Summary of Option Ethnicities: For Whites Only by Mary Waters - Article Example

The article brings out an extremely intriguing American history and the immigration of its people. Waters brings out aspects that show some shared ideology, culture and diverse unique ways that ethnic identities fulfil the different needs of the American people. She contends that ethnicity is not a biological phenomenon, but a social one. Waters highlights different options available for white Americans when it comes to choosing among varied ancestries available. They have the option of choosing the most desired ancestry in order to claim it (Waters 138).

Nevertheless, the tendency of the white remaining as “hyphenated Americans” is very strong and it is present in a number of political as well as social institutions. She describes the “Symbolic ethnicity” of the white ethnic group from later generations as an American phenomenon that is quintessential (Waters 141). Waters further argues that people have retained ethnicity in their lives just because it permits them to bring together the contradicting values of individuality, community and choice in America.

In addition to Waters exploring the symbolic ethnicity of the white middle-class from later generations, she addresses what they cost the society. She compares white middle-class with non-white Americans, who do not have many options. These identities are individualistic. However, there is a huge difference between racial identities that are self-imposed or socially enforced and the individualistic symbolic ones (Waters 143). Waters concludes the article by giving the readers invaluable information about contemporary American life.

Young people in colleges and campuses live together, regardless of their background and still respect and appreciate each other. This is something that most people cannot do. The present discrimination based on race must stop (Waters 144).