Abstract
This paper explores how first- and second-generation Koreans in Montgomery County, Maryland understand and perform ethnic community through food and third spaces. It pays particular attention to potential differences in how immigrant generations experience culturally coded phenomena compared to American-born generations through semi-structured interviews with current and former members of Saint Andrew Kim Korean Catholic Church in Olney, Maryland. Key findings focused on three main themes: (i) the nexus between food, memory and personal palates; (ii) the intrinsic entanglement of faith and ethnicity for immigrant churches; (iii) the spatialization of ethnic identity across generations. In my conclusion I outline key points and delve into the policy implications, examining how food, third spaces, and intergenerational relationships can inform policies and planning for the improvement of diasporic communities. While many recommendations are directly linked to the findings, they also offer insights that can benefit a wider audience.
Presenters
Madeline KimStudent, MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University, Maryland, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Food, Intergenerational, Religion, Family, Korean, Culture, Cultural Continuity, Diaspora
