Throughout history, Chinese have sought to build communities of security and support. These enclaves of cultural and economic independence have endured hostile times with courage and pride.
The Chinese1 population in NYC has grown faster than the City average, particularly in Staten Island and Queens. However, they have the highest poverty rates of any Asian ethnic group.
Family Values
Chinese culture places a heavy emphasis on family values. This includes respect for elders and a sense of responsibility to care for and protect children. It also emphasizes hard work and loyalty to family, friends, and community.
Understanding these traditions is key to building relationships with individuals from China. Although some aspects of family dynamics have shifted due to modernization and societal changes, the core principles are still present. For example, filial piety and guanxi are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, as well as the values of harmony, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, and wisdom.
Traditional family roles include men as breadwinners and women as homemakers. In addition, Chinese families often rely on the wisdom of their elders to guide them in life. In fact, it is common for children to consult with their elders before making important decisions, such as career choices or marriage arrangements. Additionally, Chinese family members honor their ancestors by visiting and cleaning their graves each spring.
Education
China has a strong emphasis on education. As a result, Chinese immigrants tend to have considerably higher levels of educational attainment than the overall foreign- and native-born population. In 2021, 52 percent of Chinese immigrant adults had at least a bachelor’s degree, and the share with graduate or professional degrees was more than double that figure.
Compared to the overall U.S. population, Chinese children and teenagers spend more time on homework and study, and parents are very active in their students’ lives. They socialize in single-sex groups and have a strict code of behavior regarding relationships between young people.
When many Chinese moved to Chicago, they spread out throughout the city and established their own Chinatown in Argyle Street, which also attracted Southeast Asians. New types of charities and sports groups emerged to help these newcomers feel at home in a city far away from the farms where they had grown up. This shift made family life possible, and the once-all-male Chinese community began to become a mixed society.
Work
In response to legal discrimination, hard times and the prospect of a better life at home, the Chinese began to establish self-reliant communities. They developed hand laundry businesses, restaurants, and merchant and peddler trades. They also opened private schools, provided domestic services to white families and helped build the transcontinental railroads.
Throughout the twentieth century, Chinese immigrants established themselves in Latin America as well. In Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama, the Chinese community consolidated into affluent merchant communities with large import/export businesses, textile factories and restaurants.
To help people feel at home when they move to a new city, some Chinese organizations are starting clubs and sports groups to connect with each other and their heritage. The Capital District has a number of these groups. The goal of these groups is to promote understanding and appreciation of a heritage that is defining and precious. The goal of these groups is to foster a sense of community in addition to providing learning opportunities that impart Chinese culture and traditions to the next generation.
Community
The Chinese community has a long tradition of respect for elders, a practice that has become central to its culture. It also places great value on the social network known as guanxi, which prioritizes family and close relationships.
In the United States, the Chinese community is the largest Asian ethnic group. The Chinese-American population rose rapidly from a small starting point after World War II. This growth was due to an increase in immigration from China and a renewed ability for Chinese immigrants to achieve American citizenship.
The Chinese-American community is diverse and continues to grow, both domestically and internationally. The Chinese in America are well represented throughout the nation, with major concentrations in California and New York City. Today, many new immigrants from Taiwan and Southeast Asia choose to live outside of core Chinatown neighborhoods. This shift has made traditional family associations less necessary and new types of social service agencies more popular. These organizations help to bring the Chinese community together and to support those in need.