Dynamics of Integration:The Reality
When we look at the process of integration and acculturation with a layman's eye we see the interplay of economic, cultural and social aspects and the attitudes of immigrants and the host society that influence integration.
Culture and Integration:
A community’s culture is defined as a combination of the personal preferences and equilibrium behaviors of its members. According to Kuran and Sandholm, 2005, this is a hybridization process. It is a compromise through individual choice respecting others is a departure from the conventional model based on economic analysis. Conventional flexible models link economic productivity and the culture. Diamantaras and Swanson (2004) have identified a basic culture - a form of human capital that is learnable, expandable and valuable for groups in participating economic enterprise. However, it is independent of technology and that the two cultures incompatible with each other are equally compatible with a productive process. Lazear (1999) equates culture with language and links adoption of culture through the choices made by immigrants to learn English. Rubinstein (2000) also studied the economics of language. In this context, Noguer (2000) and Siscart (2003) empirically examined the magnitude of barriers to trade/production erected by different languages.
However, from the social work point of view, one cannot demand minimum standards in the cultural dimension, other than recognizing every other individuals right to exist and a consensus to deal with the dissent.
Attitudes towards Integration:
The integration of immigrants deals with many issues surrounding the ability of immigrants to adapt culturally and socially to the receiving society. However, it should be seen as a reciprocal process also. According to Tucci, (2005) it is a business like undertaking governed by the principle of reciprocity in which both groups – the immigrants and native population adapt and change. A University of Pittsburgh research documentation explains that immigrants are most likely to adjust well to a new culture when they are not isolated from their culture of origin, when they settle in their new home. As soon as they find an area where people with their cultural background, their social contacts provide a secure environment. From this, they can begin to break into a culture, which was alien, to them.
Acculturation Behavior:
Living between two cultures is associated with a painful rupturing experience (Bhatia and Ram, 2001). Berry, Poortinga, Segall, et.al, (1992) suggest that acculturation may be uneven across different domains of behavior and social life. Hyman, Yu and Beiser, (2000) noted that for immigrants to North America from collectivist south-east Asian cultures, the incompatibility of western values emphasizing self fulfillment, with the traditional pattern of subordinating the self to the interests of the family can be a source of internal conflict.
Acculturative stress can manifest itself in different ways. Sam and Berry (1995) suggest that this may be related to many psychological changes including lowered mental health status, feelings of marginality and alienation, heightened psychosomatic symptom levels and identity confusion. This is perceived as a key area within the traditional helping role of Social work.
Berry (1990), Bhatia & Ram (2001) et.al have recognized two distinct dimensions of immigrant’s response to living in the new culture: (a), the degree to which they open themselves to the host culture – i.e., contact-participation (Berry, 1990) and (b), the degree to which they seek to preserve their native culture – called cultural maintenance (Berry, 1990). These authors emphasize that openness and preservation are understood as separate, independent dimensions in all cases, immigration is a transitional experience. Others perceive the roles they play in a different way. Immigrants however may not be aware of these new roles and perceptions. "For many, suddenly being labeled and treated as a member of an ethnic minority group is a shocking transition" (Zangeneh, Nouroozifar et.al, 2004)
Transnational Identities:
The process of identity formation within a transnational social space studied by Somerville, (2004) among racial minorities grown up within Canada but having ties with India reveals that the second generation creates identities, or move between different identities, within a space that includes people in their parents’country of origin and country of settlement. It should also be noted that maintaining close connections with their country of origin is extremely important to Asian Americans.
Racism and Discrimination and Social Inclusion:
Laquian, Mc Gee et.al (1999) throws light into the fact that there is little exists in the literature that discusses the role of prejudice, discrimination and racism has played in the lives of immigrants. Canadians have also refused to discuss the issues publicly and immigration has not become an issue at the political level. However, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration headed by Joe Fontana M.P, in its 2003 report on Settlement and Integration has acknowledged that "racism and xenophobia are still evident in our society and have a significant impact on new Canadians" and recommended "to promote inclusiveness and a sense of belonging through a public education campaign". It is an accepted fact and therefore new immigrant’s perception on racialization and exclusion are very relevant in learning integration practices.
