Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / As multicultural families become more established in Korea, researchers have paid increasing attention to enhancing the families’ quality of life. The number of multicultural families was only 619 in 1990 but jumped to 750,000 as of 2013. It is projected that the multicultural families will be accounted for 5 % of the total population, which is the enormously conspicuous number given that Korean society had been a homogeneous society for a long time. While several Korean studies have examined acculturation process of immigrants, there is little understanding of multicultural families’ work and family life. The purpose of this study is to investigate migrant women’s later stage of adaptation by measuring their subjective perception of life satisfaction focusing on two key factors: migrant wives’ employment and perceived practical support from Korean husbands. Using data from the 2012 National Survey on Multicultural Families, a nationwide survey implemented in Korea, the hierarchical regression model of migrant wives’ life satisfaction was conducted with the following set of predictors: demographics, social-relationship factors, and employment and perceived practical support from Korean husbands in household labor and child-caring. Study results found that the higher levels of life satisfaction were observed among migrant wives who had higher levels of relationship satisfaction with Korean husbands (β = .414, p < .001), had more participation in community events and activities (β = .059, p < .001), and had more networks with people (β = .017, p < .001). Two main predictors also contributed to determine levels of life satisfaction. Employed migrant wives showed lower levels of life satisfaction than non-employed wives (β = -.083, p < .001). Migrant wives who had higher levels of perceived practical support from Korean husbands in child care showed higher levels of life satisfaction (β = .018, p < .001), but no impact was found in housework. For established multicultural families, findings highlight the importance of perceived practical support from Korean husbands particularly in childcare as a critical resource of support. Social work implications were discussed in order to improve established migrant wives’ life satisfaction and enhance their later stage of integration in Korean society.

This report addresses the importance of multicultural education in early childhood classrooms as well as three essential practices for early childhood educators who value multicultural perspectives. The early childhood classroom is the first place in which children develop their identities and recognize cultural differences. Multicultural education can offer opportunities for children to value and understand cultural diversity as they have more experiences outside of their homes and neighborhoods. While there are many kinds of practices that support a multicultural perspective, this paper focuses on three multicultural practices that early childhood educators can incorporate in their classrooms in order to create authentic multicultural classrooms and to promote multiculturalism. The three practices are 1) integrating culturally relevant pedagogy/culturally responsive teaching, 2) understanding multicultural families, and 3) pursuing social justice. These practices can help early childhood educators better understand multicultural students and families and have more meaningful interactions and partnership opportunities with them. / text