Immigrants, Their Ethnicity and Culture Essay
People, who come to a foreign country, may have different perceptions of their ethnicity, language, religion and culture. There are three concepts that are closely related to their experiences, namely assimilation, ethnic pluralism, and transnationalism. These terms describe the way in which people can integrate themselves into a different society.Immigrants, Their Ethnicity and Culture Essay
Such a notion as assimilation means that an individual fully adopts the language, cultural values, and traditions of the host society. Moreover, this person can even associate oneself with the ethnic group that is dominant in the host society. These are the main aspects of assimilation.
For a long time, it was believed that this process is inevitable for every person who chooses to settle in a foreign country. The problem is that cultural assimilation can result in stress or even mental problems. This is one the main problems that should be taken into account. This is why many societies can reject the necessity for assimilation.
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There is a different view on the experiences of immigrants. In this case, one can speak about the idea of cultural and ethnic pluralism. This concept means that people can retain some of their cultural values, religion, customs, and so forth. In other words, this person does not have to assimilate completely into the society.
It seems that the second approach is more beneficial for immigrants. The thing is that many of them are adult people and it is more difficult for them to learn a language that may be new to them. Moreover, they do not easily adjust to new norms or values. The children of these people can completely integrate into a new society, but one cannot say the same thing about parents. Thus, unlike assimilation, pluralism gives more freedom to an immigrant and his/her family.
Finally, one should remember about such a notion as transnationalism which is different from assimilation and pluralism. This term can be defined as the ability of a person to maintain contact with ones friends or relatives in his/her home country. So, this person is not alienated from ones cultural legacy. This is another way in which immigrants can interact with different cultures.Immigrants, Their Ethnicity and Culture Essay
It seems that pluralism can be the best way for immigrants to adapt to a different country, its language, or culture. First of all, people, who can retain their culture, feel that their values, language, or norms are valued or at least tolerated by the host society. Moreover, they can better interact with local people, if their language, religion or culture is not perceived with hostility. These are the main advantages of ethnic and cultural pluralism.Immigrants, Their Ethnicity and Culture Essay
