Episode 39: Balancing My Cultural Tightrope
Second-generation immigrants often walk a cultural tightrope — caught between their parents’ heritage and the Canadian identity they grow up with. In this episode, we dive into the emotional and psychological complexity of bicultural identity conflict. Drawing from current research, we explore the mental health challenges faced by second-gen youth, the family expectations that shape their decisions, and the cultural tensions that can lead to feelings of isolation or internal conflict.
We also discuss the resilience of second-generation immigrants — highlighting their educational and economic achievements despite systemic challenges. Most importantly, we reflect on how we as communities, service providers, and allies can support second-gen voices through culturally competent care, community integration, and open dialogue.
Topics Covered:
Bicultural identity conflict
Mental health stigma in immigrant communities
Parent-child tension & generational gaps
The pressure to succeed
Socioeconomic mobility
Support strategies for second-gen immigrants
Episode Sources
Bicultural identity conflict in second-generation Asian Canadians - National Library of Medicine
The Immigration Identity Crisis: Too Ethnic or Not Ethnic Enough? - New Canadian Media
Suicidality in first-generation, second-generation and non-immigrant youth in Canada - National Library of Medicine
Mental Health Impact of Straddling a Dual Identity as an Asian American - VeryWell Mind
A qualitative study exploring the perinatal experiences of social stress among first- and second-generation immigrant parents in Quebec, Canada - BMC
7 Educational and economic outcomes for second-generation Canadians: The children of immigrants - Stats Canada
Quiz Sources
Immigrants make up the largest share of the population in over 150 years and continue to shape who we are as Canadians - Stats Canada
The Leaky Bucket 2024: A Closer Look at Immigrant Onward Migration in Canada - The Conference Board of Canada