Chapter Two

Assimilation and Pluralism

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Assimilation

Assimilation is a process in which formerly distinct and separate groups come to share a common culture and merge together socially.

As a society undergoes assimilation, differences among groups begin to decrease.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Pluralism

Pluralism, on the other hand, exists when groups maintain their individual identities.

In a pluralistic society, groups remain separate, and their cultural and social differences persist over time.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Assimilation and Pluralism

In some ways, assimilation and pluralism are contrary processes, but they are not mutually exclusive.

They may occur together in a variety of combinations within a particular society or group.

Some segments of a society may be assimilating, while others are maintaining (or even increasing) their differences.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Types of Assimilation

Melting pot—a process in which different groups come together and contribute in roughly equal amounts to create a common culture and a new, unique society.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Types of Assimilation

Americanization or Anglo-conformity

Rather than an equal sharing of elements and a gradual blending of diverse peoples, assimilation in the United States was designed to maintain the predominance of the British-type institutional patterns created during the early years of American society.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Types of Assimilation

Under Anglo-conformity, immigrant and minority groups are expected to adapt to Anglo-American culture as quickly as possible.

Americanization has been a precondition for access to better jobs, education, and other opportunities.

But Americanization has also created conflict, anxiety, demoralization, and resentment.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

“Traditional” Perspective on Assimilation

Robert Park and “Race Relations Cycle”

– Contact

– Competition

– Accommodation

– Assimilation

Assumed that Assimilation is inevitable in a democratic and industrial society.

In a political system based on democracy, fairness, and impartial justice, all groups will eventually secure equal treatment under the law.

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“Traditional” Perspective on Assimilation

Milton Gordon, Assimilation in American Life (1964)

Differentiated between:

– Culture

– Social structure

• Primary networks

• Secondary networks

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Acculturation or Cultural Assimilation

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© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Integration or Structural Assimilation

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© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Marital Assimilation

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

“Traditional” Perspective on Assimilation

Human Capital Theory

More a status attainment theory than assimilation theory.

– Incomplete in explaining status attainment as it de-emphasizes structural factors in favor of individual factors.

– Also assumes fairness in U.S. society.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Assimilation Patterns

The Importance of Generations.

– The first generation began the process and was at least slightly acculturated and integrated.

– The second generation was very acculturated and highly integrated (at least in the secondary sectors of the society).

– The third generation finished the acculturation process and enjoyed high levels of integration at both the secondary and the primary levels.

Immigration as a Collective Experience.

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Variations in Assimilation

Religion– Triple melting pot of Protestants, Catholics, and Jews

Social Class– Ethclass

Gender– Multiple roles for women

Motivation for Immigration– Sojourning

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Pluralism

Evidence that full assimilation has not materialized, even among European ethnic groups

Interest in pluralism has also increased due to

– Increasing U.S. diversity

– Global conflicts rooted in ethnic differences

Multiculturalism has been and will be an ongoing debate

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Types of Pluralism

Cultural pluralism exists when groups have not acculturated and each maintains its own identity.

Structural pluralism exists when a group has acculturated but not integrated. That is, the group has adopted the Anglo-American culture but does not have full and equal access to the institutions of the larger society.

Integration without acculturation reverses the order of Gordon’s first two phases.

– Enclave and Middleman Minorities

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Theoretical Perspectives on Pluralism

Horace Kallen (1915) rejected the notion of Anglo conformity, which was was inconsistent with democracy and other core American values.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Theoretical Perspectives on Pluralism

Glazer and Moynihan (1963) found that White ethnics still maintained their ethnic identity as a means of self-image within the larger society, but primarily because of continued group conflict for societal resources.

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Theoretical Perspectives on Pluralism

Andrew Greeley (1974) introduced the concept of ethnogenesis to describe a process in which new minority groups can be formed from combinations of a variety of traditions, including Anglo-American traditions.

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Theoretical Perspectives on Pluralism

Stephen Steinberg (1981) argued that increased ethnic diversity and identification was situational and a means of defending threatened privilege and position.

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Other Group Goals

Separatism is for the group to sever all ties (political, cultural, and geographic) with the larger society.

Revolution seeks to switch places with the dominant group and become the ruling elite or create a new social order, perhaps in alliance with members of the dominant group.

The dominant group may also pursue goals other than assimilation and pluralism, including forced migration or expulsion, extermination or genocide, and continued subjugation of the minority group.

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Contemporary Immigrants: Segmented Assimilation

Because of different social, economic, and political conditions…

– assimilation in the United States today is fragmented and can have a number of different outcomes. Some contemporary immigrants will follow the pattern established by the earlier European immigrants…and eventually integrate into the white, middle-class mainstream. Others will become part of the urban poor and will find themselves mired in permanent poverty. Still other immigrant groups will form close-knit enclaves based on their traditional cultures and become successful in the United States by resisting acculturation (Portes & Rumbaut, 2001, p. 45).

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003

Implications for Examining Dominant-Minority Relations

To understand minority relations, we must examine some very basic realities of human society: inequalities in wealth, prestige, and the distribution of power.

To discuss changes in minority group status, we must be prepared to discuss changes in the way society does business, makes decisions, and distributes income, jobs, health care, and opportunity.

© Pine Forge Press, an imprint of Sage Publications, 2003