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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Asian American Assimilation vs Acculturation
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 06:02:41 PM)
ooner of later every minority person faces the identity question. It comes in a variety of flavors but at its core is the assimilation vs acculturation dilemma.
What's the difference?
As used by social scientists, assimilation is allowing one's original culture to be overidden by the dominant culture. Acculturation is acquiring the capability to function within the dominant culture while retaining one's original culture. The distinction seems subtle but is fraught with not-so-subtle social and psychological implications.
Assimilate or acculturate?
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Collectively, the Asian American population shows statistical evidence of both assimilation and acculturation.
The 2000 Census counted 11.9 million identifying themselves as Asian Americans. That total was comprised of 10.2 million (85.7%) claiming purely Asian heritage and 1.7 million (14.3%) claiming mixed heritage. Of the mixed-heritage Asian Americans, 868,395 (52.4%) claimed part white ancestry, 138,802 (8.38%) claimed part Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander ancestry, 106,782 (6.45%) claimed part black ancestry, and 249,108 (17.7%) claimed another unspecified race. These mixed-race Asian Americans evidence a notable degree of assimilation, especially in light of the fact that in most parts of the U.S. anti-miscegenation laws weren't outlawed until the late 1960s.
Other statistics suggest Asian Americans prefer to acculturate while retaining their Asian heritage. Spoken language provides some insight into the issue. As of 2000 8.5 million Asian Americans (71.4% of the AA pop.) spoke English "very well". Yet at home 54% nevertheless spoke an Asian language, suggesting an effort to preserve Asian heritage even among those who had acquired the ability to function in the mainstream.
In the final analysis, the assimilation vs acculturation decision can only be made individually by each of the 13.4 million who make up the Asian American population as of late 2002. The decision may turn on personal factors like length of residence in the U.S., occupation, education, early experiences, family influence and self-image.
Asian Americans share one commonality which, for some, may override all others: faces that irrevocably distinguish us as members of a minority race -- one which happen to be the plurality in the world at large. This physical identification factor induces some of us to see ourselves as having neither the ability nor the incentive to assimilate like the Irish, Germans, Russians, Italians, Jews, Poles and other European groups.
Others believe that socio-economic status and not the mirror is the primary criterion for mainstream acceptance. By this measure, we may well have arrived. While only 24% of the overall American population completed at least a 4-year degree, among Asian Americans the college-completion rate was 42% as of 1997. And the college-completion rate is climbing. Among Asian Americans aged 25-29, fully 50% had at least a bachelor's degree. The higher educational levels have translated to higher rates of entry into professional positions (43% vs 27%) and higher median household incomes: 42% of AA households earned more than $75,000 as of 2000.
Ultimately, the million-dollar question isn't whether we can assimilate, but whether we should. What are the advantages and disadvantages of retaining our identities as Asians in a white-majority society? What's the price paid by those who choose to assimilate? What's better for the U.S. as a nation?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
True Brother:
Where did you get the notion that I am upset, disappointed or depressed about "not being able to assimilate" Do you consider me a "whitewashed banana?"
I was simply saying that Asian-Americans can do very well for themselves without the benefit of assimilation. We have already, in fact. An Asian-American is a member of the Cabinet (in a Republican administration, at that!) An Asian-American is one of the highest-ranking current military officers. Asian-Americans are making inroads into high-profile industries such as cinema, television, music and athletics.
I brought up the African-American example because, although blacks in America have been here longer than Irish, Italians, Germans, Swedes, Poles, Jews, and any other Caucasian groups, they will never truly assimilate due to their obvious visible distinction.
"B" as in "bictory"
Thursday, December 26, 2002 at 23:18:31 (PST)
[63.98.74.2]
I am drunk, but I have this to say:
When I wanted to become a teacher at the "state" university. There were posters about diversity. I reject this because I believe that we should all work together. Diversity means separate. Sure we are all individuals, but we are Americans. Even the Anglos who control this country are Americans. Sure, they have been given a linguistic edge. But I can remember that the "Great American Spelling Bee" was won by some Americans of Vietnamese descent. Sure there are differences. But why capitalize on this?
I am but a small man. I am white. But, I say that diversity is not something we should strive for. We should strive for unity. Even for Filipino Americans who think they are black.
I am going into the oh so anglo Navy. And yes, I am willing to leave my ethnicity at the door. And I am willing to die for this country. Because, my German host parents instilled a national identity in me. I know they would die for they country. And I know that I am willing to die for mine; even though they hate me because I am a "white boy".
jmushorn
jmushorn@yahoo.com
Wednesday, December 25, 2002 at 19:50:36 (PST)
[68.99.231.228]
"I also don't believe that Asians will ever truly assimilate into American culture, since, as Lost American says, American means "white." Many people point to the ease of assimilation that immigrant Irish, Germans, Poles, Jewish....
Everbody, we are asians have you forgot? Some of us are really upset, disappointed and depressed over the fact that we can only go so far in integration and assimilation. Whitewashed bananas abound in this society with severe inferiority complexes. I liken this situation with that of Hapas, neither of this world or that or perhaps both but different. Let's turn this situation around to the expats and foreigners, gaijins and other Whites who live in the far east and they do abound. Are these white people depressed because they cannot be accepted into Japanese society or in Hong Kong or Korea or Singapore. They will always be permanent foreigners but they don't trip over it like I see here in this forum. Can you ever imagine a white person contemplating eye surgery or dying their hair black to better blend in with HKongers or Koreans? Maybe it's time for some painful introspection.
