Ethnographic Research Paper: Latino-American Immigration Experience Essay

The in-migration bring forth as a Hispanic-the Statesn is as diverse as the multiplex cultures that the pan-ethnic individualism, Hispanic, aims to subsume. With regards to the immigration endure, Zavella (1991) lays an emphasis on the arbitrariness of companionable posture. The difference among Latinos in American order of magnitude is embedded in their complaisant location inside the accessible bodily structure, in which identity, or ones experience of self, is emergent from the inter religious sected tender spaces organise by class, race/ethnicity, sex, and culture.In dedicate to gain a sufficient arrangement of the identity of the Latino-American im migratory, it is necessary to consider the congenital conditions down the stairs which individual experiences make up influence ports and attitudes. Through examining social location, this essay aims to damp the significance that an individual immigration experience has had in shaping a nose out of self in relation to American culture.In this essay, I discuss his immigration process in light of themes such as Latino identity, socialization, ratified office, immigrant social network in reception context, and family obligations to usher how Mr.Rayas personal experiences have constructed his identity as a proud American. In particular, I give consider how these themes conduce to his relation to the Latino comm social unity, how an active labor to learn English and familiarize with intelligent limitationaries constituted a sense of belonging, aspect subroutines in U. S. society, and the influence of family set on his behavior. Latino Identity Suargonz-Orozco, Marcelo and Paez (2002) explain how the Spanish expression acts as the unifying cistron across Latinos in American society.The Latino population is made up of those whom originate, or are descendants from, a big array of Latin-American countries that ranges from Mexico, rack upes all oversea to the Caribbean Island s, and set down by authority of Central to sulfur America. The heathen difference among immigrants and the steering in which American society drives them contributes to their social location and differs greatly between individuals of the Latino community. The ethnic men get on of Latino is one in which the fall in States has adopted in an attempt to racially define a particular sect of society.The Latino identity has been crafted by the U. S. overnment and gains its substance solely in relation to the experience in U. S. society. Although Latinos are practically misrepresent by their pan-ethnic title, the Spanish language generates a powerful gravitational field de operaterance them together. The assimilation experience as a Latino immigrant may be divided largely by structural forces associated with pagan origins, however, the Latino identity stands united downstairs the Spanish language. Originally from South America, Mr. Raya is a proud Peruvian who associates hi mself with others from Latin American digestgrounds overdue to their common heathen engross of the Spanish language.Mr. Raya elucidates, I want to set off by clarifying what the term Latinos means. So Spanish amazes from Latinso our grow are from Latin. Thats why our language is Hispanic. The language. Not our race. Because Im from South America, Rigo for instance is from Mexico, but if you see us together then you can reverberate us Latinos. Because it is the general idea. (p. 1, l. 1-4). Mr. Raya clearly states that his alliance to other Latinos, such as his workfellow Rigo, is solely due to their use of the Latin-base language, Spanish. akin(predicate) to the experience explicit in the literary works, Mr.Rayas identity as a Latino is only in relation to his tie beam with other Latinos financial yield in America. assimilation Chavez (2008) demonstrates how the assimilation process of Latinos migrating to the U. S. has been compromised and restricted due to the L atino Threat Narrative. He argues that the popularly held idea that the Latino front line in the U. S. challenges American ideals and society on the whole accounts for the stunted rates of assimilation among Latinos in America. Latinos are viewed as a threat because of a perceived refusal to have into the larger society due to the entrust to preserve their own culture.One way in which Latino immigrants are considered as resistant to American society is by their use of the Spanish language preferably than what is preferred by the U. S. majority, English (Cornelius, 2002). American disapproval of Latino immigration has been expressed through the implementation of immigration equitys, followed with a negative representation of Latino immigration in the mass media. Americas defensive attitude toward Latinos have stigmatized them with organism culpable, which in turn, alienates Latino immigrants due to racialization effects from unwelcoming attitudes held by the larger society Gome z, 2007 Martinez, 1998). When first moving to America, Mr. Raya hardly knew a word in English. His initial struggle to incorporate into the U. S. social order was on account his lack sleep withledge of the English language.His capacity for effective communication was bound to the confines of the Spanish language. He shares his experience, I felt alone. I couldnt, well I say Good Morning, How are you that was it you know. eve if somebody talked to me you know I was equal a clam you know. I couldnt, I didnt, I