Coming to America - Coursework Example

Coming to America Coming to America Discussion I After reviewing the lecture on immigration, specifically consider the discussion of assimilation, and the efforts to encourage immigrants to become more "American". Assimilation is a continuing challenge for immigrants in America. In general, immigrants are enthusiastic to be “Americanized” because of their motivation to succeed in a foreign land which they perceive as the “land of milk and honey”. In order to achieve their dreams, they believe that there is no other way but to adapt to the American culture.

Assimilation though is not so much of a problem with the second or third generations of immigrants as compared to the first generation immigrants because they seem to be all too willing to adapt with gusto the American culture, sometimes to the dismay of their immigrant grandparents. 2. What does it mean to be Americanized? The AudioEnglish.net website describes being Americanized as "an assimilation into American culture” (Americanization, n.d.). 3. Is this something that immigrants should strive for or avoid?

I think that immigrants should try to be Americanized but not to the extent of totally abandoning their own cultures. 4. Why? Immigrants should not “give up” their cultures in exchange of the “American way” because their “culture represents their economic and political power in the United States, and, hence, culture becomes a weapon in helping them struggle to attain self-esteem and empowerment” (Park, 1999). However, it is important to note that in deciding to become an immigrant, one should have already been prepared to yield to the American culture because at some point, it becomes a necessity if one wants to succeed and prosper in the United States.

Discussion II 1. How does being an immigrant complicate or enhances the life experience of being an American woman? Being a woman immigrant in America has its advantages and disadvantages. One of their basic concerns is to keep their family together as this is what their tradition/culture dictates. Because of this, most of the time it becomes an obstacle in getting a higher paying job. Their lives become more complicated when faced with issues such as discrimination and a biased health care system.

There are however, some women immigrants who came to the US who are well-educated and can speak English fluently. These are the groups who have easily assimilated themselves into the American culture making them more successful in their chosen fields. 2. What kind of unique problems or challenges do immigrant women face? There are several challenges faced by immigrant women in America. According to a Conference sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Migration Policy Institute, these unique problems include the conflicting demands of having to work, taking care of their families, sending remittances to their home countries and the responsibility of having to integrate their families into the American culture (Strum & Tarantollo, 2002).

The Conference added further that aside from these conflicting demands, they also fear about their physical safety and being possible victims of domestic violence; impediments in access to health benefits, housing, social services and education; limited legal protections; and exploitative employment situations. Works Cited Americanization. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2011, from AudioEnglish.net: Retreived 15 July 2011 http://www.audioenglish.net/dictionary/americanization.htm Park, K. Y. (1999).

The cultivation of Korean immigrants on American soil: The discourse on cultural construction. Blue Bell, PA: Institute for Corean-American Studies, Inc. Retrieved 15 July 2011. http://www.icasinc.org/1999/1999l/1999lkyp.html Strum, P., & Tarantollo, D. (2002, September 9). Women immigrants in the United States. Retrieved 15 July 2011, from wilsoncenter.org: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/topics/pubs/womenimm_rpt.pdf