Assimilation, Turning Points, and the Life Course

• In Event: Life Course Turning Points and Transitions: Advances in Research

Abstract

One requirement the United States (US) seems to demand of newly arrived immigrants is that they assimilate and become more “Americanized,” but what does that mean? What does that process look like? And in what ways does assimilation impact the immigrant-offending relationship? For over a century scholars have debated these questions and despite conducting numerous studies assimilation still remains an ambiguous, confusing, and complex concept. One way to better understand the assimilation process and more importantly what leads immigrants to assimilate is the application of life course theory, specifically turning points to identify the major events in their life that contribute to their assimilation process. Therefore, this study addresses the question: What turning points and significant events in an immigrant’s life impact their assimilation process? This study employs retrospective in-depth qualitative interviews of immigrants seeking immigration services from a non-profit organization in Southern California. The use of retrospective interviews allows for the elicitation of the respondent’s early life in their home country, factors impacting their decision to come to the US, and events that have impacted or influenced their assimilation process. Content analysis was used to identify patterns in the respondent’s assimilation process. Preliminary findings are discussed.

Author

• Elliott Alvarado, University of California, Irvine