Where Does Culture Fit in? A Discourse Analysis of Intercultural Couples’ Talk
Date
2020-04-30
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Abstract
The number of intercultural couples in Canada has been on the rise in the last few decades, making it increasingly likely that family counsellors will work with such clients. There is extensive research outlining the challenges that intercultural couples face due to their cultural differences. This study adopts a strengths-focused approach to study intercultural couples, by recruiting self-defined healthy intercultural couples. In this research I studied the way that couples conversationally construct their experiences of being in an intercultural relationship. Seven intercultural couples were interviewed as to the role that culture plays in their relationship. I approached this research from a social constructionist paradigm, and used Potter and Wetherell’s (1987) method of discourse analysis. Couples spoke from three interpretative repertoires when they constructed the role of culture in their relationship: (a) culture isn’t defining, (b) culture plays a part sometimes, and (c) cultural differences add to the relationship. The results indicate that healthy intercultural couples acknowledge cultural differences but they do not make them central to their relationship. The results are discussed in the context of the available literature, and they are used to make recommendations for practice and further research.
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Keywords
intercultural relationships, romantic relationships, discourse analysis, counselling psychology
Citation
Lopez Bilbao, S. B. (2020). Where Does Culture Fit in? A Discourse Analysis of Intercultural Couples’ Talk (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.