Generational Difference in the Attitude of Immigrants

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There are many factors that contribute to what attitude an immigrant is going to have on their newfound home. Some think the most important thing is their economic outlook, some their religious beliefs, but for most, it is as simple as when they were born. Out of any factor, the generational difference has the largest affect on the approach the immigrants have on their new country, which in many cases is the United States. The generational difference is the largest determining factor because of the impressionability of children, the established identity that the adults must change, and the attachment to the old country that is stronger in some than others. It cannot be said for sure that a certain generation is the “better” immigrant, but it certainly has a large affect on how they contribute to society, whether it be with diversity or assimilation. The largest split is between generation 1 (foreign born) and generation 1.5 (foreign born, but immigrated at a young age) and generation 2 (foreign born parents). These gaps are often contributed to the immigrants outlook on society, but can also be greatly affected by the outlook society has on them. Immigrant children often have a much different life in the new country than their parents do. Whether they were born there, or brought over at a young age (teen or younger), they have many different experiences that often lead to them having a more favorable outlook on the culture of their new home than their parents. The children have a unique advantage, for they have yet to create an identity for themselves. They do not know what they want to do with their lives yet, so they can better enjoy the culture for what it is. Like Gogol in The Namesake, they can even change their name. Like h... ... middle of paper ... ... Adults and children will always be different. They will have different views on what is right and wrong, what is important, and what they should do with their life. This is common among any group of people. Children will always want to rebel from their parents as they are always into counterculture. Immigrants, though, have an especially difficult time connecting between generations because of the strong difference in the countries that they emigrated from, and the one the immigrated too. Children have different opportunities when it comes to their new home as well. They can create a new person for themselves, while adults have a hard time letting go of the past. As the younger generation continues to grow and become part of society, it is up to them what culture they will associate with, but to many of their parents, it was decided before they ever came to America.

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