Migration: perspectives on social integration
The move was successful, but now what?
Created by Miguel Luigi Enriquez, Nour Hassoun, and Joy Labaky
Chinese-Americans are the United States’ second largest foreign-born community, making up about 1.2% of the nation’s total population.
This significant number roots back from the early 1800's, when the first wave of Chinese migrants arrived as merchants and sailors for the California Gold Rush.
Nowadays, the Chinese migrate to the US mostly as skilled workers. Such was the case with William Ieong’s parents. William is a 20 year-old student at Boston University. He was raised in Massachusetts after his parents moved there as IT analysts.
Despite such a longstanding history and contribution to American culture and society, the Chinese, like most other minorities, still face an integration difficulty within contemporary America. According to the Transatlantic Trends reports on immigration in 2014, 54% of Americans see migration as more of a problem than as an opportunity.
William recalls noticing he was in the minority at a relatively young age. He notes that this never really hindered him in any way, living in quite a left-wing and progressive community.
“That’s one major difference, I was genuinely scared of my dad and I’m not sure any of my peers ever were.”
Being raised in a household that spoke Cantonese, he found it hard to pick up English because of the different grammar structures. This is a problem that plagues a lot of first-generation migrants. According to Bloemraad and de Graauw, many first-generation migrants will not achieve full integration as their children will, solely because of the language barrier. In the same journal, the authors describe several government initiatives to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for this group of people.
The culture gap between a community and their host country is one that is inevitable. Yet on a smaller scale, there are also gaps that occur within families as a result of different upbringings and ideas. For example, William reflects on his parents’ use of physical punishment- something his friends never experienced. “That’s one major difference, I was genuinely scared of my dad and I’m not sure any of my peers ever were.” he said.
Yet what set the Chinese apart from other minorities is their ability to coexist with the Americans regardless of such difficulties. They showed willingness to share the Americans’ culture, all while sticking to their own traditions. The result was an integration that felt relatively successful.
William’s family practiced a lot of Chinese traditions with their relatives in the States, including going for yum cha meals and celebrating Chinese New Year, which shows the often tight bonds that are formed when people of the same origin come together in a foreign country. The Chinese New Year customs of giving red pockets filled with money is a cultural difference William saw to his advantage. “My friends were always jealous when I got free money during the holidays!” he joked.
How can the integration of the Chinese in USA be used as an influence?
Chinatown is not one town, but rather a set of communities spread across many American states. Records and stories about the struggles of Chinese people attempting to adapt in American societies are numerous. The All American Slurp by Lensey Namioka is but one example of many. The traditions of the Chinese did indeed create a great social gap between them and the Americans.
Yet here they are, decades later, with new generations of successfully integrated Chinese-American citizens, coexisting with locals in a country so different to theirs, all while preserving their traditions and social norms within their communities. They drive the economy in those communities, and bring a rich history of tradition, culture, and knowledge to the host country.
This has inspired us to create the following posters showing the coexistence and merging of Chinese and American cultures, as an example to all the other immigrant/local groups suffering from lack of cross-cultural communication.
So let’s take a step back to ask ourselves a broader question. What is social integration, really?
Let’s try to think about the issue on a broader scale. Social integration is a complex process ultimately leading to one’s adjustment in a place foreign to him. It begins when the immigrant first sets foot on foreign soil. Definitions regarding the process, its aspects, and its duration vary greatly, which gives integration a subjective character governed by one underlying theme.
What is certain, however, is that the modern age has greatly affected the perception of integration. With modern day technology in the 21st century, the need to let go of certain connections in favor of new ones was replaced with the notion of balancing both the old and the new.
This kind of coexistence isn’t, as many believe, a lack of commitment for the receiving society and its people, but rather a method to commit to that society while staying true to oneself.
The process of integration itself isn’t passive. The individual usually chooses which aspects of integration and adjustment they want to undergo, and that affects how much they blend in with the rest of the society.
Yet not all aspects of integration are labeled as optional. Governments and societies usually require engagement with a certain set of changes in order to create a cohesive society that functions under the label of equality and inclusion. The problem? Governments don’t always view integration the way immigrants, who face it firsthand, do, which can cause certain troubles.
What is certain, however, is that integration must and always will be a two-way process. Immigrants can’t be expected to cope with locals’ every last demand. The process requires a multi-dimensional interaction between both parties, and that includes a give-and-take relationship, as well as mutual understanding of different lifestyles and cultures. One party must adapt while the other must accept. Sacrifice is often needed, as well as diplomatic discussions that lead great differences into certain common grounds.
It’s important to mention that the words multi-dimensional are not to be taken lightly, as integration doesn’t only include the economic (employment, housing, self reliance, sustainability…), but also the legal (freedom of movement, citizenship, citizen rights, access to education, access to travel and identity documents…) and the social-cultural (pop culture, no discrimination, mutual understanding, social participation…).
Why is it important to discuss social integration?
Despite the existence of many stories that highlight a successful integration process which facilitated the lives of immigrant communities, the world still suffers from cultural alienation. Borders are built within borders to create cultural divides that don’t allow people of different backgrounds to communicate. Racism, xenophobia, and discrimination still exist, defeating cultural coexistence within certain countries.
In 2016, this problem has become more prominent due to the rise of terrorism in the world, leading to the glorification of stereotypes. People are becoming less accepting towards anyone who isn’t them.
