Cultural Assimilation And Culture Of Hispanic People

reserves the right to resell the materials at some point in the future. Since the research materials are provided to you by human beings, and may be based on numerous sources, it is strongly recommended that you conduct independent research to verify that all information is complete and accurate before referencing the material. This reminder does not contain all of the terms and conditions that govern your purchase

The novel How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, by Julia Alvarez, illustrates these challenges. Throughout the novel, we see how different aspects of culture shock impact the Garcia family. In this essay I will discuss how particular events change each family member’s Dominican cultural values and identity.

The Hispanic culture has different values, beliefs, and traditions. Family is highly value. Family is a close-knit group and the most important social group to gather in any events or special days. The Hispanic “family unit” includes not only parents and children but also grandparents and extended family. Individuals within the family have moral responsibilities to help other members of the family experiencing financial problems, unemployment, health conditions and any other life issues. They show the importance placed upon relationship within their family extending a hand in good times and bad. Respeto y dignidad (respect and dignity) are other important values of the Hispanic culture. Children’s are taught to avoid confrontations with parents and older persons, and to be obedient and respectful. The Hispanics believe that the father is head of the family and the mother is to take care of home. Naming children after grandparents and parents is fairly common. A well-known tradition is the celebration of a fifteen year old girl called Quincenera. Hispanics culture and traditions are based around celebrating and spending time with love ones.

The assimilation of Cuban Americans has come rather slowly due to the discrimination that this group has faced. Like most other immigrating groups, Cubans have seen themselves rejected and discriminated by the dominant group, making them embrace their own culture and straying away from the dominant expectations for several years. In order to maintain their culture, and as an effort to reject discrimination, Cuban Americans have opened various organizations and enclaves that help promote their heritage. The stratification between Cubans and white Americans is quite high in places like Florida. In fact, affluent Anglos are usually placed in elite private schools that are populated by little to none Latinos. Due to the fact that many Cuban Americans consider themselves to be exiles, their assimilation has come rather slowly. According to Gordon’s assimilation theory, cultural and identification assimilation have come at a slow pace. To elaborate, Cuban American immigrants have faced much discrimination and stereotyping that has led them to stay away from assimilating to the dominant culture. In fact, their cultural patterns have been kept sturdy by promoting their heritage in organizations, clubs and enclaves. With new U.S. born generations, there can be a sense of cultural assimilation, but for the most part, Cuban Americans have not completely assimilated culturally. In the same sense, identification assimilation has not come hastily. As mentioned, Cuban

For the cultural immersion project, I decided to study Hispanics because they have a very rich, diverse culture, and I enjoy listening to their music. Also, I felt like this group of people deals with many stereotypes, especially with the media portraying negative images of countries like Mexico. Initially, I felt that this culture would be very bold and outgoing. I assumed that they placed a higher value on relationships and hard work rather than education. In order to observe them, I went to the Fiesta Market in Bolingbrook. First, I observed the workers. They would lift crates and boxes without any hassles. While working, they seemed to cooperate well as a team. The workers seemed to enjoy engaging in interpersonal communication as compared

Culture is an invisible bond that connects people together. The literature, art, religion, food, and language of a community represent its culture. Navigating between cultures is not something impossible to do, but there are a lot of limitations and sacrifices to make in order to blend in with other cultures. To respond about the cultural navigation issues and benefits, Manuel Munoz, the author of “Leave your Name at the Border”, talks about the importance of the non-Americans’ names, especially Mexican Americans’ names, to their identities. Munoz wants readers (Americans) to give everyone the respect they deserved as human beings, starting with accepting and using people’s real names. However, Andrew Marantz, the author of “My Summer at the

For immigrants in America, two radically different choices of culture exist. First, the immigrants can choose to stay loyal to their ancestral roots and deny mainstream culture. Instead of contributing to the melting pot of opinions present they isolate within themselves by refusing to learn both the English language and American culture as a whole. Because they cannot communicate with a majority of the population, they don’t maintain any amount of control over American ideals including both politically and socially. The second opportunity available would be to embrace this new found culture, no matter how foreign it is to them, and develop a sense of unity with America. If immigrants wish to break the currently controlled system of power and privilege in America and truly become a part of American customs, they must learn to assimilate culturally.