didnt want it, those things you know(p. 1, l. 3-25). Mr. Rayas experience stresses the musical interval from the American community felt by the Latino immigrants described in the Chavez study. He explains how a deficit of the English language contributed to a steping of loneliness. In contrast to the writings however, rather than pushing him farther out-of-door from his assimilation goal, Mr. Raya became attracted to schooling English. He explains, So thats why I went t o school. I started studying English, and then I felt, I got Americanized immediately. (p. 1, l. 29-30).Discontent with his isolated state, Mr.Raya recognized the grandeur of speaking English. He credits learning English for his qualification to assimilate and how it poke out to a gained sense of belonging as an American. Legal Status Abrego (2011) calls attention to the role that an immigrants legal cognisance cultivates in the incorporation process. Research suggests that adult immigrants with an undocumented legal status often live in a constant state of precaution due to threat of deportation. The internalization of the illegal stigma criminalizes undocumented immigrants and legitimizes the exploitation of migrant workers (Menjivar and Abrego, 2012).Their sub break awayive attitude and passive life-style under oppression is reinforced through the U. S. structure and ultimately prevents their achievement of assimilation. On the other hand, those considered as be with th e law, that is, those with a strong legal consciousness, are sensible of their rights and are likely to put to work claims for redress or inclusion. Immigrants aware of their legal rights under American commandment are shown to have to a greater extent in(predicate) rates of incorporation. Mr. Rayas experience with applying for U. S. itizenship portrays him as having a strong legal consciousness. Although he is non an American citizen on paper, his sensory faculty of his contractual agreement made with the fall in States government provides him with the development to subscribe up his confidence that secures his sense of belonging. Mr. Raya recalls his experience, When I went to apply, when I went to apply here, they told me, you just sign a paper, saying that youre going back there. After 2 to 3 old age, I had to go back there. scarce my social security, I have a device drivers license Im legal here.But if I go out, I cant tot up back in 10 years. Thats one of the re asons why I never went out, I never went back there, back to Peru. (p. 3, l. 1-5 ). In line with the argument provided by Abrego (2011), Mr. Rayas legal consciousness of what he can or cannot do under administrative decree, constitutes his sense of belongingness in American society. Mr. Raya further explains, I really feel like America is my country. I miss Peru of course, but Im okay. Im just like an American right now. So I play the rules and everything (p. 2, 1. 16-18).He asserts his entitled right to live in America, and affirms his entitlement through proper forms of identification. Because he is aware of his legal standing, he cautions himself of the repercussive consequences of going the country. He makes conscious ends based of the familiarity that if he were to return to Peru, he would not be permitted back into the U. S. immediately. Knowing what is and isnt available to him under the U. S. legal organisation has given Mr. Raya his confidence due to the liberty and c ontrol he has over his fate. brotherly NetworksMenjivar (2000) argues against the overly romanticized notions of immigrant unity that surround the cooking stove of Latino immigrant social networks. Research examining Salvadorian immigrant social networks provides evidence that refutes the stereotypical assumption that latino family members already alert in the U. S. to snap unconditional financial, emotional and material incarnate for their migrating relatives. The presence of existing social networks with individuals living in the U. S. serves for an incentive and resource helper for migration.However, the way in which social ties receive friends and family upon transition is affected by context. In American society, in fundamental laws held among immigration social networks have shown to reflect U. S. structural features such as the labor grocery store rather than the cultural norms of the social culture of national origin. In many cases, social ties were shown to weaken be cause of a low capacity for reciprocity. The inability to settle with aid from reception was especially evident when the participants in exchange had very curb access to resources.Social class entry, brought by immigrants and potential opportunities, demonstrated a material relation to an immigrants access to resources and ability to assist those within social networks. priapic immigrants tended to have stronger and larger social networks than females and the intuition of immigrants from older generations offered more successful information that had been acquired with age. The immigrant social network experience of Mr. Raya was molded by social class insertion and reflects of the social context under which he was received.Now 63, Mr.Raya reincarnated at the mature age of 31 with a clear verifiable in caput to make coin. Mr. Raya stresses the scotch aspect and demand for labor market participation in American society, everyone wants to tote up over here, because the gene ral idea is like, you come here, and the dollars are on the street, theyre in the tree you know, its easier to make dollars. Its not palmy the way the way we work here(p. 1, 1. 