The multiple role expectations and commitments of Korean-American women

Abstract

Korean-American women face multiple roles to accomplish in the United States as an employee, mother, wife, daughter-in-law, and immigrant. Those multiple roles might give them more rewards through role integration or might be a cause stress. This research assessed Korean-American women's perception of role rewards and expectation of role commitments. The purpose of this research was to determine how they feel about their multiple roles and what was the most favorable role among five areas, and how to perceive roles depending on age, length of residence and employment status. The researcher surveyed 80 Korean-American women from 5 states. The instrument was revised from the Life Role Salience Scales (Amatea et al., 1986). The researcher developed four subscales and added to instrument. 50 each item and 10 subscales were computed both mean score and standard deviation at UW-Stout Computer Center. Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was used to determine reliability. A t-test also used to data analysis. Parental role was the most favorable among the five roles. Older age group expected more commits to their parental and marital role than younger age group. 15 years and more residence group showed more active on parental and immigrant role commitments. Also, they perceived more rewards on immigrant role.