Negative Effects of Immigration on Culture Immigrants choose to migrate to a different country for a variety of reasons. These include inclination to unite with family members who have already moved to a different country, unstable economy, and minimal educational opportunities. Despite the fact that immigration is helpful and beneficial to the receiving country, it can also influence the immigrant’s traditions and ways of life immensely. Immigrants are constantly addressing the competing norms of the receiving country. They behave adversely after their relocation because they experience vast changes in their lifestyles. In response to these vast changes, it is typical for an immigrant to feel out of place and question their personal …show more content…
Although some biculturals are perfectly capable of shifting between cultures, others may struggle creating one united cultural identity and they are sensitive to tensions within the two culture systems. Research from the article “When You Have Lived in a Different Culture, Does Returning ‘Home’ Not Feel Like Home?” discovered that less recognized cultural conflict remarkably foresaw better psychological adjustment in immigrants from mainland China. Individuals who detailed extensive conflict between heritage and host culture identities encountered greater stress, anxiety, and poor overall psychological adaptation. As a result, it is possible for people meeting high cultural conflict to feel that they don’t have a cultural base as well as being culturally confused (Altweck 4). A study completed by Inga Jasinskaja-Lahti was mentioned in the article “The multicultural workplace” by Wido G.M. Oerlemans, an assistant professor at Eindhoven University of Technology. Research from this study indicated that immigrants who contrast within their acculturation orientations from the host society suffered more prejudice or additional stress. Examination from the article “Acculturative stress as a risk factor of depression and anxiety” that was based on research from the International Review of Psychiatry, a bimonthly peer-reviewed medical journal, concluded that …show more content…
In a study from her article it was stated by Laura Altweck, “Once one has lived in another culture, discovering and embracing exotic, music, food and traditions, one may return to one’s heritage culture only to find that ‘home’ is not what one remembered it to be” (Altweck 1-2). Fantasies about the immigrant's home country are often created and also provide a method of handling the losses that come with immigration. These losses include: disconnection from family and friends, decreased access to primary language, food, places of worship, cultural gatherings, and climate changes. The article “The immigrant's real and imagined return home” by Pratyusha Tummala-Narra, an assistant professor at Boston College, mentions the term ‘refueling’ which is described as what occurs when an immigrant continues connections to their cultural community and retouches with their home country through phone calls, emails, and sometimes visits (Tummala-Narra 239). It is claimed “that refueling can evoke ‘if only’ fantasies, in which an immigrant imagines that life would have been better if he or she had never left the home country; and ‘someday’ fantasies of returning to the homeland” (Tummala-Narra 239-240). The fantasies of the home country allow the immigrant to cope and consult the losses experienced when an immigrant is unable to visit. Immigrants encounter a discourteous
Currently “first and second generation immigrant children are the fastest growing segment of the U.S population, and there are currently 40 million immigrants living in the United States.” (Stephenson, 2008) According to Sirin, Ryce, Gupta authors of The Role of Acculturative Stress of Mental Health Symptoms for Immigrant Adolescents: A longitudinal Study; a first generation immigrant is someone who was born in another country and then moved to a host country, while a second generation immigrant is someone who was born in the host country but has at least one parent who was born abroad (2013). The goal of this paper is to look at the mental health of second generation immigrants, and how (or if) cultural identity, acculturation, undocumented vs documented status of parents, education and language barriers protect or negatively affect the mental health of this growing popul...
Many presidents, advocates, protesters, and government officials have tried to tackle the immense controversy that surrounds immigrant families, but they have failed to address the numerous stereotypes that linger within the shadows of immigration. There is an aspect of shame and humility, which follows immigrant families and their parents, but the aspect of honor and pride that is attached to immigrant families and parents received far less attention. Thus, this paper takes an alternative approach to study the various advantages and disadvantages that are associated with immigrant parents. The world at large has seen an influx of people migrating to various countries in the pursuit of life, liberty, and quest of happiness. No other country in the migrating world has seen a large influx like
Traditions are passed on generation to generation in every culture. The U.S-Mexico border consists of numerous customs that have lived for hundreds of years. This essay examines Jose’ Pablo Villalobos and Juan Carlos Ramirez-Pimiento essay “Corridos and la pura verdad: Myths and Realities of the Mexican Ballad” which discusses the corrido. Chapter six, “Everyday Border Heroes” of Patricia L. Price’s book Dry Place which illustrates the reasons to the devotion to unofficial saints. Futhermore, this essay reviews five of the twenty myths that Aviva Chomsky confronts in her book “They Take Our Jobs!”.
