A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Individuals in Intercultural Relationships
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Abstract
This study employed a hermeneutic phenomenological research design to investigate the lived experiences of individuals in intercultural relationships. In total, six individuals (four female and two male) participated. At the time of the study, each participant was in a romantic intercultural relationship (either common-law or married status) and had been in that relationship for at least 3 years. None of the participants had children and the ages of the participants ranged from 22 to 32 years old. Five of the participants self-identified as Canadian citizens, while one participant self-identified both her heritage and citizenship as Hungarian. Of the five Canadian participants, each one self-identified with a unique cultural heritage (Chinese, East-Indian, English, German/Prussian/Ukrainian, Swedish/German). Each participant was interviewed twice and the interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The researcher discovered that there were three essential themes that were indicative of the inter-subjective (common) nature of the lived experiences of individuals in intercultural relationships. First, intercultural relationships are a learning experience – an opportunity for gaining knowledge, understanding, and a new perspective. Participants reflected on the process of growth and change that has happened in their relationships. Second, as a correlated theme, the notion of openness and willingness surfaced as important to the individuals in this study. As the participants’ descriptions suggested, being open and willing to the opportunities within an intercultural relationship is a key factor in their experience. Third, participants described an implicit message as part of their experience of being in an intercultural relationship; for some participants this was related to experiences with family approval, while for others it was seen within the context of societal discrimination. In addition to the three main themes, the researcher identified and discussed a significant difference between the experiences of individuals who were in relationships where both partners were born and raised in the same country (Canada) versus the relationships where the partners were born and raised in two different countries. For the participants who were in relationships where both partners were born and raised in Canada, there were concerns regarding family approval. These concerns are framed by the researcher as integrally connected to notions of identity and whiteness. To conclude this study, the researcher discussed the significance of the findings in light of her goals to gain: (a) a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of individuals in intercultural relationships and (b) a greater level of thoughtfulness and tact both in her personal and professional capacities. The researcher reflected on her own insights with the hopes that greater awareness for others who are interested in the experiences of individuals in intercultural relationships will be fostered.