The German American Ethnicity - Essay Example

Ethnicity identifies a person’s orientation to a social group that has defined characteristics. Such characteristics may be cultural or regional. The United States is an ethnically diverse society with members of different races from around the world. One of the major factors to this diversity is the wave of immigration, both ancient and contemporary. Each of the ethnic groups however has its identifiable characteristics to form the basis of diversity. This paper explores my cultural heritage, of the German American ethnic group, the background of my family of origin, the application of the ethnicity’s heritage in my family, and the heritage’s impacts on my life.

Introduction

 Ethnicity refers to a social construct that identifies a group of people with common characteristics. Such characteristics may include language, religion, physical appearance, and behavior. In this paper, I explore the German American ethnic group to which I belong.  

The German American ethnicity

History

The initial wave of German immigration to the United States is reported to have occurred in the seventeenth century. This was followed by an increasing trend and by the twentieth century, German Americans were one of the largest groups among foreign Americans. The initial German immigration into the United States as a result of a revolution against the then-German leaders. The immigrants however exhibited diverse characteristics because German societies existed as autonomous groups each with its cultural practices. The immigration was however followed by assimilation of the German population into the English culture, a process that washed away some of the native German traditions. While initial assimilation, facilitated by the fear that the English had of the Germans, was through intermarriages, there are reported cases of forced assimilation. Later immigration from Germany into the United States is however attributed to the quest for education and more liberalized labor markets (McGoldrick, Giordano, and Preto, 2005).

Culture

 German culture is basically hierarchical and is known as middle hierarchical culture. It identifies social ranks upon which respect is observed. The hierarchy then defines people’s behavior in society and in social interactions with other members of society. The German culture also highly regards the family as a social structure. They are also religious conscious with Christianity as the practiced faith. This identifies Christmas as a major religious festival. In social interactions, Germans prefer brief handshakes and to be introduced to another party in a new social environment. German Americans have however been significantly assimilated into the native education system though some of its cultural values have also been adopted by other ethnic groups (McGoldrick, et al, 2005). Germany, as a nation, is however known for its classical music, which is a traditional type of music. The national culture promotes music and every individual feels encouraged to participate in music and musical competition (McGoldrick, et al, 2005).

In spite of the identified family values among German Americans, the German national culture identifies individualism. Social interactions and decisions are primarily determined at individual levels rather than at group levels. The country’s culture also identifies high performance from members of the society. Performance attitude is one of the major features of the country though it is not the best globally. A comparative consideration between performance orientation and other cultural orientations within the German society however identifies the society’s highest focus on performance. National culture also has a high level of uncertainty. In order to manage the uncertainties, society is structured with procedures and rules that govern practices towards certainty. The nationals are also assertive in their interactions and adapt direct confrontations in resolving issues. The assertive nature also communicates the normalcy of conflicts in German society (Puffer, 2004).

Characteristics

Cuisine: One of the defining characteristics of German Americans is the cuisine of meat and potatoes though their meals are not limited to these. Their breakfast includes rolls, cheese, boiled eggs, and tea. Their main meal is lunch, which consists of around seven courses. Their dinner consists of a lighter meal and may include sausages.

Festivals: The observed festivals are lively and have energetic exposure. They revolve around family and food. An example is Oktoberfest, which can attract 7 million people who converge to have fun and drink German beer. They do have religious celebrations that are held every year.

Games: Sports is another integral element of the German culture and many Germans engage in different sporting activities through a registered sports clubs.