Second-generation immigrants in the United States

Second generation Americans in the United States refers to individuals born in the United States who have at least one foreign born parent.^[1] Although there is some ambiguity in reference to the definition of second generation Americans, this definition is cited by major research centers such as the United States Census Bureau and the Pew Research Center.^[1][2]

Second generation Americans are U.S. citizens by birth. U.S. citizenship is guaranteed in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; but political debate over repealing this right has increased in recent years. Advocates of this motion claim that this right attracts unauthorized immigration to the U.S.^[3] The repeal of birthright citizenship would have the greatest impact on second generation Americans who are Mexican Americans, as Mexico is the country of origin for the majority of undocumented immigrants in the U.S.^[3]

The growing presence of first generation immigrants in the U.S. has led to a growth in the percentage of the population that can be categorized as second generation Americans. This is due to immigrants being more likely than native born adults to have children.^[4] In 2009, immigrants, both legal and unauthorized, were the parents of 23% of all children in the U.S.^[4] The process by which second generation immigrants undergo assimilation into U.S. society affects their economic successes and educational attainments, with the general trend being an improvement in earnings and education relative to the parental generation. Second generation Americans have an increasingly important impact on the national labor force and ethnic makeup.

Statistics

In 2009, 33 million people in the United States were second generation immigrants, representing 11% of the national population.^[2] There are significant differences in income and education levels between the second generation immigrant population and the first generation immigrant population in the United States. Second generation immigrants are doing better overall and are assimilating more successfully into U.S. society.

Income

In comparison to first generation immigrants, second generation immigrants are more likely to achieve higher earnings.^[2] In 2008, the median annual earnings for second generation immigrants were $42,297 while the median annual earnings for first generation immigrants were $32,631.^[2] In the same year, the U.S. Census Bureau found that second generation immigrants had higher earnings overall, with 42% of the second generation immigrant population earning above $50,000 compared to just 31% of the first generation immigrant population.^[2] Second generation immigrants are also less likely to live in poverty relative to their first generation counterparts.^[2]

Education levels

Population by generational status and educational attainment in the US, 2009

Second generation immigrants are more educated compared to first generation immigrants, exceeding parental education in many instances.^[5] A greater percentage of second generation immigrants have obtained a level of education beyond a high school diploma, with 59.2% having at least some college education in 2009.^[2] Also in 2009, 33% of the second generation immigrant population had a bachelor’s degree.^[2] The following graph depicts the data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau on educational attainments for immigrant generations in the year 2009.^[2]

Theories on cultural assimilation

The majority of immigrants in the United States are non-white.^[6] Immigrants come from diverse backgrounds and have unique cultures taken from their native countries. The children of such immigrants in the U.S., also known as "second generation immigrants," experience a cultural conflict between that of their parents and that of mainstream U.S. society. The process by which these second generation immigrants assimilate into society is increasingly being researched, and multiple theories on the cultural assimilation of second generation immigrants have been proposed.

Segmented assimilation

The theory of segmented assimilation for second generation immigrants is highly researched in the sociological arena. Segmented assimilation focuses on the notion that people take different paths in how they adapt to life in the United States.^[6] This theory states that there are three main different paths of assimilation for second generation immigrants. Some immigrants assimilate smoothly into the white middle class of America, others experience downward assimilation, and others experience rapid economic success while preserving the values of their immigrant community.^[6]

This theory also includes the concept of modes of incorporation, which are the external factors within the host community that affect assimilation. These factors are created by the underlying policies of the government, the strength of prejudice in the society, and the makeup of coethnic communities within the society.^[6] These modes of incorporation affect how a child will assimilate into U.S. society, and determine how vulnerable the child will be towards downward assimilation. Factors that enhance such vulnerability include racial discrimination, location, and changes in the economy that have made it harder for intergenerational mobility.^[6]

In addition, differing modes of incorporation make available certain resources that second generation immigrants can use to overcome challenges to the process of assimilation. If the child belongs to a group that has been exempt from the prejudice experienced by most immigrants, such as European immigrants, they will experience a smoother process of assimilation. A second generation immigrant can also make use of established networks in the coethnic community. These networks provide these children with additional resources beyond those offered by the government, such as gateways into well paying jobs in businesses established by the ethnic community.^[6]

Children of middle class immigrants have a greater likelihood of moving up the social ladder and joining American mainstream society than children of lower class immigrants, as they have access to both the resources provided by their parents and to the educational opportunities afforded to the middle class in the U.S.^[6]

Downward assimilation

Multiple factors affect the likelihood of downward assimilation, including race, location, and absence of mobility ladders.^[6] Generally, immigrants enter the sectors of the labor force that experience low pay, commonly through jobs in the service sector and manufacturing.^[6] Such jobs seldom offer chances for upward mobility. The lack of good pay and resources available to immigrant parents affects the likelihood of their U.S.-born children being able to rise out of poverty. Children born to low skilled immigrants may experience assimilation into the impoverished groups of the United States. Instead of adapting to the mainstream values and expectations of U.S. society, they take on the adversarial stance of the poor, entering the vicious cycle of poverty.^[6] According to the theory of segmented assimilation, second generation immigrants are less likely to experience downward assimilation when their race does not align with groups that experience prejudice and discrimination, such as African Americans.^[6] Also, immigrant families can enter well established ethnic groups in the United States to increase their pool of resources, lowering the possibility of downward assimilation for their children.^[6]