True Brother
Wednesday, December 25, 2002 at 14:36:41 (PST)
[205.188.208.38]
What ticks me off is how those with a right wing bent dismiss acculturation (or multiculturalism) as some politically correct stunt that is the cause of racial and integration problems that exist within minority communities such as crime, ghettos..blah blah. But what they fail to see, is that the root of the problems are far more complex than they suggest and that acculturation creates a diverse and more robust society due to the sharing of different experiences.
Polyglot
Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 22:45:20 (PST)
[203.29.131.4]
I also don't believe that Asians will ever truly assimilate into American culture, since, as Lost American says, American means "white." Many people point to the ease of assimilation that immigrant Irish, Germans, Poles, Jews and Italians have had in this country, but I would say that the difference is obvious. If you see a white person, you will not immediately know his or her heritage until you learn that their name is O'Reilly, or Schultz, or Krasynsky, Goldberg or DiFiore.
Our facial differences will forever mark us as different, even if you're a 4th or 5th generation Japanese or Chinese American whose family has been in the States since before the Civil War.
Look at blacks in this country. Despite their history of oppression and slavery, many have risen up to become successful in many fields. However, their very appearance marks them as different, and they have been in this country since before the Revolution!!
"B" as in "bictory"
Tuesday, December 10, 2002 at 15:44:19 (PST)
[63.98.74.2]
I know the word assimilate,
has some negative connotations but you know what they say......"when in Rome, do as the Romans"
seems like common-sense really but i think some immigrants have a problem with it.....i know i do!.....i'm an Australian based in London so doing as the Romans should dictate I hang out and mix with English people but instead I tend to hang with a cool bunch of (mostly Asian) Aussies
we've been quite successful in transplanting our clubbing/yum cha lifestyle halfway around the world so i don't really feel the need to branch out and make friends with the locals.....not that there's anything wrong with them!....anyway i know enough of them through work so i'm not fazed
maxdacat
Sunday, December 08, 2002 at 19:27:04 (PST)
[129.223.37.13]
Asian Voice,
Great post. I almost wholeheartedly agree with you.
I also think that we can't really assimilate into American society without almost entirely letting go of our heritage. We can't be Asian-"American", because in this society "American"... is "white". It's sad, I know, but it's the truth. I used to think that I could be both Asian and American, but this just doesn't hold true in real life.
Even in Europe where there are many immigrants, you are not really taken to be a native until you have totally absorbed yourself into the native population. Take Denmark or some scandanavian nation. I've met people that were 1/2 black or Asian and mostly Danish. They say that they are from Denmark, but are Chinese or black.
People who are 1/4 non-Danish say that their father/mother were Chinese (or whatever).
People who have a tiny amount of non-Danish blood (say less than 1/8th) just say that they are Danish, nothing else.
I think that Europeans and immigrants in europe have this mindset for because it is simply accepted that the native culture/blood is Danish, and to "be Danish", you need to at least be part Danish. At least that. You can be Chinese or Jamaican and live in Denmark and settle down for life; they usually won't give you too much shit, because Danes actually preach what they say ("let everyone live their lives"), unlike our beloved Amerikkka. =P However, you will not actually BE a Dane, because... you're not. It's true. If you have a kid with a Dane, then they may be considered Danish, but even then its borderline. If that kid has a kid with yet another Dane, then they would more easily and openly be received as a Dane.
This same principle holds true in most other countries outside the Americas: a person that is 7/8 Korean and 1/8 will probably be accepted (though maybe not by purists) as a Korean.
It seems that this concept of a multi-national identity is an American invention, because I have not seen it anywhere else. Perhaps it developed because of the high degree of historical race mixing, i.e. in Carribean, Central, South America ?
Lost American
Wednesday, December 04, 2002 at 16:25:30 (PST)
[128.253.186.46]
I see myself as an Asian before an American because of facial differences and language barrier. Asian who don't speak their native language will assimilate easier into American society but even they face discrimination for being different. So how do we get rid of the prejudice? We can't and if you try to be an American because you are insecure of being Asian, it will not work either. The only way to feel better is to turn back to your Asian culture and see what good is in it and see what you can learn from it but at the same time take good things from the American culture. I would not limit myself to being entirely American because even American have their negative influences.
For those of us who were born here and raised in America we have a real identity crisis. We don't know whether to marry another Asian or non-Asian. So I just give the person time to determine if I should marry them not based on their race. But usually, Asians will tend to marry other Asians not because they dislike non-Asians, it is just that they have more in common.
So whether to be Asian or American I say be both, but how are you going be Asian when you don't know anything about Asians, the language, culture, history. If you want to be an American, go play with your American friends so you are assimilated, and act and think like the Americans. By American I mean the majority who happened to be White. Let's say the white race acts and talks a certain way, then to be assimilated you have to do the exact same thing or you will be look upon as an outsider, that is the only way. That is how you get along with whites and become American. But if you act Asian they will think something is wrong with you, you are usually less talkative, more reserved, and cautious on what you say and do. There is a real problem for Asian American, it can not be resolved but by identifying the problem we can better understand ourselves and the people around us.
the asian voice
Tuesday, December 03, 2002 at 19:31:06 (PST)
[172.149.203.104]
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