Chinese Immigrants in the United States - Research Paper Example

?Fei Lu Edward Falk (TA) Section ID: MCWP 50 11/14 Research Paper Second Draft Chinese Immigrants in the United s I. Introduction Hook Similar to other races flooding into the United States each year in the quest of realizing their individual goals, the Chinese, irrespective of language barrier, relentlessly make their way to America. Through hardworking and high proficiency in every venture, they undertake the impression of being more successful than other minority groups in the land usually guarantee more openings (Amundson et al. 130). According to Teitelbaum and Robert (79), the reference “model minority” relates to how they thrived in the midst of challenging experiences once they step into the American shores, which is also evident today as they try to fit and adapt to the new settings. However, the issue of language barrier is still evident among numerous emergent immigrants especially among students (Yeh et al 40). In their study, Yeh et al relay confessions made by Chinese immigrant students who due to their inability to converse in English opt to be out making, which is more practical to them. This is not because they are uneducated but immense challenges that come with being unable to communicate in English even in the society while asking for directions or other services (Yeh et al 40). Because of inability to communicate well in English, they end developing “perpetual foreigner syndrome”, which contributes to their woes and sometimes stagnating some in life, as they exhibit lack of confidence (Yeh et al 40). Thesis This research, besides offering advices to the immigrants through accounts of successful entrepreneurs in American, seeks to highlight varied experiences, which Chinese immigrants encounter once they find themselves in American soil, where everything is utterly contrary to their homeland settings. II. Body 1) American Dream versus Reality In their book, Chin and Duck relay challenging experiences, which Chinese encounter once they reach America in pursuit of American Dream, which are cultural conflicts and language barrier as they try to fit in the American societal fabric. Hence, prompt many of them settle for low jobs that give them meager earnings, despite known to be hard working. Most of them end up suffering as they can only settle for low jobs offered by their few established Chinese, who are also not well up in managing to pay them salaries equal to other American already established Corporations. Sometimes this prompts some of them stagnate instead of thriving in a land where they came for the realization of their dreams. This is because of fierce competition evident in America, tough, according to Chinese, is a synonym of “dreamland” whereby by being optimistic, they will be successful but end up suffering more contrary to their expectations (Gelatt 39). Majority of Chinese immigrants’ dreams that prompt them to go to America for their realization is an illusion (“US Fed News Service”). This is evident in the recent released Chinese documentary concerning the first ever student from China to have studied in America thereby inspired many of them to embrace the same trend. However, this documentary similar to numerous accounts relayed about non-natives realizing their dreams in American soil does not explicitly expound what most of them undergo. Hence, end up fantasizing the state of US as a better place than any one in Chinese could thing of leave alone heaven. This is a misguided perception and conviction because what they have in mind before reaching American turns to be opposite in reality. Since, circumstances are contrary to numerous accounts relayed about successful minority of Chinese who do not tell them disheartening challenges they have encountered in America to be who they are. Therefore, most in each year flock in this dreamland deeming they will attain what they aspire but turn out to be opposite due to evident and inescapable challenges of cultural gap especially Chinese mentality of collectivistic dream compared to American individualistic perceptions besides other similar predicaments. 2) Chinese Americans versus Chinese Immigrants There is also an aspect of cultural gap between the Chinese Americans and those incoming immigrants seeking ways to thrive in a foreign land including political (Fernando, 61). The latter based on Fernando’s study is evident in the way they have already integrated in American society by embracing other styles such as political participation groups in Toronto besides erecting cultural centers (Fernando, 61). Therefore, compared to their new incoming immigrants they have learnt ways on how to thrive in their new settings whereby its challenges are not those weighty and even recruiting fresh immigrants. In many cases, this determines their attitudes contrary to the new immigrants who in most cases end up being unsuccessful as numerous races and media deem (Gelatt 40). This is because those in America tend to compare themselves with natives whom they have found in the foreign land instead of China in their quest to thrive despite taking low paid jobs. 3) Children