How does an immigrant assimilate?
We live in a world with about seven billion people and over 190 countries and this makes it extremely easy for people to leave their native land and migrant somewhere else, in search of a better future. One main destination for these immigrants is the US because it is scene as the land of hope and dreams, but when these foreign people arrive they face scrutiny and are expected to assimilate to the American culture. In Portes and Zhou’s piece, “Should immigrants assimilate,” they argued that that immigrants shouldn’t be forced to fully assimilate to American culture, but instead be allowed to select certain aspects to assimilate. The authors were able to argue their claim by identifying the problems, such as …show more content…
A right that many people have, is the ability to have their own privacy and be able to do what they please within those safe boundaries. Waters uses Ford Motor company as an example of a business that actively forced its workers to learn English, sent “inspectors” home to make sure that the workers were eating “American and not ethnic food” (Waters 71). Since immigrants did come to a new ‘home,’ “it is by virtue of moving into a new social environment, marked by different values and biases, that immigrants face scrutiny for their customs ( Portes and Zhou 58). A reason why Waters used Ford Motor company because it symbolizes the American way in treating immigrant workers as if they’re products on a conveyor belt (Waters 71). According to Waters it’s as if the goal is to produce as many ‘new Americans’ in the most efficient way. Equally as important, at a certain point, “physical features become refined as a handicap” (Portes and Zhou 58). Portes and Zhou reasoned that this can make it easier for a child to be ridiculed at school and therefore might assimilate bad habits. On contrary belief, due to the color of their skin, the children of first generation immigrants, “who get involved in criminal activity… the male arrest rate is about that of white natives” (Waters 79). What is unfair is that not all immigrants are treated the same, “some may escape prejudice” (Portes and Zhou 59). Portes and Zhou argued that those that come from European descent or through a political policy, are in a better place in society than those who don’t have the same advantages (Portes and Zhou). When one’s basic rights are violated, it can make life very difficult, and when and immigrants venture to a new society, they have to deal with many adversities and these challenges can deter them from completely assimilating to
We live in a world with about seven billion people and over 190 countries and this makes it extremely easy for people to leave their native land and migrant somewhere else, in search of a better future. One main destination for these immigrants is the US because it is scene as the land of hope and dreams, but when these foreign people arrive they face scrutiny and are expected to assimilate to the American culture. In Portes and Zhou’s piece, “Should immigrants assimilate,” they argued that that immigrants shouldn’t be forced to fully assimilate to American culture, but instead be allowed to select certain aspects to assimilate. The authors were able to argue their claim by identifying the problems, such as …show more content…
A right that many people have, is the ability to have their own privacy and be able to do what they please within those safe boundaries. Waters uses Ford Motor company as an example of a business that actively forced its workers to learn English, sent “inspectors” home to make sure that the workers were eating “American and not ethnic food” (Waters 71). Since immigrants did come to a new ‘home,’ “it is by virtue of moving into a new social environment, marked by different values and biases, that immigrants face scrutiny for their customs ( Portes and Zhou 58). A reason why Waters used Ford Motor company because it symbolizes the American way in treating immigrant workers as if they’re products on a conveyor belt (Waters 71). According to Waters it’s as if the goal is to produce as many ‘new Americans’ in the most efficient way. Equally as important, at a certain point, “physical features become refined as a handicap” (Portes and Zhou 58). Portes and Zhou reasoned that this can make it easier for a child to be ridiculed at school and therefore might assimilate bad habits. On contrary belief, due to the color of their skin, the children of first generation immigrants, “who get involved in criminal activity… the male arrest rate is about that of white natives” (Waters 79). What is unfair is that not all immigrants are treated the same, “some may escape prejudice” (Portes and Zhou 59). Portes and Zhou argued that those that come from European descent or through a political policy, are in a better place in society than those who don’t have the same advantages (Portes and Zhou). When one’s basic rights are violated, it can make life very difficult, and when and immigrants venture to a new society, they have to deal with many adversities and these challenges can deter them from completely assimilating to