Sociology case study
Project 4: Assimilation
- Following Gordon (see below), what is assimilation? Why is it important 1) for the host society and 2) for the immigrant population?
- For a case study, choose a family household that is within 2 generations of emigrating to the U.S. (i.e., the oldest members can be born here of immigrant parents). Ask the following questions: Where did they come from? [be as specific as possible] Why did they leave? When did they arrive? What determined where they settled? Did they arrive as a family or in a “chain”? What resources, or “capital(s)”, did they bring with them that shaped the direction and pace of their assimilation?
- Use interviews and observation to determine the extent of assimilation, paying attention to generational differences. Assess for major types or stages of assimilation: a) cultural (including educational), b) social (including residential), c) identificational, and d) marital. Because assimilation is a process that entails interrelated “stages”, it is imperative to address differences between generations.
- Is there still meaningful ethnic persistence (i.e., partial assimilation) in regard to culture, social relationships, and marital choice? Does this slow or even oppose assimilation?
- Is there evidence of a “new” ethnicity (e.g., Latinos, Desi, Chicano) that limits assimilation?
- How typical is this family’s experience for the ethnic group in the city or metropolitan region? Note and explain any discrepancies.
- With your case study in mind, is there political resistance to the group’s assimilation? Is the group assimilating in a position of inequality and subordination?