Immigrants are defined as people who permanently move to a forgiven country from their origin country. Immigrants can move for the purposes of seeking better living, better education, or in order to avoid any sort of issues in their origin country. Despite the reasoning behind the decision of the movement, an immigrant will be affected by the change of culture, way of life, social system and community. The process of the movement effects each individual differently depending on their, age, gender and their level of connection to their past culture. Having that said, the younger the age of the individual, the more venerable and easily they become to changing their way of life in order to feel a part of a community. Gender however is also related to the race of the person. To elaborate, females and black males are more open to the idea of changing any of their factors to adjust to their ‘new society’. An individual’s connection with their past culture, has a great impact on their personality and their standing and belief in their values, morals and culture. Therefore, the stronger and deeper the connection with their original culture and way of life, the more satisfied the individual becomes. Therefore, they don’t feel the urge to compete with another culture. Therefore, their current standing with their own culture has a strong impact on their future judgment on other culture. The weaker the connection the more prone they are to changing their current culture. Thus, an individual’s stability level towards their culture depends on other factors that are concerned with them. [Different age groups are faced with different situation that leads them to deal with different issues and therefore they are exposed to different kinds of expe...
I am not a child of immigrants, but maintaining one’s culture is a universal struggle in a land far from one’s ethnic origins. Lahiri suggests that without cultural connections such as family and friends, one’s culture can simply vanish if they are not in the land of ethnic origin. I have found this to be true within my own
A sudden change in one’s surroundings can result in culture shock. Culture shock refers to the anxiety and surprise a person feels when he or she is discontented with an unfamiliar setting. The majority of practices or customs are different from what a person is used to. One may experience withdrawal, homesickness, or a desire for old friends. For example, when a person goes to live in a different place with unfamiliar surroundings, they may experience culture shock. Sometimes it is the result of losing their identity. In the article “The Phases of Culture Shock”, Pamela J. Brink and Judith Saunders describe four phases of culture shock. They are: Honeymoon Phase, Disenchantment Phase, Beginning Resolution Phase, and Effective Function Phase. These phases denote some of the stages that exemplify culture shock. The four phases are illustrated in the articles “New Immigrants: Portraits in Passage” by Thomas Bentz, “Immigrant America: A Portrait” by Alejandro Portes and Ruben G. Rumbaut, “When I Was Puerto Rican” by Esmeralda Santiago, “Today’s Immigrants, Their Stories” by Thomas Kessner and Betty Boyd Caroli, and lastly, “The New Americans: Immigrant Life in Southern California” by Ulli Steltzer, and are about the experiences of some immigrants. This essay will examine the four phases of culture shock and classify the experiences of these immigrants by the different phases of culture shock identified.
The United States currently has 42.1 million immigrants residing in America. Most immigrants traveled to the U.S for a more satisfying life for themselves and their families than the ones that they had had in the past. People from other countries view America as the “Land of Opportunities” but it is hard for the immigrants to adapt to the new culture of America. Culture is a shared set of values, customs, traditions, beliefs, and art that are passed down from generation to generation within an ethnic group. Culture partly has an impact on a person’s perspective on the world, but not as much as how parents and personal experiences influence a person’s view on achievements/attitude, values, and beliefs.
Immigration is a complex process that results in a transformation of identity. Depending on contextual, individual, and societal differences this transformation can have either positive or detrimental results. Initially, the immigrant will be faced with an intense culture shock while settling into a new country. During this time, cognitive functioning becomes increasingly jumbled amidst the new context, resulting in immense identity confusion. This process of acculturation involves two specific issues regarding identity for each individual. These two issues include the delicate balance between remaining ethnically distinct by retaining their cultural identity and the desire to maintain positive relations with the new society. A variety of risk factors can contribute to the success or failure at effectively acculturating. Thus, those that directly experience more risk factors experience an even more delicate and complex transition often resulting in high levels of stress, confusion, social anxiety, and declined mental health.
Though the United States is home to many immigrants, controversy surrounds the issue of immigrants in the United States. The United States in a melting pot of various backgrounds and cultures, yet it is hard for all to merge into acceptance of one another. The first chapter of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and class covers stratification, prejudice and discrimination, and inequality.
