The vast majority of theses in this collection are open access and freely available. There are a small number of theses that have access restricted to the WWU campus. For off-campus access to a thesis labeled "Campus Only Access," please log in here with your WWU universal ID, or talk to your librarian about requesting the restricted thesis through interlibrary loan.

Date Permissions Signed

10-1-2010

Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Anthropology

First Advisor

Loucky, James

Second Advisor

Stevenson, Joan C.

Third Advisor

Hammond, Joyce D., 1950-

Abstract

Relatively recent immigration from non-traditional sending areas such as Latin America and Asia reignited scholarship dedicated to understanding and measuring the adaptation and assimilation of immigrants and their descendents. Segmented assimilation theory emerged from this scholarship and predicts three pathways of assimilation for the children of immigrants: positive, downward and selective. I focused on selective assimilation - an assimilation strategy that intentionally preserves culture of origin and maintains relationships to co-nationals and an immigrant community. I explored successful assimilation strategies employed by 1.5 and second generation Mexicans that live in Seattle, Washington. Surveys and interviews administered to a small sample of this population highlighted, as expected, the basic validity of modes of incorporation, human capital and family as keys to assimilation. In-depth interviews provided an emic perspective of what it means to be Mexican and American and the complexity of living biculturally. Interviews revealed further how culture, family and connections to community influenced an individual's advancement. Without exception, participants utilized a composite assimilation strategy that maximized positive aspects of American and Mexican cultures.

Type

Text

DOI

https://doi.org/10.25710/djrj-zk49

Publisher

Western Washington University

OCLC Number

693881468

Subject – LCSH

Mexican Americans--Cultural assimilation--Washington (State)--Seattle; Mexican Americans--Washington (State)--Seattle--Ethnic identity; Mexicans--Cultural assimilation--United States

Geographic Coverage

Seattle (Wash.); United States

Format

application/pdf

Genre/Form

masters theses

Language

English

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this thesis for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Download

Included in

Anthropology Commons

Share

COinS