Criticism

Not all studies coincide with the theory of segmented assimilation. Other studies have found that second generation immigrant groups’ earnings are in line with native born groups.^[5] Arrest rates indicate similarities in the engagement of deviant behavior between second generation immigrants and the white population in the U.S., contradicting the theory of segmented assimilation since these similarities support the idea of assimilation towards the dominant norm of mainstream U.S. society.^[5]

Despite the barriers that come from being born to immigrants who are generally low skilled, have little education, and have less knowledge of the English language compared to U.S. natives, second generation immigrants are doing better than U.S. native groups of comparable racial backgrounds, contradicting the concept of downward assimilation.^[5] A major factor that contributes to second generation immigrants doing so well is the drive to succeed and do better than their predecessors that is commonly instilled in these immigrants from childhood by their families.^[7] The theory of segment assimilation undermines such early socialization.^[7] Second generation immigrants of minority status in terms of ethnicity can also move up the social economic ladder via minority rights and resources available through programs directed at the betterment of minority groups in the U.S.^[8] Second generation immigrants are also entering the labor force with higher levels of education compared to their parents, which helps balance the negative effects associated with having low skilled immigrant parents.^[9]

Another major criticism of segmented assimilation is that it predicts downward mobility for children of low skilled immigrants when studies have shown that upward mobility is more likely due to the children already starting off at the bottom.^[10]

Other theories

The theory of “straight line” assimilation, also known as linear assimilation or simple assimilation was developed based on the experiences of European immigrants to the U.S. in the early 20th century.^[11] This theory claims that the as time passes and second generation immigrants are exposed longer to the culture of mainstream U.S. society, the likelihood of assimilation into mainstream U.S. society increases. This theory predicts that each succeeding immigrant generation exhibits greater assimilation into mainstream society.^[12] With greater assimilation exhibited by each succeeding immigrant generation, unique ethnic characteristics that were clearly evident in the first generation fade away.^[11] The skin color of these immigrants led to them experiencing a smooth and straight line type of assimilation as they did not have to overcome the race barrier in their attempt to enter mainstream society.^[6]

Another theory on cultural assimilation centers on the racial/ethnic disadvantage model. This theory emphasizes that the process of assimilation for certain immigrant groups is blocked due to their race or ethnicity, meaning that discrimination in society and in the workplace hinders assimilation into mainstream U.S. society.^[13] The major critique of this theory is that it overstresses social barriers along racial and ethnic lines without providing adequate explanations for why many second generation immigrants overcome these barriers and experience socioeconomic mobility.^[13]

Differences within the second generation immigrant population

There is a great deal of diversity in terms of ethnicities and races within the second immigrant generation population. This diversity among immigrants can be seen in language use, as the majority of second generation immigrants are bilingual, with 2/3 speaking a language other than English in their homes.^[6] In addition, differing ethnicity and racial groups have experiences that are unique to their group. Hispanics, Asian Americans, and African Americans are three of the major groups that make up the population of second generation immigrants in the United States.

Hispanics

In 2003, the Pew Research Center projected that in the next twenty years, second generation Hispanics will account for the largest percentage of the U.S. population.^[1] In 2003 it was also projected that, if current trends continue, over the next 20 years, 1/4 of the growth in the labor force will be due to second generation immigrants who are Hispanic.^[1] 1/7 of new students enrolling in schools within this same time period will also be second generation Hispanics.^[1] The increasing representation of second generation immigrants who are Hispanic in the areas of work, school, and the larger population can be attributed to the continuing influx of Hispanic immigrants and the high fertility rate of Hispanic immigrants, which is higher than any other segment of the national population.^[1]

As the number of second generation Hispanics grows, so will their political and economical influence. In relation to educational achievement, second generation Hispanics follow the general trend for second generation immigrants in the United States. In comparison to first generation Hispanic immigrants, second generation Hispanics are more likely to intermarry with members of other racial groups. These higher rates of racial intermarriage leads to an increase in the birthrates of interracial children, aiding in the elimination of disparities in the U.S. that exist along ethnic lines.^[1]

Currently, Mexican Americans constitute the largest percentage of second generation immigrants in the United States.^[14] Among male high school graduates, the employment rates are comparable to those experienced by native born whites. When location is controlled for, the employment rate of Mexican American second generation immigrants surpasses that of native born, non-Hispanic whites.^[14] Among male Mexican American second generation immigrants who have less than a high school diploma, employment rates are also higher than those of native born, non-Hispanic whites.^[14] Mexican second generation women experience an employment rate slightly below that of native whites. This gap in labor participation increases for those with less than a high school diploma.^[14] Similar levels of labor force participation does not necessarily mean similar earnings, as part time is considered employment and Mexican Americans are more likely to take on jobs with lower pay.

