Cultural Socialization in Polish and Binational Families in Ireland

Abstract

Parents and their children staying abroad can assimilate national culture and the culture of the country of residence. However, this does not exhaust the possibilities of education and socialization in the family. Qualitative research using the interview method was conducted in twenty-four Polish and two binational families residing in Ireland. The discussed research results allow to notice that the adopted model of introducing a child into culture differentiates the will to return to Poland or to stay abroad. In the family, the child learns cultural scripts, meets the symbols of Polishness, gets to know a new culture. The family also provides positive examples of recognizing dissimilarity and tolerance. Most of the surveyed parents try to make their children use both the cultural achievements of Poland and the country of residence.