Ewen's Immigrant Women in the Land of Dollars Throughout history, the concept of Americanization has been studied in order to better understand the effects of a mass culture on immigrants. On one side stands the view of an immigrant engulfed in American ideology who leaves behind his past. He conforms to this new individualism and now is able to move upward on the economic ladder. On the opposite end of defining Americanization is the unscathed immigrant who maintains his old word traditions and institutions to emerge victoriously despite unfavorable conditions. His ethnicity solidifies his success by creating affinity bonds and social patterns to aid in the struggle for a decent life. Though both these views are extreme, they both contain significant aspects which form a more accurate perspective of how immigrants assimilated into the "emerging industrial and consumer society" (Ewen, 15). These immigrants did not give up their nationality completely, even as they adopted American ideals in order to survive within the new but unfamiliar consumer culture. This cultural coalescence brought about major changes, which women had most of the burden of assimilating during the 19th century. The unrelenting and brave women described by Ewen in "Immigrant Women in the Land of Dollars" demonstrated an amazing ability to retain many of their traditions while still accommodating American ideals and culture in their social events, employment, and home life. For many immigrant families, social events were the only way... ... middle of paper ... ... instilled in their daughters the value of an orderly and pleasant house. Despite the desperate attempts to Americanize immigrants, the first and second generations did not let go of all of their traditional ideals and beliefs. Even so, they did not continue unscathed by the process. However, these ideals from the Old Country helped them "meet the challenge" (Ewen, 266). This culture became a mutual protection for immigrants against the scarcity and struggle of tenement life. It also provided a bond for the community and was the foundation for their survival. As the years passed, immigrants eventually succumbed to American ideals, but they have not totally given up their culture now that they are considered Americans. Even so, one can look back on this period and see the significant struggle that women had between customary ideas and the assurance of modernity.
Typical American by Gish Jen demonstrates the different struggles that a traditional immigrant family encounters. The book being discussed will be explained by means of historical influences and biographical influences during Jen’s life that affected the novel. This essay will also contain a critical analysis of the book and an analysis of the critical response from others.
Through the lives of different characters the author tells about struggles and sacrifices that any emigrants have to face when they come to a new country and try to get on their feet. The first generation usually gains the least, because older people already have deeply rooted cultural traditions and language barrier that do not let them to assimilate and to feel fully at home in the new place. Just like Sarah's parents in "Bread Givers" the majority of first generation older emigrants that I know feel somewhat alienated and disadvantaged in America. Many of them were naïve and thought that America was a Golden Amadina where "money grows on the trees". Many were intelligent enough to realize that they were going to a tough land of opportunities where they would have to fight and struggle for a spot under the sun. But those who were realistic came here anyway, because they hoped for a better future for their children who could fully benefit from new opportunities, ethnic equality, and democracy that the New World had to offer.
As many women took on a domestic role during this era, by the turn of the century women were certainly not strangers to the work force. As the developing American nation altered the lives of its citizens, both men and women found themselves struggling economically and migrated into cities to find work in the emerging industrialized labor movement . Ho...
Mary Antin was one of many thousands of Eastern Europeans who emigrated to the United States in the 1890.According to the book, “this was especially true between 1860 and 1920, as more and more immigrants, most of them poor, arrived from eastern and southern Europe in search of better living conditions and freedom from political and religious oppression.”(P.630)Because industries were growing rapidly at that time,they sent recruiting agents abroad to stir up interest in migration to the United State.It was about 3.5 million immigrants in the 1890s and 9 million per year in the first decade of the twentieth century.The new immigrants,who came to the United State after 1883,were different from those of most old immigrants such as language and cultural background.According to the book, “the new immigration that had begun around 1883,however,was marked by an increase in transient,unskilled labors who flocked to urban enclaves where they resisted assimilation.”(P.631)
Woloch, Nancy. Women and the American Experience: a Concise History. 2nd ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
Jumping forward to 1950s when Eilis immigrates to the U.S., the reader can see the affects of the earlier mass immigration from the 19th century. When Eilis is traveling back to America after visiting her mother in Ireland, she meets another young Irish girl on the deck of the boat. This is the young girl’s first time traveling to the U.S., and she says to Eilis, “People say that there’s so many Irish people there; it’s like home. Is that right?” Eilis assures her that “it is just like home.” (3; p.
The United States currently has 42.1 million immigrants residing in America. Most immigrants traveled to the U.S for a more satisfying life for themselves and their families than the ones that they had had in the past. People from other countries view America as the “Land of Opportunities” but it is hard for the immigrants to adapt to the new culture of America. Culture is a shared set of values, customs, traditions, beliefs, and art that are passed down from generation to generation within an ethnic group. Culture partly has an impact on a person’s perspective on the world, but not as much as how parents and personal experiences influence a person’s view on achievements/attitude, values, and beliefs.
