Social Assimilation of Migrants - Essay Example

People who choose to move from one place to another have usually to sacrifice something as nobody can take home with them, but must build a new one, literally and metaphorically speaking.

In the period between 1950 and 1965 thousands of Dutch migrants came to New Zealand with poor English language skills; and around 10 percent of them got back home because they failed to assimilate and learn a new language (Crezee, 2012). On the other hand, some researchers believe that behavior patterns incidental to a certain culture are the result of individual choice (Wallendorf, & Reilly, 1983). Certainly, in case migrants fail to assimilate and respect the lifestyle of the new community that they have chosen to be their home, there is a serious possibility such migrants are not going to become successful members of such community and might as well be driven out of it.

According to Dustmann, the feeling of national identity and family context influence the integration ability of migrants more than any other factor (37). If a migrant is not ready to accept a new lifestyle and fit in a different cultural context, he or she is most likely to fail in terms of assimilation. Thus, social integration is more important than economic integration. The ability to socialize in the new environment and acquire new friends is also an important precondition for the successful assimilation of a migrant (Facchini, Patacchini, & Steinhardt, 2014). All in all, assimilation is the most important factor within the process of successful integration of migrants. Failure to integrate into a new community is predefined by the inability to get assimilated culturally and socially. Read More