Rupture or Continuity? : The Impact of Globalization on Cultural Identity and Education in Indian Immigrant Families in Australia

Abstract

This paper argues that the notion of identity amongst Indian migrants has not ruptured as a result of globalization or Westernization. Given the focus of this paper, to understand the global reframing of cultural identity in immigrant communities, globalization theories from the perspective of the social sciences and empirical evidence from studies on Indian migrant families were analyzed. The aspects of globalization considered to have an impact on cultural identity included westernization, cultural change, global media, consumerism and communication technologies. The analysis points toward the trends of homogenization and hybridization of culture which have become the features of the Globalized era in the 21st century.