korean intergenerational trauma dissertation

#Korean intergenerational trauma dissertation how to
#Korean intergenerational trauma dissertation movie

The 2021 Oscar-winning movie, “ Minari“, is an excellent example of acculturation trauma. **Spoiler alert! Plot points from “Umma” are revealed below to illustrate how intergenerational trauma can occur and how it can be addressed.**

Many immigrant families are not aware of any of this, so the cycle of intergenerational trauma continues undetected and unabated down the line. The effects on their children, for example second-generation Korean Americans, are directly impacted by this model of behavior. Parents (immigrant survivors) can also struggle to form healthy emotional attachments with their children. Some examples of intergenerational trauma include domestic violence, child abuse, neglect, as well as substance abuse and addiction. This is then passed down through their parenting.

#Korean intergenerational trauma dissertation how to

They know nothing about how to identify their trauma and how they have endured it. Immigrants can experience what’s referred to as unprocessed trauma. Because of the prevalence of mental health stigma in our Asian community and the lack of research surrounding Asian mental health, a lot of what I do is psychoeducation. This directly impacts and intersects with our Asian identity. I’m a second-generation Korean American family therapist, and much of my work is looking at the effects of intergenerational trauma stemming from acculturation in individuals, families, and couples. This process involves balancing both cultures while having to adapt to the host culture which, if you’re a second-generation Korean American, is our parents’ experience. Acculturation is the psychological, social, and cultural change that happens in the process of leaving your country of origin to a host country. The trauma begins with an incident or event that affects an individual or multiple family members.Īs we see in “Umma” the immigrant experience in and of itself is traumatic and the effects of acculturation are passed from those immigrants (trauma survivors) to their children.

#Korean intergenerational trauma dissertation movie

Yes, I do believe the movie “Umma” is an example of what generational trauma can look like. Intergenerational or transgenerational trauma refers to the trauma that gets passed down from those who directly experience it to the following generations. But there’s always hope that we can break the cycle of trauma. They also may have low to no tolerance for complaining children (or a child who disobeys) because their unprocessed trauma clouds judgment and sound decision-making. Traumatized immigrant parents like Umma have little to no support to ease the pain. However, as pointed out in the film, it sometimes cannot be helped– especially when the pain is immense and unprocessed. It is unfathomable to think of how parents can abuse or neglect their children. Intergenerational trauma is distressful and all too often, leaves a mark on our Korean and Asian families. What I see in “Umma”, mirrors what I see in real life. Thank you for sharing your experience of watching “Umma.” I also recently watched it and can relate to what you said, both as a licensed family therapist and as a fellow Korean American mom of four kids. Am I suffering from it and is it something I can overcome? I’m wondering if this is what’s called generational trauma. My dad was always busy working so he wasn’t around very much. It’s why I chose to go far away for college and distance myself from my mom.

She would yell all the time, I would get spanked repeatedly for things I can’t remember and I was never allowed to hang out with friends or do anything fun. Just like Sandra Oh’s character in the film, I recall my mom being super strict and scary, so much so that the movie triggered me. We came to the States when I was around three years old and my brother was born here. There’s a scene near the end of the movie that made me realize that perhaps my mom had her own trauma while raising me and my younger brother here in the U.S. I just saw the movie, “Umma,” and it got me thinking about the relationship with my own mom. Noona’s Noonchi is a column for Best of Korea by Jeanie Chang, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.