Imagine one day your mother tells you that she is leaving and is not sure with she will see you again. Imagine growing up only occasionally speaking to your mother on the phone. Immigrants make the decision to leave behind their life and move to a new place mainly because they believe it will be better for them and for the people they care about. The Book of the Unknown Americans and Enrique’s Journey show the advantages and disadvantages of parents leaving their children behind or bringing their children along when they migrate. This decision causes harsh consequences that affect the family immediately and in the future.
Immigration is not something that occurs in every individual’s life, but when it does, it has major impacts on how one tries to find where they belong. At the age of seven, I immigrated to Canada, and I am most thankful to my parents for doing so. My journey to belong had begun, and after schooling for a few months, I had done well in making a couple friends, but I was still adjusting to the domestic society. One thing that I noticed, was the huge difference between how I behaved at home, and how I behaved at school. I was a shy, timid and chubby boy who spoke only on request, but at home, I was a totally different individual, asking my parents question after question ...
Australia is a multicultural country where immigrants from all over the world immigrate to Australia. This research is focused on Australian’s immigrants who play a big role in this society. Immigration carries significant factors that affect the process of adaptation on an immigrant. The significant factors discussed further on are social factors, economic factors and cultural factors. To understand immigration and immigrant it would be explained the meaning of it and the types of immigrants. Answering the Research question, it would also be explained what an immigrant aims to reach by explaining the factors that help to feel settled in a new country. As I’m an immigrant in Australia I personally know how factors affect directly the process of adaptation. During this research I aim to prove how these factors affect the process of adaption. It is intended to make useful recommendations to the host country and to the immigrants in order to adapt to a new country easily. It must be said that not everyone experience the same process of adaptation because everyone is exposed to different factors. Moreover, immigrants may experience more than one factor as one factor can lead to the development of other factor.
(Pumariega, 2005). Pumareiega and colleagues found that first generation immigrants are especially prone to unique stressors on the path to their new hosting society, both prior to and after arrival. This may include traumatic exposure in their home country or a loss of secure familial networks. Coupled with limited education or jobs skills, some immigrants are forced to live in criminogenic neighborhoods where rent is low, and they soon become ensnared in a downward spiral of an inescapable cycle of poverty. Children are particularly vulnerable as their overwhelmed parental figures are then unable to attend to their emotional needs or well-being. In a study conducted by Goldenberg (1973) in Montreal, 264 children of recent immigrants were surveyed. 41 percent of these children were found to have some sort of emotional or social adjustment problem. No control group was reported. However, researchers note that children are less likely to be disturbed the better assimilated their families are to Canadian life (Aronowitz, 1984). Failing to form feelings of attachment to their society contributes to migrant youth’s greater receptiveness towards deviance. This body of thought is the crux of social control
Millions of people around the globe immigrate into different countries every year. For some people, moving to a new place can be about taking on a different career opportunity, following a love interest, or reuniting with family. While for others, immigration is necessary to survive. It is not a simple choice, but rather a struggle to escape the horrors in their own country. There are numerous nations that welcome immigrants and refugees with open arms, but many do not. Picking up your life and traveling to a new country is hard even in the most accepting of places. For example, in the US, there are varieties of cultures and people from all over the world, making it one of the most desirable places for immigrants. Yet, even still, Americans can be unwelcoming and rude to outsiders. One of the largest populations of immigrants is in France, with around 7.4 million foreign-born people living there in 2010. Despite this large number, the French culture is one of the most nationalistic in the world, which can sometimes come off as hostile to newcomers. The history and development of French immigration policies is full of stubbornness and errors. Even now, the country’s unwillingness to allow new cultures to flourish in their home is becoming a large issue for the masses of immigrants that reside in France.
“The British have nothing bad to say about immigrants, but nothing good to say about immigration.” With a recent influx of immigrants in London, the debate regarding migrants and multiculturalism has become increasingly salient. White governance is becoming an antiquated notion as more and more Londoners are of mixed heritage. Like many other countries around the world, London still suffers from racial, ethnic, religious, lingual, and other forms of discrimination, generating social dissatisfaction and turmoil. More than half of London has a negative attitude towards immigration, yet many of those same people find it difficult to reject those fleeting a hostile home country or migrants who have relocated just to provide for their family. This societal and political tension will be further explored in this