Here’s a brief on the reasons why this topic needs to be discussed thoroughly in order to find better solutions:
· Migration doesn’t stop after people move from point A to point B. The “now what” question prompts itself.
· “Foreigners” are feeling alienated
· The clash of cultures is defeating forms of cultural coexistence
· Immigrants are being exposed to less and less opportunities by the day
· Refugees and immigrants are facing great confusion regarding their social and legal status
· Integration is a core aspect of the migration process
· Immigrants can’t really settle into a society without proper cultural integration
· Cross-cultural communication is often overlooked
· A better world is one where different people can coexist
· We need to eliminate the metaphorical borders within countries through eliminating segregation and xenophobia
What can be done? — The Prerequisite
Before tracking down ways to enhance social integration, we must understand why people immigrate in the first place. Leaving one’s home is never an easy choice.
Of course, immigration comes in all forms and for all reasons, but such reasons can usually be summarized within the following:
· Search for jobs/better financial status
· Start a new life somewhere different
· Escape danger, war, or societal collapse
· Expose oneself to different cultures and places
Many citizens can be unaware that people usually migrate as a form of self support or self actualization, and they assume the worst about the newcomers. Truth is, most immigrants do not plan on driving the host country to the ground, or cause chaos/trouble, but are simply ordinary people in search of a better life.
How can countries help refugees integrate?
· Acknowledge that a process as complex as integration could take many years, especially for those who are least educated.
· Provide psychological, mental, and physical health care as early as possible.
· Ensure that past work experience in the original country counts in the host country.
· Create different systems for asylum seekers and other immigrants in order to provide special needs services quickly and efficiently.
· Take into account migrants’ skills in order to properly suggest a method to disperse them across the country depending on where they can be most productive.
· Spread awareness about the difference of cultures and the need to treat immigrants differently depending on their backgrounds.
· Grant equal access to integration and humanitarian rights and services to all the immigrants across the country, with stress on educational services.
· Improve the rules of gaining citizenship so they can better suit immigrants who have successfully become contributing members of the society.
· Create systems that can measure integration’s success within the country by taking inspiration from past programs such as MIPEX and UNHCR’s Integration Evaluation Tool.
· Create immigrant institutions such as mutual aid societies, chambers of commerce, and social and recreational clubs meant to integrate the community and strengthen it
What about the youth?
Of course, in addition to young immigrants, second-generation immigrants (or first-generation born citizens) will face certain difficulties in adapting to a society that is so foreign to them and their families. The duty of balancing between one’s traditions and the new society they live in is no easy task.
The following video demonstrates the struggles some students of the Salzburg Global Seminar faced as young children who grew up in societies foreign to them, and how they eventually came to face them.
So how can teachers help students better adapt to such differences?
· Acquiring cultural understanding through observing, communicating, and engaging with students. The classroom is a group of individuals rather than an individual group.
· Understanding how cultures differ, causing different people to react differently when facing similar situations. This includes:
o How different cultures gather information (research, elders, traditions, religion…)
o How different cultures solve problems: When asked if they would save their mother, their spouse, or their child in case of a deadly accident, almost all Asians chose their mothers, while Americans showed a major preference for saving one’s spouse
o Looking out for methods of non-verbal communication that link back to culture/tradition (avoiding eye contact, trying not to smile…)
o Appreciating different ways of learning (solitary vs. group)
o Noticing the usage of symbols that link to certain aspects of the student’s beliefs or personality
o Adapting to the different ways students could face their problems and deal with conflict
o Promoting love and mutual respect regardless of race, religion, or culture
o Listening empathetically
o Speaking to parents to help build better teacher-student relationships
o Expanding on cultural knowledge through research, books, and communication
I want to help facilitate cross-cultural communication in my society. What should I do?
· Understand the great differences between diverse cultures. Not all populations are clones of who you are.
· Learn more about others’ cultures before attempting to discuss them. Sometimes what you consider information can actually be a false stereotype. Mexicans don’t always eat tacos, Lebanon is not a desert, and Americans aren’t all Trump supporters.
· Keep your language simple, as even the people who speak English could have learned it as a second or third language. The complex vocab can be saved for work reports or SATs.
· Make sure your humor isn’t offensive to the person you’re speaking with. You may want to keep the Muslim bombing jokes to yourself.
· Demand mutual acceptance and respect.
· Be very welcoming. A few nice words can never hurt anyone.
· Offer help, you probably know more about your country than an immigrant. Many of them may have tons of questions to ask.
The future
People should aspire, through unity, to facilitate the integration process for others. During these tough times, xenophobia and segregation can only ever hold us back. Every day, new divides are created, new stereotypes are applied, and new conflicts arise. Integration will never be easy, but there is no benefit in making it more difficult.
A brighter future is one where immigrants are welcomed, supported, and treated with respect. It is one where refugees aren’t treated like animals, but recognized as brothers in need of help. It is one where everyone is an advocate of change and a bearer of humanity. Who ever said that one person must only belong to one culture?
This story was created by a team of students at the 2016 Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change. It exists as part of a digital publication called MOVE which aims to educate readers on the social, political, and cultural impacts of global migration. All stories published in MOVE were created at the 2016 Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change by students and faculty from around the world.