14-16). Mr. Rayas perception of America prior to immigration embodies the same spirit of the American Ideal and depicts the notion of social mobility as being tangible by means of hard work.When first migrating to the United States, Mr. Raya was acceptable by a friend who had concord to help him get settled, however was anticipate to work and provide for himself. Mr. Raya explains, when we come over here we become Americans in an scotch way. He further explains, Lets say you want to bring your babe or your brother you bring them over, and as an American, okay, you help them for 2, 3 months, you tellem you gotta pay rent, you gotta pay your food. But up there no. You can enlistment at your parents house forever (p. 2, l. 28-30).In line with the literature, Mr.Raya highlights the shift of expectations for social networks as one makes the transition from Latin-American to American context. Mr. Rayas experience has shaped his perception of the way in which friends and relatives looking to migrate should be received into American society. Family bargain Abrego (2009) examines the ways in which migrant parents gender affects the transnational families economic welfare. The term transnational is used to describe families where members of the nuclear unit (mother, flummox, and children) live in two contrasting countries.Common among migrant parents of transitional families was their commit of sending of remittances. Abrego argues that families with transitional mothers are more likely to experience economic prosperity compared to transitional father-away, families in which families with transitional fathers often received limited or no remittances. Gendered parental obligations imply that men rate themselves or new relationships establish in the United States over their family b ack home, bandage attributing a strong regard for family value with mothers of transitional families.Mr. Rayas adolescent years spent in Peru were marked by extreme poverty and its unfortunate contingencies. free conditions foreshadowed a life in Peru that was nonoperational and void of hope. In an attempt to reverse his impoverished fate for his family, Mr. Rayas decision to leave Peru was persuaded by the economic opportunities that America had to offer. Although his family was out of sight, they were never out of mind when it came to his financial gain while living in America.In contrast with the literature illustrating the male, father figure as being self -interested and self- serving, Mr. Raya expresses his obligation to support his family. I was planning to go to college but I couldnt because I had to send bills to my kids, and my kids were in Peru (p. 2, 1. 3-4). Unlike the experiences described by Abrego, Mr. Raya holds a high regard for family values that transcends ma terial goods, we were poor. We didnt have a car, we didnt have a house, But the principal(prenominal) thing for me is that we had a family that was the staple fiber loving your family first(p. , l. 7-11). Family values specify his goal to provide financial support for his entire family was his main incentive for immigration.Mr. Raya describes his objective, That was my main goal help my people. Send money to them to my kids, to my parents. And that, that part made me feel good. point though I mean my kids they were not with me but, they, my kids they had a good education (p. 2, 1. 10-13 ). Although the separation from his children is hard for him, knowing that they receive a good education assures Mr.Raya that he has served his profession to his family. Conclusion In the final abbreviation, Mr. Rayas immigration experience demonstrates how the positions he occupies within the U. S. social structure has influenced his ultimate sense of an American identity. His personal experi ence in America as a Latino immigrant reveals his particular social location in which his Latino-identity, motivation for migrations, desire to assimilate, legal consciousness and expectations for reception all contributed significantly to his behavior and perceptions.When examining his experience in light of research, Mr. Rayas successful incorporation mirrors many theories held regarding Latino assimilation into American society. Mr. Raya recognizes that his Latino indite is one in which language is significative of his relation to the Latino-American population, and that learning English is shrill to his assimilation process. An active engagement with the U. S. egal trunk while determining his migrant status has allowed for a positive assertion of rightfulness and provides Mr. Raya with a confident sense of belonging. Moreover, the chance on feature of Mr. Raya experience is his strong will to assimilate. Dissimilar with conclusions of related research, obligation to proce ss his role as a father and support his family was the driving motive easy his successful incorporation.On the whole, his social location has shaped his attitudes and opinions toward Latino-immigration in general. He stresses the immensity ones capacity for readjustment to the American structural context in order to achieve assimilation, and therefore reach economic, social and political success. Through an analysis of the Latino-American experience of David Raya, this essay demonstrates the significant equal social location has had on the formation of Mr. Rayas American identity as a Latino immigrant.