Dissertation Negotiating Cultural Values in Bi-national Relationships (...) (Volume I: Main Part) Chong Jiong Wang for mom 2 Negotiating Cultural Values in Bi-national Relationships: A Comparative Research on Children from German-Chinese Families Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Dr. phil., genehmigt durch die Fakultät für Geistes-, Sozial- und Erziehungswissenschaften der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg von: M.A. Chong Jiong Wang (王翀冏) geb. am 09.05.1977 in Beijing Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Reinhard Golz (i. R.) Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Arthur Ellis 3 Acknowledgement This research could not have been completed without those to whom I would like to express my deep acknowledgement below. Each of them played a unique role in this process, although I might not know all their names. “Supervisor” in Chinese is called “teacher of guiding”. I could never have grasped its true meaning without the step-by-step and supportive assistance of my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Reinhard Golz. In fact, what I benefitted most from him was not only his knowledge in the realm of historic, comparative and intercultural education, but also the integration of this knowledge into his way of thinking and treating people. You do not have to say too much about your problems, simply because he understands. I still remember the day on which I just showed him one piece of paper of my texts after months. He did not ask me the question which I had been nervously waiting for “what have you been doing?” By contrast, he put one hand on his ear saying “let me hear you say: yes, I can do it.” Such “soft” and at the same time demanding encouragement was in fact strong motivation. I am indebted to his trust! Equally my thanks go to Prof. Dr. Arthur Ellis for supervising my research and also for his support. Both the face-to-face discussions and the encouragement via emails were most valuable. My participation in Prof. Renate Girmes’s colloquium, Prof. Solvejg Jobst’s seminars and Dr. Andrea Óhidy’s discussions provided me with the opportunities to present my project, to get feedback and to exchange ideas with others. I therefore acknowledge their offers very much. Looking back at the first year of my research, this empirical study could not have progressed smoothly without the practical help of Dr. Olaf Beuchling. Special thanks go to the International Office of the Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg for its generous financial support which enabled me to concentrate on my work effectively. The Department of Education once financially supported me to do the field work in China. Dr. Wolfgang Mayrhofer and Dr. Ingrid Osten played an important role in this matter. As another supportive group, I would like to thank the 4 Office of Foreign Affairs in the City of Magdeburg, the local German-Chinese societies in Berlin, Munich and in the Federal State of North-Rhine Westphalia for helping me have the access to the German-Chinese families. In my home country, professors from different universities and institutions made their great contributions in assisting me to contact those families and to do the field work in China. They were Prof. Chen HongJie from the Beijing University, Prof. Li KuiLiu from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, Prof. Li YinHe and Prof. Zhang JiJiao from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Mrs. Chen YiXin, manager of the CPPCC Newspaper Office (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference). The field work in China could not even have been possible without any of them. Accordingly, I say thank you to all the German-Chinese families living in these two countries for sharing their family stories with me! No matter whether or not the parents finally accepted the interviews, their willingness to give their time to have a talk before the real field work in fact gave me more motivations to get through this process. Mrs. Gerda Häusler (I prefer to call her “Oma Gerda”) was the very first reader of this dissertation. Her patience and encouragement was always touching. I learned a lot from all the discussions with her and the corrections of the texts. I feel deep gratitude for her interest in my research and having her as an “old” friend in my life! The role of Mrs. Angela Lloyd was multifunctional for sure. She helped me not only find those families in China but also gather the up-to-date materials for my project. More significantly, once again she willingly accepted my request for proofreading the dissertation, although she was occupied by lecturing, business travels and conferences all the time. I am indebted to her for her kindness and support! Surely, I should not forget my friends from different countries. They were like the screws of a machine which could not work without them. No matter in which way they contributed to this project, e.g. a piece of advice, a discussion, a recommendation for literature, or simply the company of my business travels in China, it was worth keeping their friendly offers in my mind for ever. In alphabetical order of their first names, they are Bo, Brenda, Christina, Claudia, HaiHong, Juan, Lu, QiChang, Run, and YaQin. 