Sociology 3410 Final: Assimilation

Front 1

General Principles about Assimilation

Back 1

1. We’re talking about groups, there’s always going to be individual variation, we can see in minority groups, people that are assimilated pretty well
2. Assimilation is a process, it takes place over time
-when we talk about assimilation, we talk about a trajectory, is the group on a trajectory to be apart of mainstream society, or is it part of some other trajectory.
3. Assimilation is multi-faceted
-it has many different components to it, groups may be assimilated in some ways but not in others, it is not an all or one thing. There are so many aspects, what aspect of assimilation are we talking about.
4. Assimilation is relative, we can best understand assimilation by comparing groups to each other
-some groups are more assimilated than others
-white Americans have been regarded as the standard of which all groups are judge
5. Assimilation is also subjective
-for an individual, for a group to assimilate into a society, the majority group has to want that group to assimilate.
-It is just like a relationship, if there is a break down on either side, assimilation is not going to happen
-In America there is a tendency for white Americans to assume that the minority groups have to do all of the work

Front 2

In America the notion of assimilation has always been guided by 3 main theories

Back 2

1. Anglo-Conformity A+B=A
2. The Melting Pot A+B=C
3. Cultural Pluralism A+B=A+B

Where A represents the majority group and B represents the Minority Group

Front 3

1. Anglo-Conformity A+B=A

Back 3

-Has been by far the most important theory
-constant battle between Anglo-conformity and multi-cultural
• CSE
 Central Southern Eastern Europeans
 They get to America and society says they have to become American and conform. (1880-1920)

Front 4

2. The Melting Pot A+B=C

Back 4

-instead of the minority group completely giving up their culture, instead you would have a situation in which they melt together and form something new
-think of it in terms of social distance
• Assimilation is a process whereby the closing of distance between a native minority and a foreign minority
• Both the outsider and the members of the majority group will bend towards each other

Front 5

3. Cultural Pluralism A+B=A+B

Back 5

-if immigrants are to assimilate in some ways-political system, economy, learning the language, but they still should maintain their own separate cultures.

Front 6

Straight Line Assimilation

Robert Parks "Race Relations Cycle"

Back 6

-Immigrants assimilate in a particular way, assimilation involves a couple definite characteristics

Involves 4 stages, as an immigrant/minority moves from one stage to the next, that person is being assimilated. Assimilation moves only in one direction.

Robert Parks, "Race Relations Cycle"
1. Contact: contact yields conflict
2. Conflict: conflict yields residential segregation
3. Accommodation
4. Assimilation

Front 7

Milton Gordon's Straight Line Model II

Back 7

1. Acculturation
•immigrants absorb culture of the dominant group
2. Secondary Structural Assimilation
•the idea that when you get to stage 2, the immigrant has start to gain routine acceptance to important dominant institutions-like the economy, access to neighborhoods
•breaking down of residential barriers
3. Primary Assimilation
•Biological Assimilation
•Intermingling with the white majority

Strengths: a good representation of the process of assimilation, it also is good in showing that assimilation is a process, and it is multifaceted

Front 8

Segmented Assimilation Theory

Back 8

•Immigrants face at least 3 options depending on social class, race, and where they live

1. Upward mobility into the white majority
2. Cultivation of an ethnic identity <-->
•immigrants may actually assimilate by not assimilating, they could emphasize their culture
•if that culture is a sync with American values, then it fits
•if you have an immigrant culture that focuses very keenly on education, and they find that very significant, it will benefit when assimilating into American society
3. Downward mobility into a supposedly permanent black "underclass"

Front 9

Alternative Models of Assimilation

Back 9

Multiculturalism
Racism

Front 10

Multiculturalism

Back 10

A model of American identity or society that sees American society as different groups that try to find unity, while at the same time, expressing those cultural differences

In present day America there is no single approach: multiculturalism is taking place along the borders of the United States

Front 11

Diversity

Back 11

Differences in gender, race, age

•Given this diversity, Anglo-conformity can no longer work as a model for unifying American society/identity, scholars believe that you needs some sort of multiculturalism

People confuse mere diversity with multiculturalism

Front 12

Etnocentrism

Back 12

idea that one's culture is superior and other cultures must be judged according to one's own culture

Front 13

Cultural Relativism

Back 13

Each group should be based in terms of its internal standards
-it removes this notion of an external standard of judgement

Front 14

David Hollinger's Typology of Multiculturalism

Back 14

Cosmopolitanism:
-Liberal multiculturalism
-emphasizes individual identity choice
-loose boundaries

Separatism:
-Conservative multiculturalism (moving to Idaho or a place with less minorities)
-Emphasizes maintenance of Group Identity (the Ethno-racial pentagon)
-Rigid Boundaries