Most of the stories in The Refugees involve a clash of values between parents and children, usually first-generation immigrants and their “Generation 1.5” or second-generation children. Generation 1.5 is a sociological term referring to children who were born abroad but were raised in another country. This means that Generation 1.5 individuals form a sort of cultural bridge between their parents’ culture and their new culture. In the context of The Refugees, these individuals are usually fluent in both Vietnamese and English, and they are usually more aware of American cultural and sociological norms than their parents. Other stories in The Refugees involve conflict between parents and children due to different experiences during the war. Nguyen uses intergenerational conflict to explore the notion of establishing one’s own identity while navigating two cultures and parental expectations.

While most of the stories in The Refugees play out in the context of Vietnamese and Vietnamese American culture, some use intergenerational conflict to question what it means to be American. Arthur Arellano in “The Transplant” is an example of a character who fails to establish his own identity. Out of touch with his Hispanic heritage, Arthur cannot even speak Spanish.