Transformation In America

618 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How identity is shaped by religion

Transformation is a desired factor for immigrant acceptance in a foreign country. For instance, Chris was I nativeborn Americans raised to live by a certain set of standards and beliefs. However, after living with Ravi in India, he learned to adjust his living standards and beliefs to coordinate with Ravi and his family. In the passage "two ways to belong in America," Bharati has a similar experience to Chris in America and says, "I need to feel like a part of the community I have adopted. I need to put Rootstown, to vote and make the difference that I can. The price that the immigrant willingly pays, and the exile avoids, is the trauma of self transformation" (page 275). In other words, the transformation that immigrants desire to undergo is the hardest yet most effective way to becoming a citizen of the country. …show more content…

Christianity is the believe of many Americans, while Hinduism is the belief of Indians; therefore, the spiritual diversities of the two have an impact on the household and lifestyle of each individual. The marriage arrangement between the religions are immensely foreign to one another. In America, women have the opportunity to choose the spouse in which they wish to marry; while, in India, the mother and father of their daughter choose a spouse based on wealth and stability. Once we arranged marriage is in place, the woman is domesticated, which means she will quit her former job, take care of her spouse's parents, And provide for the family. Comparing and American woman to an Indian woman had an endless series of

Show More
Related

  • American Transformation, 1800-1890

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    What major political changes did Western Hemisphere nations face in the nineteenth century? (The Earth and Its Peoples, 633)

    Read More

  • Rereading America

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing written by; Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, Eighth Edition, published April, 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin’s, is a textbook about writing and critical thinking. In the first chapter of Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing, “Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths”, the Authors begin by setting a relatable scene of what it’s like for a college student. How a new found independence can be overwhelming, especially with regards to critical thinking, showing that what we have learned, needs to be re-evaluated and that an open mind in essential. "What Is Critical Thinking" In this section of the chapter the editors explain what it means to be a critical thinker. They explain that critical thinking is not just studying dates and facts, but rather taking those facts and examining them. The editors then proceed by explaining how having an open mind, and taking others' perspectives into account when formulating our own opinions on what the author is trying to say to us is important. A critical thinker takes all aspects into account and reflects on personal experience as well. The editors also point out that different cultural experiences bring different opinions. They suggest that we need to become active learners, continuously questioning the meaning behind everything, testing not only the theories of others but also our own experiences and analyzing the text rather than going for the obvious. They show that thinking outside the box is the epitome of critical thinking. Basically, we need to step outside our comfort zones and what we have always been taught. The editors also suggest that we need to re-evaluate our per...

    Read More

  • Two Ways to Belong in America

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    In America, it is a common misconception that all foreigners are similar; it is believed that they all have similar dreams and each of them end up chasing after the same jobs. However, this is not the case. Not only do immigrants from different countries hold different dreams, but those with a shared background even have varying hopes and dreams for the future. This is evidenced in Bharati Mukherjee’s essay, “Two Ways to Belong in America.” She utilizes several rhetorical strategies in order to show that immigrants have the ability to be assimilated into the American culture, but that they should not be deported if they choose not to conform to said culture.

    Read More

  • American Change Over Time

    525 Words  | 2 Pages

    Between 1492 and 1750, the Atlantic world underwent many changes due to the interactions with Europe and Africa. The establishment of the Triangular Trade was important in improving the economy and linking Africa with the established trade routes between the Americas. In the same way, the increased use of slave labor created a new, black slave class, one less fortunate and lower respected that the medieval European serfs. However, the consistent reliance upon agricultural production led to the advancement of a prosperous American economy, fueled through Triangular Trade interactions.

