining difficulties faced by multicultural individuals in social life and at investigating how the above-mentioned challenges may affect both the older and the younger generations in the context of a multicultural family. With the focus on the main aim of this study, it was decided to implement both qualitative and quantitative research methods and to collect valid data by conducting a survey based on a questionnaire and a short interview. The results revealed that (1) due to different social and cultural backgrounds misunderstandings might occur in interpersonal relationships between multicultural family members (language, religion, values, social prejudices, self-formation). (2) Multicultural children and adolescents are more likely to face social biases (based on their language, religion, values etc.). (3) The process of finding one’s identity and the matter of not belonging might seem to be more complex for multicultural representatives. Keywords: multiculturalism, family, acculturation, social prejudices, self-identity, American culture, multicultural children.