Second generation Iraqi migrants in Germany – what can I tell my parents and how? A qualitative study exploring the intergenerational relationship quality

While the importance of family is recognized in migration research, few studies examine how migration impacts on intergenerational relationships. The acculturation challenges for the first and second generation are quite different, potentially providing sources of conflict and impacting the relationship between parents and children. The factors affecting the relationship quality are poorly understood.

In this qualitative study we focus on the experiences of second-generation migrants, born and raised in Germany, whose parents fled Iraq to escape conflict and war. Iraq and Germany are very distant in terms of values (see Inglehart & Welzel world cultural map, 2022 and Hofstede dimensions) and we explore the process of negotiating these different cultural influences.

Six young Iraqi/ German citizens, aged between 21 – 30 years, half male/ female, were recruited to participate in this study. The second author conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews and
explored the relationship with their parents – the perception of parental values and expectations and level of agreement with these. In the interviews, the tension of felt obligations and own aspirations come to the surface. Inclusive identities cannot really be achieved. The different value systems are negotiated by compartmentalization, keeping the cultural influences quite separate. Certain experiences are not shared as communications gaps – in terms of language and common understanding cannot be bridged. These affect the relationship quality of with parents. Theoretical and practical implications will be discussed.