The United States is a nation of immigrants but also a nation of Americans, when exactly does it happen that an immigrant becomes an American? Most of the people in the United States came from Europe or their ancestors came from Europe. Many immigrants were poor, day laborers who chose to live in the city. They came to America in hope of a better economic life. Many lived in sections of the city that suffered from severe poverty. They often lived in run down tenement houses that were unsafe. All the while, they clung to the cultures of the “old world” they just left. It was not until the 1880s that things began to change. Jane Addams, a middle class woman, decided to help the impoverished immigrants. She opened a settlement house and she called it Hull House. It was the first settlement house in the United States. She focused on Chicago’s most poverty-stricken area. The Hull House became the social center for immigrants. It offered night school for adults, kindergarten classes, clubs, a public kitchen, an art gallery, a coffeehouse, a gym, a bathhouse and so much more. Hull House helped immigrants become part of the social world in America. It also tried to Americanize the immigrants and encouraged them to assimilate into the American culture. In short, when Jane Addams founded the Hull House she wanted to help immigrants become part of the American culture and she persuaded them to leave the customs of the “old world” in their past.
Today, in most cases, people don’t spend very much time thinking about why the society we live in presently, is the way it is. Most people would actually be surprised about all that has happened throughout America’s history. Many factors have influenced America and it’s society today, but one of the most profound ways was the way the “Old Immigrants” and “New Immigrants” came to America in the early to mid 1800s. The “Old Immigrants were categorized as the ones who came before 1860 and the “New Immigrants” being the ones who came between 1865 and 1920. The immigrants came to the United States, not only seeking freedom, but also education. Many immigrants also wanted to practice their religion without hindrance. What happened after the immigrants
In conclusion dating back from the years of 1863 through 1950 certain people like; American women, lawbreakers and, immigrants either went through or, undergo; Americanization, restrictions ,unlawful teachings by harsh critique's that sparked controversy through the widespread of fear alongside unfair judgments from their writings, and the media was all bad behavior and, it should not have been tolerated. The 1920s foretell a dramatic fracture between America’s past and, it’s future. Before World War I the country persisted culturally and psychologically fixed in the nineteenth
For centuries, all across the globe, the traditional woman has been soft-spoken, modest, religious, and obedient to their husbands. The women would wake up, clean the house, cook and cater to their family. For many women, husbands would beat and abuse them, but it was the rural life, which was normal to them, comfortable even. The 1920s hit in the Unites States of America, leading to multiple victories that would carve a new path. Little did these women know, that their actions would influence the way that the female lives
With all things said one can understand that the values and ideals so highly prized do in fact have a great influence on the cultures and societies they involve themselves with. Understanding that power and wealth, both of which America greatly possess, gives people impression of the counties superiority, it is undoubtedly that this influence will affect them in such a way that America, to them, is the definition of fruition. Thus in there societies they too will impose the norms and social as well as economic values upon their people in order to attempt to attain the same great achievements. In every one of these books it becomes apparent in at least one way that the women and those around them, whether it is realized or not, have been greatly affect in the most adverse way.
Since the creation of the United States, there have been several enormous waves of immigration into the country. Many people come here to pursue the freedom they have always craved. In the book, The Bean Trees, this is a familiar concept to the characters Estevan and Esperanza. They have migrated from Guatemala all the way to the state of Arizona where they will meet the protagonist, Taylor. Throughout the story Taylor learns the couple’s struggle of being undocumented immigrants in the United States. Along the way, she will learn about Estevan and Esperanza’s heart-breaking background stories as well. These characters will journey on through life despite the hardships of immigration. The book shows the struggle that they should not have to put up with. Barbara Kingsolver, the author of The Bean Trees, illustrates an immigrant’s point of view by applying literary elements, which encourages readers to feel sympathy towards immigrants, the social problems faced, and to see how unfair immigration laws are.
"Immigrants and the American Dream." Society 33.n1 (Nov-Dec 1995):3(3). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale University. 26 Sep. 2006.
The repercussions of migration were well defined in the film, My American Girls. The Ortiz family first migrated to New York due to the deficiency of work in the Dominican Republic. The Ortiz family lifestyles, consumption preferences, and value had been transformed. The family slowly assimilated to the society norms. Surprisingly, the family was able to stay in tact with a majority of their cultural practices. The bi-cultural vitality that the family retains is remarkably impressive. The challenges faced by Juan and Sandra really allows for outsiders to gain a better understanding of the hardships immigrants face on a day- to- day basis. Sandra and Bautista work as housekeepers as well as cleaning services for the hospital to sustain the household. Working long hours leaves Sandra and Bautista little time to attend to their children. This results in the two youngest girls neglecting to do their homework. The Ortiz parents have made vast sacrifices in order to provide for their family. Throughout the film, the family was constantly struggling over culture, education, and familial expectations. I found it very heartwarming that although these differences did exists amongst family members they were still able to maintain as a family unit. The constant battle between personal aspirations and parental sacrifices seemed to be the reoccurring theme of the film. It is apparent that as acculturation increases traditional cultural values decreases. Myra, Monica, and Aida can most definitely be seen as “American