    Read More

  • Immigration Identity: Acculturation and Complex Mental Status

    1711 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Revolution That Transformed America

    1416 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the eighteenth century, many milestones of American history were accomplished and can be considered major turning points for the colonies. A turning point can be defined as “the point at which a very significant change occurs” (“Turning Point”). Before America was known as the United States of America, it was just composed of colonies under British rule. After a long period of salutary neglect, colonists began to recognize the abuses of Britain and the importance of independence. Due to this recognition, the colonies were then motivated to unite in order to fight for what they felt America required. This spark of motivation resulted in the American Revolution and eventually, the signing of the Declaration of Independence; together, they were major events in United States history that are recognized as important turning points that led to important political, economic, and social changes.

    Read More

  • What Is Cultural Acculturation

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    Developing a face within a new environment is challenging. Which in many cases can be a result in an identity crisis, which is defined to be, a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person's sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society. Although the move to America is for a positive gain there are also some negative effects inflicted upon the lives of immigrants. Being faced discrimination, possibilities of poverty and broken homes immigrants still make the decision to place themselves self in subsequent societies. Melissa L. Curtin stresses the sensitivities of “Coculturation: Toward A Critical Theoretical Framework of Cultural Adjustment” as well as highlighting the discourses of assimilation and theories of coculturation/acculturation.

    Read More

  • 1968: A Year Of American Transformation

    1636 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the duration of one year, 1968, the American national mood shifted from general confidence and optimism to chaotic confusion. Certainly the most turbulent twelve months of the post-WWII period and arguably one of the most disturbing episodes the country has endured since the Civil War, 1968 offers the world a glimpse into the tumultuous workings of a revolution. Although the entire epoch of the 1960's remains significant in US history, 1968 stands alone as the pivotal year of the decade; it was the moment when all of the nation's urges toward violence, sublimity, diversity, and disorder peaked to produce a transformation great enough to blanket an entire society. While some may superficially disagree, the evidence found in the Tet Offensive, race relations, and the counterculture's music of the period undeniably affirm 1968 as a turning point in American history.

    Read More

  • Immigrants Into America

    3181 Words  | 7 Pages

    Since the creation of the United States of America, immigrants from all backgrounds have sought refuge, a home and a life in this country of prosperity and opportunity. The opportunity of freedom to exercise natural rights is a large pull factor that causes many people to come to America. Others come because it is a country where one can prosper. Prosperity of people in a country, however, is a more challenging phenomenon to explain than opportunity. Immigrants seek economic, social and educational as well as cultural prosperity. The question of how to gain such prosperity is a difficult one to answer. Some immigrants come to America, cast off their past identity and attempt to find a new, less foreign one. By assimilating to American culture with this new identity, they start a long and treacherous journey to seek prosperity in a land vastly different from the one they once called home. Many will gain educational, economic and social prosperity, but never gain cultural prosperity. Assimilating to American culture so hastily, some immigrants are never able to explore and keep up with their cultural backgrounds. Their families grow up and became Americans, never cognizant of their given up ethnic identities. Those immigrants, however, who are able to gain cultural prosperity through the help of other immigrants of their respective background, become integrated into American society while keeping their ethnic identity. This is the sort of opportunity that the United States of America has provided new arrivals since its founding. Although many immigrants become overwhelmed with American culture and assimilate into it, those who contribute to a working ethnic society are able to dela...

    Read More

  • Movie Analysis: Meeting The Patels

    746 Words  | 2 Pages

    In a scene the film Ravi goes to a wedding in India where a family member is being wedded. Ravi asked if he was happily marrying his wife, in love, and not having second doubts, all his family member expressed was no remorse, but it seemed as if it was something casual for him, it was necessary to marry, and that the bride he had chosen was approved from his parents, and the community of Patels. It seemed that throughout the film arrange marriage is viewed as normal in India, they don’t seem to ask their children if they’re happy about being arrangbeds into a marriage, it something that when you come of age you have to do. However in Indians living in America are challenging their parents and their cultures religion of arranged marriage. In America they are looking at the diverse cultures and falling love with people outside their culture, and making work, while others are still in the biodata and probably decided to marry into a Patel or other Indian name, yet still experienced dating other men before deciding. What was weird is that some Indian women don’t date until later in their college years when they are away because of the strict household their parents had and from fear of disappointing their family, and being

