Cultural Post #4
For my cultural presentation, I plan to discuss how emerging adulthood looks like and what independence means in South Korea vs. USA. It is evident that adulthood is defined differently in various cultures. It is a unique experience where an individual shifts to becoming independent and experiencing a new life shift. As I was researching about individualism, independence, and what emerging adulthood looked like in South Korea, I realized that these are factors that are culturally independent of what is currently occuring in the society. For example, one marker of emerging adulthood is the concept of stability. However, in both South Korea and USA, stability is perceived differently. In the USA, stability is often in terms of financial stability. The individual becomes financially independent of their parents, and they become their own primary providers. This shift is often accompanied by moving out of their parents’ homes and becoming their own person outside of their parents’ house. In South Korea, stability usually refers to finances as well. However, it differs in that stability is seen as if the individual has the resources to provide for their parents. Furthermore, while the individual may move out, they are not independent entities from their parents. Oftentimes, their parents will live with them and the son/ daughter will begin to provide for their parents. This trend was interesting to see because it also sheds light on what the society values. In the USA, society values letting go of your parents’ hands and moving forward. In South Korea, society values the co-dependent relationship between parent and children.
Comments
South Korea seems to have a very collectivist mindset compared to the US. Many young adults will stay with their parents well into their late 20s. It is also interesting that the many East Asian countries have grandparents living in the home as well. It is interesting to see the contrasts in what adulthood really means in both cultures. Being an Asian American, I too feel a sense of importance for both collectivism and individualism.