5 Table of contents (Volume I) Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………………4 Chapter One Introduction…………………………………………………………………………11 1.1 Research background and problem identification………………………………. 11 1.2 Research ideas, objectives and questions………………………………………...13 1.3 Structure of the thesis…………………………………………………………….15 1.4 Literature review of intercultural relationships…………………………………..17 1.4.1 On the history of German-Chinese relationship with special reference to selected developments…………………………………………………………………..17 1.4.1.1 German colonial policy in the 19th century…………………………………..18 1.4.1.2 Political and economic developments in the 20th century……………………20 1.4.1.3 Academic and cultural exchange: historic and current aspects………………22 1.4.2 Intercultural studies according to different scholars…………………………...23 1.4.2.1 Intercultural studies by Non-Chinese scholars……………………………….23 1.4.2.2 Intercultural studies by Chinese scholars…………………………………….25 1.4.3 Selected features and clichés of “Western” and “Eastern” families…………...27 1.4.3.1 “Western” families with special reference to Germany ……………………..28 1.4.3.2 “Eastern” families with special reference to China…………………………..30 1.4.3.3 Negotiating cultural values in bi-national families using the example of the “Tiger Mother”, Amy Chua…………………………………………………..33 1.4.3.3.1 Parenting of the “Tiger Mother” and factors of its formation……………...35 1.4.3.3.2 Disagreement in Chua’s parenting and her ways of negotiating…………...37 1.4.3.3.3 Comments on the “Tiger Mother” with special reference to the German and Chinese discussions………………………………………………………..39 1.5 Summary……………………………………………………………………41 Chapter Two Theoretical background and explanation of key terms…………………………..43 2.1 Aspects of cultural values and culture-related research…………………………43 2.1.1 Cultural dimensions and cultural value orientations according to Schwartz…..43 2.1.2 Negotiating cultural differences: “when cultures collide” according to Lewis..49 2.1.3 Implication of culture and cultural values according to Eagleton and Frow…..53 2.2 Explanation of further key terms…………………………………………………55 Chapter Three Selected aspects of multiculturalism in China and Germany……………………59 3.1 Multiculturalism in China………………………………………………………..59 3.1.1 Historical roots of marrying a “foreigner”……………………………………..59 3.1.2 Transformation since the Opening-Up-Policy…………………………………61 3.1.2.1 Political and economic changes……………………………………………...62 3.1.2.2 Development at the educational level………………………………………..63 3.1.2.3 One-Child-Policy…………………………………………………………….65 3.1.2.4 New climate in societal and cultural aspects………………………………...66 6 3.1.3 “Migration in China and Asia: Experience and Policy”: Discussions using the example of a Beijing International Conference in 2010…………………….68 3.2 Multiculturalism and intercultural education in Germany……………………….70 3.2.1 Special problems of integration of the Chinese with special reference to students………………………………………………………………………...73 3.2.2. Social transformation with special concern for bi-national families…………..75 3.2.3 “Immigration, Integration and the Image of Germany in the World”: Discussions using the example of a Berlin International Conference in 2011 …………...76 Chapter Four Research methods…………………………………………………………………...79 4.1 Methods of data collection……………………………………………………… 79 4.1.1 Primary data collection…………………………………………………………79 4.1.1.1Structured interview…………………………………………………………..79 4.1.1.2 Structured questionnaire……………………………………………………...80 4.1.1.3 Educational diary…………………………………………………………….81 4.1.1.4 Structured test………………………………………………………………...81 4.1.2 Secondary data collection………………………………………………………82 4.1.2.1 Selected cities in Germany: Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Pulheim, Munich and Dachau………………………………………………………........................82 4.1.2.2 Selected cities in China: Beijing, Wuxi and Taicang………………………...83 4.2 Research procedure………………………………………………………………83 4.2.1 First interviews……………………………………………………………….84 4.2.2 Second interviews……………………………………………………………87 4.3 Outcome of data collection………………………………………………………88 4.3.1 Backgrounds of families living in Germany…………………………………...88 4.3.1.1 Backgrounds of fathers………………………………………………………89 4.3.1.2 Backgrounds of mothers……………………………………………………..89 4.3.1.3 Backgrounds of children……………………………………………………..90 4.3.1.4 Summary……………………………………………………………………..91 4.3.2 Backgrounds of families living in China………………………………………93 4.3.2.1 Backgrounds of fathers………………………………………………………93 4.3.2.2 Backgrounds