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Change In America

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    America is a country known for change, whether it is positive or negative. Many people believe that America has made changes that has improved society. One of the greatest advancements was the abolishment of slavery. Other positive changes have been the diversity of America. Many believe that America is the country where one can come to prosper, escape prejudice, and be freed from the chains of racism. What people fail to realize that America was created by prejudice and racism. Slavery was abolished, but we must not forget the suffering of the African Americans. The struggle and exploitation that Asian, Hispanic, Latin, European and other immigrants had to face. Has America truly changed?

    Read More

  • Examples Of Exogamy In The United States

    478 Words  | 1 Pages

    During slavery and until the late 1960’s, interracial marriages were deemed illegal by anti-miscegenation laws. These laws prohibited racial mixing through marriage, living together, or through sexual intercourse until the Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional in the Loving v. Virginia case in 1967. With that law being overturned, people in the United States were allowed to get married to those in other races and cultures. Oppositely in India, they have a cultural rule that states people are only allowed to marry those within their group, varna, or caste group. According to the Manusmriti, the caste system in India divides Hindus into 4 groups- the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and the Shudras. The caste system dictates every aspect of life from where you live to what you eat. Upper and lower caste lived in segregated colonies and wouldn’t accept gifts or food from those lower than them. Simply in India, “a marathi will get married to a marathi...and Vaishya have to marry Vaishya and so on,” (BBC, 2017). Sikhs, Jains, Muslims also follow a endogamous

    Read More

  • Arranged Marriage: Past, Present, Future

    686 Words  | 2 Pages

    Perhaps the finest example of arranged marriage is contemporary India adheres to their long withstanding custom of arranged marriage. For hundreds of years marriages have been arranged, yet the modern day perceptions of arranged marriages in India are melancholy. However, when asked about their arranged marriage an Indian man and woman’s answers were on the contrary. In an interview, the woman described their courtship, “It was like being set up on a blind date but both of us knew it would end in marriage between us.” The husband elaborated on their first months together by saying, “Like all new things, being married to her took some getting used to but we adjusted and we figured it out.” When asked how their marriage is today the woman replied, “We’re pretty good at things now that we’ve been together for 20 years.” Throughout the interview of the husband and wife it was obvious they loved each other despite being arranged to be married. Their story shows ...

    Read More

  • Immigrating Abroad Essay

    1669 Words  | 4 Pages

    The inner desire of any immigrant is to be able to leave his or her country without having to leave home. The thought of leaving behind all that was close and of meaning to me arose feelings of discomfort within me. Change is many things; it is scary, it is good, it is necessary for growth but most importantly it is inevitable. So on October eleventh two thousand and eight when my father announced to my family and I the date on which we were to depart on our journey to the culture mosaic society of Canada, change seemed to have landed on our door step. This was the most important day of my life. Immigrating abroad meant changes, many of them, the feelings I recall which were of most relevance to me at the time were anxiousness and excitement. I was excited for a new beginning and anxious about how I would integrate into a whole new world. It was a bittersweet journey to the airport, knowing that these Indian surroundings; the noisy roads, the smell of savoury street food, and the

    Read More

  • Hindu Family Structures In India

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hinduism is the 3rd largest religion in the world, this religion was found in the country of India and has a roughly 900 million adherents. There is no one founder of the religion and it is believed that the religion came about through the cultural and religious exchange between many groups of people occurring in India around 1500 BCE. Family is important to any culture or religion, Hindus tend to have mixed emotion on the family structure some calling it the building blocks to their everyday spiritual lives to help people reach renunciation or some may say it’s like a black hole where you loose spirituality and become detached, which has caused the younger generations to tweak the current structures in place with Western family structures. There are many different positions within the Hindu family structure as well, going from the Grandparents all the way to the In-laws all responsible for different chores and duties for the family.

    Read More

More about Transformation In America

Open Document