What Do You Expect From Me?: Blending Traditions and Cultures

Key points

Cross-cultural couples must communicate, compromise, and negotiate to manage differing expectations.

Successful couples blend key elements from each culture, creating new traditions that strengthen their bond.

Couples face family pressure to follow customs, but honest talks can set boundaries and ease transitions.

When we think of cultural traditions, we likely think of the various ways in which distinct values, expectations, and norms have shaped our upbringing. For cross-cultural marriages, traditions from both backgrounds often dictate aspects such as wedding ceremonies, gender roles, career ambitions, and family dynamics. As a result, couples frequently navigate differences in expectations and traditions to foster their foundation.

This blending of traditions necess