Social inclusion is used as an analytical tool adopted to understand the reality of marginalization and vulnerability of some segments of society in Canada. Research studies have shown that those facing the greatest challenges of exclusion are immigrants and refugees. Since a major portion of immigrants coming to Canada is from developing countries in south Asia, "a clear connection has begun to emerge in our society between race and level of marginalization". (Ornstein, 2001 cited in Chatterjee, Dasmohapatra et.al 2004, p- 7). Li, (2003) has also shown how does the ‘labeling and categorization of individuals and communities based on race "facilitates social exclusion and hinders social inclusion" (p. 14). There fore it is more important to understand the connection between integration and exclusion resulting from racialization as south Asian communities are being ‘branded’ as one of the largest immigrant communities. Several authors have pointed out cases of oppression of minorities. When "a strong identity is lacking, many cases, lead to an internalization of the dominant group’s stereo typed inferiorized images of subordinate populations"(Young, 1990 cited in Mullaly, 2002.p-65).
Social Capital and Mobility:
Studies have shown that immigrants lag behind the native born Canadians in important aspects of their social capital. They have a smaller social network, with a lower socio economic status, less ethnic diversity-more religious diversity and also their networks are less frequently utilized and have a smaller economic pay off. (Kazemipur, 2004.). Pendakur et.al,(2005) also indicates that immigrants are at a serious disadvantage in terms of social capital.
Hou and Balakrisnan, 1996 examined the differences in social mobility among various ethnic groups in contemporary Canadian society. It compared the entrance status and mobility experiences in relation to ethnic variations, education, occupation, income and the connections between these dimensions of socio-economic status of immigrants. Visible minorities receive less income return from educational and occupational achievements. Though the collective capacity and social capital for economic mobilization of some ethnic groups may be limited, the income inequality on the basis of qualifications is most probably related to discrimination.
Culture and Integration:
A community’s culture is defined as a combination of the personal preferences and equilibrium behaviors of its members. According to Kuran and Sandholm, 2005, this is a hybridization process. It is a compromise through individual choice respecting others is a departure from the conventional model based on economic analysis. Conventional flexible models link economic productivity and the culture. Diamantaras and Swanson (2004) have identified a basic culture - a form of human capital that is learnable, expandable and valuable for groups in participating economic enterprise. However, it is independent of technology and that the two cultures incompatible with each other are equally compatible with a productive process. Lazear (1999) equates culture with language and links adoption of culture through the choices made by immigrants to learn English. Rubinstein (2000) also studied the economics of language. In this context, Noguer (2000) and Siscart (2003) empirically examined the magnitude of barriers to trade/production erected by different languages.
However, from the social work point of view, one cannot demand minimum standards in the cultural dimension, other than recognizing every other individuals right to exist and a consensus to deal with the dissent.
Attitudes towards Integration:
The integration of immigrants deals with many issues surrounding the ability of immigrants to adapt culturally and socially to the receiving society. However, it should be seen as a reciprocal process also. According to Tucci, (2005) it is a business like undertaking governed by the principle of reciprocity in which both groups – the immigrants and native population adapt and change. A University of Pittsburgh research documentation explains that immigrants are most likely to adjust well to a new culture when they are not isolated from their culture of origin, when they settle in their new home. As soon as they find an area where people with their cultural background, their social contacts provide a secure environment. From this, they can begin to break into a culture, which was alien, to them.
Acculturation Behavior:
Living between two cultures is associated with a painful rupturing experience (Bhatia and Ram, 2001). Berry, Poortinga, Segall, et.al, (1992) suggest that acculturation may be uneven across different domains of behavior and social life. Hyman, Yu and Beiser, (2000) noted that for immigrants to North America from collectivist south-east Asian cultures, the incompatibility of western values emphasizing self fulfillment, with the traditional pattern of subordinating the self to the interests of the family can be a source of internal conflict.
