Psychology Behind: Neither here, nor there: the liminal consciousness of Generation 1.5

That is because many articles that discuss the struggles of Generation 1.5 are buried deep underground in the media, overshadowed by stories about people the world considers worthy of recognition. However, those who belong to Generation 1.5, also known as gen 1.5ers, are accustomed to being forgotten.

They don't live on big billboards or magazine front pages. They live between two countries and are refused complete identities, often being reduced to hyphenated labels such as "Chinese-American," "Korean-British," or "Vietnamese-Australian."

The Joy Luck Club: A Window into Liminal Identity

To understand this liminal state of Generation 1.5, let us consider a short story from Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club.

"Two Kinds" follows Jing-mei Woo, a Chinese-American girl, and her mother, who pressures her to become a piano prodigy. The mother's dreams reflect her immigrant hopes for success in America, while Jing-mei resists these expectations, leading to a painful clash of wills.

Themes of identity, cultural assimilation, parental expectation and generational conflict run through the story.

"Only two kinds of daughters," her mother insists, "Those who are obedient and those who follow their own mind."

This line embodies the tension between assimilation and cultural inheritance that so many Generation 1.5 immigrants feel.

Erikson's Identity vs. Role Confusion

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines eight stages that span the human lifespan. The stage most relevant to Generation 1.5 is Identity vs. Role Confusion, typically experienced during adolescence.

This stage involves developing a clear sense of self and personal values. Successful resolution leads to identity achievement—a strong sense of who one is and how one fits into society. Failure leads to role confusion, uncertainty, and difficulty making decisions about life's direction.

How The Joy Luck Club Reflects the Concept

Generation 1.5 immigrants are unique because they belong to no man's land. You may have heard of Generation 1 (those who were born in a different country and then immigrated to their new country of residence) and Generation 2 (born in the new country, but at least one of their parents was born in a different country).

Because of this transformative, hybrid identity that most gen 1.5ers wear, they remain torn between two countries. Their two identities—their ethnicity and their nationality—are usually connected with a hyphen. While there are more subcategories in this category, including Generation 1.25 and Generation 1.75, Generation 1.5 is usually referred to as one community.

"Two Kinds" dramatizes this struggle in Jing-mei's battles with her mother. The piano serves as a symbol of assimilation, a mastery of American culture, and success as defined by immigrant dreams. Jing-mei's refusal to perform to her mother's standards represents a crisis of identity. She does not want to be the "obedient daughter" her mother expects, but she also struggles to define herself outside those expectations.

"I didn't want to do what she wanted. I wanted to be who I was."

This is Identity vs. Role Confusion in action. Generation 1.5 adolescents experience this conflict acutely: They want to belong, but don't want to betray the cultural memory of their parents.

Deeper Psychological Consequences

Possessing the mind of an immigrant and yet the experiences of a second-generation individual, gen 1.5ers have way too much on their plates. They struggle with not feeling like they belong with their parents or their peers, but also with timezones, tongues, clocks, and accents. Every breath is a dilemma, and every word is pre-translated to fit the standards of their ancestors while also trying to appeal to their classmates.

Their dreams speak in accents that they deliberately try to hide. Their soul's syntax breaks in the mouths of 1.5 generations. Many change their names to sound "more English," and yet, somewhere between the deafening silence of two names, an entire childhood has collapsed. They inhabit displacement and departure and carry the weight of being "half-arrived."

This generation is the one betrayed by time. They were born too early in their home country, and yet arrived too late to another. Time fractures differently for those forced to immigrate mid-identity, which serves as a testament to the many studies that have shown that the impact of relocation on adolescents is often negative, leaving room for confused identities, low self-esteem, and even mourning for a country that never truly held them.

The Weight of In-Between

Generation 1.5 immigrants exist in a perpetual state of translation—not just of language, but of self. They are cultural interpreters for their parents while simultaneously trying to decode the unspoken rules of their new society. This constant translation work is exhausting and often invisible to those around them.

Their psychological landscape is marked by what researchers call "cultural bereavement"—a grief process for the loss of their homeland, combined with the challenge of not fully belonging to their new country. This creates a unique form of displacement that is both geographical and psychological.

Finding Strength in the Liminal

While the psychological challenges facing Generation 1.5 immigrants are real and significant, it's important to recognize that this liminal space can also be a source of unique strength. These individuals often develop exceptional adaptability, cultural competence, and empathy. They become bridges between worlds, translators of experience, and advocates for understanding.

Their journey toward self-acceptance and identity integration, while difficult, can lead to a rich, multifaceted sense of self that embraces complexity rather than seeking simplification. In therapy and support groups, many Generation 1.5 immigrants find that sharing their experiences with others who understand their unique position can be profoundly healing.

"We are not lost between worlds—we are the bridge that connects them."

The story of Generation 1.5 is ultimately one of resilience, adaptation, and the human capacity to create meaning from displacement. Their experiences remind us that identity is not a fixed destination but a continuous journey of becoming.