of the Immigrants Compared to children from other Asian cultural origin, studies focusing on Chinese families’ economic bases cite of heightening rate of child poverty especially among the new immigrants (Qian, Lichter & Crowley 137). Hence, implying both US-born and immigrants contrary to numerous people’s perceptions as well as those of the media only boast of identity but not opulence associated with “model minority” associated with thriving Chinese immigrants. This is due to poverty not only characterizing their parents but also tend to catch up with children if they do not embrace right attitudes and motivation to thrive in a foreign land (Qian, Lichter & Crowley 138). However, Qian, Lichter and Croley (139) in their study cite Americanization among Chinese immigrants has played a significant role despite poverty rates continue to show divergences when compared to other races. This is by embracing new common cultural grounds evident in America besides language in quest to thrive. These authors cite there is a significant difference between native children and those descending from Chinese origin though those moved in America in 1990s exhibit heightened improvement. Hence, implying Chinese who immigrated in America in 1990s despite most of them then were poor, they managed to thrive to the extent of being incomparable to later emergent immigrants. However, currently Chinese children compared to other races majority of them continue to experience utter poverty despite minority of their people thriving in the new land (Qian, Lichter & Croley 143). The latter is due to the 1990s disruption of family structure that prompted most of Chinese immigrants abandon former traditions that were inapplicable in American soil (Qian, Lichter & Croley 143). However, this disruption compared to the then decline of child poverty and present day has showed a decline. Probably, this is due to Chinese attitudes once they step in America where embracing the new culture and being optimistic determines one’s success (Amundson et al. 129). 4) Language barrier Besides culture difference, Yeh et al (34) in their study intended to show urgent need for counselling intervention highlights the aspect of language barrier especially among Chinese students. This is because in their state they have been used to Chinese language, which is very different from when he or she steps in American soil where he or she ought to speak in English. Therefore, most of them more so the students end up opting to be out of their classrooms where the mode of language is solely English to make money, which is the most practical aspect in the country (Yeh et al 40). At one time while conducting their study, Yeh et al managed to interview one Chinese youth regarding utter experiences they undergo due to language barrier where he stated inability to express oneself. This is especially evident not only in schools but also in the public interactions whereby one is unable to seek assistance concerning varied aspects, which he or she ought to do to align well with others. Since everything in US entails English as the mode of communication even directions or diverse posters put at varied places for imparting the public information concerning a certain aspect. Therefore, they end up being in their own world despite interacting other people whereby they seem behaving strange not because they wish but inability to converse and understand English forces them to do so. In addition, language barrier despite making oneself unable to converse with other people, it prompts approximately 90% of all Chinese immigrants in US to develop “perpetual foreigner syndrome” (Yeh et al 40). Hence, leading to their woes including poverty because majority of those fail to adapt quickly via learning English and embrace acculturation end up “suppressed” by racism (Pong). According to Pong’s account, mainly presented in form of scholarly journal details numerous setbacks he experienced after stepping in American though eventually through employing appropriate survival tactics he managed to emerge success (Pong). He cites language is the core aspect, which every immigrant ought to strive and learn at all costs because it is the one will enable one manage fit adequately in the societal fabric of his or her new settings. Failure to do this, most of them live experiencing alienated or nursing “perpetual foreigner syndrome”, which not only prompts other races discriminating Chinese immigrants but also denying themselves opportunities due to lack of confidence (Pong). This is especially in mingling with other peers of diverse races and proving he or she has something unique to contribute to the society or any group one is in irrespective of how the majority views him or her. However, this entails personal recollection and knowing views of others do not come closer to one’s abilities, which is a trait each Chinese immigrant ought to embrace. Since this is what prompted Pong to succeed despite encountering numerous incidences of racism and injustices in 1940s besides making a secure ground for those who joined him later and turned out successfully. 