Abstract
This article illuminates the multiple factors that shape the formation of cultural identity among second-generation Chinese immigrants. The massive movement of migrants from China to Europe began in the nineteenth century and, since then, Chinese migrants to Europe have shaped new migration paths and built their own communities. With a presence in many European countries, Chinese migrants have not only crossed national borders but also overcome a multitude of challenges, including cultural and linguistic differences. This article outlines the long-term impact that these numerous challenges have had on second-generation Chinese immigrants. Though most of these migrants were born in Europe, they constantly face cultural conflicts and experience differences in family structures from the host country that make the process of developing a stable and strong cultural identity for themselves difficult. The shaping of a personal cultural identity embodies self-assertion and is vital to identity formation in cultural and ethnic conflicts, especially in times of globalization. This article delves into the multiple threads of cultural identity formation and the personal lives of second-generation Chinese migrants. Investigating the self-perception of this group, it also delineates their understanding of belonging and cultural difference in Europe.
