This study was carried out to get practical data for social integration by understanding the essence on the experiences of mother-in-law with foreign-daughter-in-laws(below; FDLs) in rural area, using by Colaizzi's phenomenological research methodolog...
This study was carried out to get practical data for social integration by understanding the essence on the experiences of mother-in-law with foreign-daughter-in-laws(below; FDLs) in rural area, using by Colaizzi's phenomenological research methodology.
The lists of interviewees were collected from the public assistance social workers and government officers who have been controling the multi-cultural families in the city hall. The notice and excuses were provided to mother-in-laws by them, and then the research goals and methods were informed 3-5 times through phone and pre-visiting, and home visiting interviews in depth were carried out 1-2 times by researcher. The interviews had been in progress until new results had not appeared according to principle of 'being sufficient' in phenomenological research methodology. Finally six interview contents were analyzed by process of Colaizzi's method.
The results are to be summarized as follows;
17 themes emerged from data analysis. ie., 'worrying about her son not married', 'choosing the marriage without her intention', 'considering the FDLs as a woman coming from the poor country', feeling pity for their social and economical status', 'regarding them as real daughter', 'supporting them', 'making them follow the korean patriarchal system', 'enduring negative experience with them in mind', 'thinking of them as beings superficially similar with korean daughter-in-laws', 'communicating well with them by sense', 'recognizing them as superwomen', 'estimating their competence highly', 'feeling that they have had reputation for their performance', 'fearing their escape', 'controling their activities', 'trusting them with anxiety', 'no more hopes', ‘no more differently life’.
6 categories appeared from 17 themes above, and these categories are to be characterized as follows. First, 'choosing without intention' experiences are that interviewee have approved the poor condition of marriage with korean women. Korean rural mother-in-laws have had to decide the international marriage for the sake of their duties. Second, 'accepting with a pity' experiences are that they have had compassion on FDLs. Because korean rural mother-in-laws in superior position have understood and accepted the FDLs in inferior position with patriarchal, benevolent and familial attitude. Third, 'trying to make them like korean' experiences are that they have hoped that FDLs would live well as korean. So they have thought themselves as good initiator to teach korean tradition and culture, and FDLs have had to played their role as the others who would have been educated. Fourth, 'living with superior FDLs' experiences are that they have lived with more excellent FDLs. Because they have considered their daughter-in-law as more competible than other FDLs. Fifth, 'making invisible fences' experiences are that they have invisibly controled FDLs. So they have made FDLs obey their tacit rules. Sixth, 'living well in spite of troubles' experiences are that they have been living well with FDLs. So they have kept on living with FDLs in spite of various troubles. As a conclusion, the essence of experience of korean rural mother-in-laws is to be 'in abandon state, some positive and optimistic acceptance of FDLs' conditions'.
Based on above research result, further studies would be suggested for multi-cultural family and society as follows.
First, the longitudinal studies on duration of living together would be explored. Because it might be presumed that in this study result, the level of anxiety of escape of FDLs have changed according to time passed. Second, the practical studies on utilization of mass media would be performed for cultural competence. Because mass media is the most powerful influence to change family, community and the state. Third, the studies on model development would proceeded for the multi-cultural family and society in rural community.