5) Successful Immigrants In his interview, Amundson et al relays varied accounts of successful Chinese immigrants, which others ought to emulate. This is by developing positive attitude as well as personality in their quest to improve their lives (Amundson et al. 129). However, they ought to have that desire of developing their varied expertise with the intention of evading and keeping up with stiff competition evident in American society despite in most cases their efforts go unrecognized. The latter is evident in Chinese’s efforts to develop Silicon Valley. Batman in his study concerning thriving of Chinese women immigrants in California, cites others opt to embrace the same attitude in “shading off” some of those degrading traditions that seem to drag them especially while in their current settings like failing to educate the girl child. Since, they are in new settings whereby equality contrary to their homeland citizens here upholds it for each child and person comprising the entire societal fabric (Batman). This is especially for the Chinese parents whereby they ought to embrace new cultural practices concerning developing their children through education and assuring them that they believe in them (Batman). According to Batman, his study’s participants thrived in American soil because their parents chose to educate, encourage and believe in them while they were young. Hence, they turned out be successful female Chinese entrepreneurs in the land where majority of their people fail especially the female gender (Batman). Therefore, their fellow state’s people ought to embrace similar traits and perspectives especially in American soil where competition is inevitable for both sexes posed by other races whereby continuing with Asian-mindedness nature in these settings will only result to failure (Batman). Thriving in American soil contrary to what numerous derailing accounts have tried to imply entails one’s undivided attention coupled with commitment to succeed (Samara). This is evident in Simon Chen’s life account that migrated to America uneducated but managed to educate himself to the extent of attaining the post of chief engineer and eventually a remarkable philanthropist (Samara). According to his wife, Chen was hardworking similar to majority of Chinese but gave what his full attention to what he did. Hence being a good example worth of emulating by those aspiring to thrive in American soil where immense and diverse challenges are inevitable especially to the emergent immigrants who ought to learn how to integrate themselves effectively in the societal fabric (Samara). III. Conclusion Chinese despite many races and media referring them as “model minority” only overlook both numerous and disheartening challenges (poverty, language barrier and cultural conflicts) they encounter on their daily basis (Schultz 246). This is evident when immigrants manage to step in “dreamland” in their quest to realize their respective life dreams. However, most of their efforts end up unrecognized especially in the development of Silicon Valley but Amundson et al. (129) motivates them to have both positive attitude and personality aimed towards developing their skills. This is to fit in an extremely competitive American society. Therefore, those aspiring to thrive in American soil ought to be ready in abandoning some of their cultural practices and learn to embrace proper ethics that will guarantee them success (Samara). These encompass commitment, being hard working and developing oneself by trying to climb career ladder through education similar to Chen’s case (Samara). Since, this is the only way many would thrive in American soil where Chinese demeaning practices, for instance, that of gender inequality does not adequately apply, which is evident from other parents motivating their female children (Batman). This is for them to venture in diverse challenging tasks beneficial to their respective lives such that they will not turn out to be dependants. However, language barrier despite willingness of numerous emergent Chinese immigrants intending to thrive in the American soil in mot cases tend to prove otherwise (Yeh et al 40). This is especially among students where some due to inability to communicate well with confessed opting to be out working though in reality face more challenges. This is because they are unable even to express themselves while trying to seek assistance from the public or reading certain posters meant for services like directions. Hence, according to Yeh et al some of them end up developing “perpetual foreigner syndrome” (Yeh et al 40). Since, they lack confidence in mingling with other people who compared to them seem to be fluent in English. However, this affects a small percent because majority try to learn universal American language, which is English. Work Cited Amundson, Norman E., 3et al. The transition experiences of successful Chinese immigrants. Journal of Employment Counseling 48.3(2011): 129-135. Batman, Shirley Hsueh-Li Huang. Female Chinese Immigrant Entrepreneurs. University of La Verne, 2011 Ann ArborProQuest. 13 Nov. 2013. Chin, Frank. Donald, Duck. 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