Latino immigrants have always had many obstacles when coming into the United States, the difference between the American and the Latin cultures is what has caused a huge hurdle that immigrants have found hard to overpass. This obstacle has caused many generations to go through cultural assimilation. Mize et al. (2012) explain that cultural assimilation is the adaptation of immigrants to unfamiliar cultural patterns, which include language and the value systems of other cultures. In order for immigrants to be successful in another country, which is not of their origin; they need to learn how to assimilate to their new homes. Immigrants have learned that they need to adapt in order to get to experience new opportunities and also to learn from new cultures that are not theirs (Mize et al., 2012). Immigrants have learned that they are not leaving behind their own believes and norms, but mixing their norms, this gives them the opportunity to create and mix their culture with the new. Cultural assimilation can be hard to achieve because in one hand it is important to change in order to live within a different culture, but on the other hand it is important for a person to maintain their identity regardless of where they live. At times immigrants find it difficult to achieve a balance and for many families it is a struggle over generations. There are different levels of assimilation, some immigrants come to the

In Manuel Muñoz essay called “Leave Your Name at the Border”, Mexican people choose to change their first name to English name for kinds of advantages that being assimilated can bring to people’s daily lives. Thus, more and more people choose to follow the mainstream

The trend of immigration brings out the issue of cultural identity. The controversy concerning tradition and cultural expectation is becoming increasingly fierce. Is it necessary to change one’s own cultural identity in order to fit the working environment and blend into the new society? How do people’s intrinsic cultural identities affect their new lives? Should the way of preserving cultural tradition be altered? How individuals’ cultural expectation influence their attitudes of redefining traditions? Will redefining tradition result in the loss of the value of the original culture? Andrew Marantz in his article, “My Summer at an Indian Call Center,” recounts his experience taking culture training that he was required to attend in order to work at one of the many call centers in India, discussing the reasons and the consequences of altering one’s own cultural identity. Meanwhile, Julia Alvarez uses the example of Quinceanera, a female coming-of-age tradition known among Hispanic communities, talks about the issue of redefining original tradition and cultural identity. In her article, “Selections from Once Upon a Quinceanera”, she touches on various aspects of Quinceanera, pointing out its pros and cons, extending the meaning of preserving cultures and redefining traditions. Changing cultural habits for certain purposes and redefining cultural traditions bring about the dilemma of cultural identifying. Although cultural assimilation is emerging in the trend of immigrants,

The process whereby individuals or groups of differing ethnic heritage are absorbed into the dominant culture of a society.

The term acculturation is known as, “…cultural modification of an individual, group, or people, by adapting or borrowing traits from another culture,” (Merriam-Webster). It often refers to minorities, and their desire to maintain their own culture, yet the ability to stay completely detached from the surrounding majority community is impossible. Assimilation on the other hand is referred to as, “the process through which individuals and groups of differing heritages acquire the basic habits, attitudes, and mode of life from an embracing culture,” (Merriam-Webster). With Assimilation, people are willing to give up some of their cultural values, and place higher importance on the surrounding majority’s ideals. These terms are related to the theory of Cultural Appropriation, which is, “…the adoption of certain elements from another culture without the consent of the people who belong to that culture,” (Nittle). An example of cultural appropriation is addressed in the Performing blackness, forming whiteness article when the author talks about blackface minstrelsy, or, “…a highly controversial European American entertainment tradition involving the exaggerated performance of stereotypical blackness by white actors and singers,” (Bucholtz 681). As Bucholtz explains, this theory can be seen negatively, as there may be a misinterpretation of the culture, and the values may be represented wrongly, as well as a discredit from the authentic culture. Throughout the films 8 Mile and Feel the Noise, assimilation is seen within the characters and plots, and play an important role in the success of both aspiring rapper’s careers, while Cultural Appropriation is primarily seen in only 8 Mile.

The Americanization of immigrants and the lack of an “American Dream” for such immigrants is a theme that is portrayed through Jasmine’s immigration and journey into America and its culture in Jasmine. Starting at the beginning of Jasmine’s life, the idea of a better life, whether through erecting a hygiene clinic in Hasnapur or illegally immigrating to the United States in search of a dream, is one that Jasmine embodies. Jasmine is in search of the cliché “American Dream”, looking to better her life by seeking a life that is presented to her as one of success and prosperity achievable through hard work and initiative, despite being initially driven by the death of her

Culture has been defined in many ways. Hofstede for an example stated that culture is defined at a national level and has a set of values and beliefs within the culture. He also states that people of the Mexican community belong to the collectivistic group, they also rank high in the power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity groups as well.

In America, a certain image has been created for its inhabitants. The mold we are supposed to fill is a working, middle class, English speaking, white male and everything outside of the mold has more rules and criticism around it forcing it to either succumb to the pressures of conformity or leave. Everyday people from different origins fight this to preserve their heritage and cultural beliefs, but they can only do so much and be successful in the United States. It is almost necessary to speak English to be successful. But why not speak both your native language and English?