Asian Americans

The use term Asian American in the U.S. was cultivated during the time of the Civil Rights era, when minorities alike endeavored to be heard, and since then the Asian American identity has continued to develop. Historically the predominant Asian ethnicity in the U.S. has been Chinese and Japanese, though among second generation Asian Americans ethnic diversity has increased considerably.^[15]

27% of the Asian population in the U.S. can be categorized as a second generation immigrants.^[16] The cultural assimilation of second generation Asians is diverse, coinciding with the theory of segmented assimilation. The diversification of the pool of Asian immigrants, where many are highly educated, plays a pivotal role in the assimilation of the second generation.^[16] Second generation Asian immigrants are therefore more likely to be born into a middle-class family than second generation immigrants from other racial groups. Highly skilled Asian immigrants tend to settle in suburbs upon their arrival to the United States, further promoting the assimilation of their children into white middle class society.^[16]

Asian second generation immigrants, like their Hispanic counterparts, tend to be bilingual. Children of Asian immigrants are likely to lose proficiency in their parents' native language while maintaining an emotional attachment to their family and heritage, which helps them develop their identity.^[16] While second generation Asian immigrants strive for the middle class white status, as many of their parents do, they develop a sensitivity to issues of race and ethnicity, which can be a major factor in the process of assimilation.^[16]

This assimilation is also known to create "intergenerational family conflict."^[17] In contrast to their parents, second generation Asian Americans are less likely to tolerate racial stereotyping and racial discrimination and are more aware of their minority status and the disadvantages associated with it.^[16] This has been linked to racism and discrimination experienced by minorities in the U.S. as this heightened sensitivity is common among all second generation groups of minority status, and this heightened sensitivity evokes an enhanced drive for success. This focus on success, in combination with the common Asian cultural value of family honor, helps explain the high educational successes seen by second generation Asian immigrants. College graduation rates are relatively high among second generation Asian Americans, with the highest rate seen among the Chinese second generation.^[16]

Asian Americans have been characterized as a panethnicity of various groups or individuals. These generalizations are mostly based on outward appearance. Today, however, because of awareness made known by second generation Asian Americans, people are learning to associate and recognize the diverse cultures that exist under the umbrella term of Asian Americans.^[15]

African Americans

Generally, first generation black immigrants of Caribbean origin in the United States tend to hold on tightly to their ethnic identities and resist the social pressures of identifying themselves as African Americans.^[12] Children born to these black Caribbean immigrants can easily enter the category of African Americans as they tend to lack the accents exhibited by their parents. A popular destination for these black immigrants is New York, where the second generation black immigrant population is significant.^[12] Another popular destination is Florida, where in Miami there exists a strong Haiti community. In this community, also referred to as “Little Haiti,” the Caribbean influence is clear as shops are decorated in bright Caribbean colors and decorations.^[6]

Further studies reveal that the identification of second generation immigrants, of Caribbean heritage, as African Americans leads these children to be more aware of racial discrimination in the U.S. In addition, the assimilation into black society and black culture in the U.S. by these children is hindered by their parents’ oppositional stance to American black culture, contributing to identity conflict.^[12] In the case of Haitians, first generation Haitians hold on strongly to their foreign identity, as they associate the preservation of their culture with stronger solidarity in the community. These first generation Haitians attempt to instill this same Haitian pride in their children as they want the children to succeed on the basis of ethnic solidarity and the preservation of Haitian culture, and not by giving in to American culture.^[6] This creates a clash between the ideas and values these children learn at home, and from their peers and the non-Haitian black community. Thus, these children face conflicting pressures from family, non-second generation immigrant peers, and discrimination by the larger society.^[6]

Racism is an important deterring factor to the process of assimilation for black second generation immigrants, as it is for other second generation immigrants of ethnic minorities.^[18] Children of middle class black immigrants undergo assimilation that coincides with one of the pathways theorized by segmented assimilation, in which they assimilate into mainstream society while attempting to hold on to their black culture.^[18] These children make use of the resources available to the middle class in the U.S. to prosper alongside their white counterparts, but are still affected by racial discrimination. They make use of so called “black spaces,” which are spaces exclusive to the black community, such as networks and ethnic enclaves designed for African Americans. Thus these spaces are free of racism and are used to connect with other African Americans and reconnect with the cultures of their parents.^[18] Similar to Asian second generation immigrants born into the middle class, these black second generation immigrants of middle class status are also aware of their inferior position and the disadvantages associated with being an ethnic minority in the United States.^[18]

References in pop culture

There are a few television series that feature at least one second generation immigrant in a starring role: Fresh_Off_the_Boat, All-American Girl, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Elementary, and The Mindy Project.^[19]

See also

• Immigrant generations
• Immigration
• Immigration to the United States
• Illegal immigration to the United States
• Immigrant health care in the United States
• Inequality within immigrant families (United States)
• Race and ethnicity in the United States census

References