Acculturative stress can manifest itself in different ways. Sam and Berry (1995) suggest that this may be related to many psychological changes including lowered mental health status, feelings of marginality and alienation, heightened psychosomatic symptom levels and identity confusion. This is perceived as a key area within the traditional helping role of Social work.
Berry (1990), Bhatia & Ram (2001) et.al have recognized two distinct dimensions of immigrant’s response to living in the new culture: (a), the degree to which they open themselves to the host culture – i.e., contact-participation (Berry, 1990) and (b), the degree to which they seek to preserve their native culture – called cultural maintenance (Berry, 1990). These authors emphasize that openness and preservation are understood as separate, independent dimensions in all cases, immigration is a transitional experience. Others perceive the roles they play in a different way. Immigrants however may not be aware of these new roles and perceptions. "For many, suddenly being labeled and treated as a member of an ethnic minority group is a shocking transition" (Zangeneh, Nouroozifar et.al, 2004)
Transnational Identities:
The process of identity formation within a transnational social space studied by Somerville, (2004) among racial minorities grown up within Canada but having ties with India reveals that the second generation creates identities, or move between different identities, within a space that includes people in their parents’country of origin and country of settlement. It should also be noted that maintaining close connections with their country of origin is extremely important to Asian Americans.
Racism and Discrimination and Social Inclusion:
Laquian, Mc Gee et.al (1999) throws light into the fact that there is little exists in the literature that discusses the role of prejudice, discrimination and racism has played in the lives of immigrants. Canadians have also refused to discuss the issues publicly and immigration has not become an issue at the political level. However, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration headed by Joe Fontana M.P, in its 2003 report on Settlement and Integration has acknowledged that "racism and xenophobia are still evident in our society and have a significant impact on new Canadians" and recommended "to promote inclusiveness and a sense of belonging through a public education campaign". It is an accepted fact and therefore new immigrant’s perception on racialization and exclusion are very relevant in learning integration practices.
Social inclusion is used as an analytical tool adopted to understand the reality of marginalization and vulnerability of some segments of society in Canada. Research studies have shown that those facing the greatest challenges of exclusion are immigrants and refugees. Since a major portion of immigrants coming to Canada is from developing countries in south Asia, "a clear connection has begun to emerge in our society between race and level of marginalization". (Ornstein, 2001 cited in Chatterjee, Dasmohapatra et.al 2004, p- 7). Li, (2003) has also shown how does the ‘labeling and categorization of individuals and communities based on race "facilitates social exclusion and hinders social inclusion" (p. 14). There fore it is more important to understand the connection between integration and exclusion resulting from racialization as south Asian communities are being ‘branded’ as one of the largest immigrant communities. Several authors have pointed out cases of oppression of minorities. When "a strong identity is lacking, many cases, lead to an internalization of the dominant group’s stereo typed inferiorized images of subordinate populations"(Young, 1990 cited in Mullaly, 2002.p-65).
Social Capital and Mobility:
Studies have shown that immigrants lag behind the native born Canadians in important aspects of their social capital. They have a smaller social network, with a lower socio economic status, less ethnic diversity-more religious diversity and also their networks are less frequently utilized and have a smaller economic pay off. (Kazemipur, 2004.). Pendakur et.al,(2005) also indicates that immigrants are at a serious disadvantage in terms of social capital.
Hou and Balakrisnan, 1996 examined the differences in social mobility among various ethnic groups in contemporary Canadian society. It compared the entrance status and mobility experiences in relation to ethnic variations, education, occupation, income and the connections between these dimensions of socio-economic status of immigrants. Visible minorities receive less income return from educational and occupational achievements. Though the collective capacity and social capital for economic mobilization of some ethnic groups may be limited, the income inequality on the basis of qualifications is most probably related to discrimination.
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