TY - JOUR
T1 - Obstacles to getting ahead
T2 - How assimilation mechanisms impact undocumented mexican immigrant families
AU - Bacallao, Martica L.
AU - Smokowski, Paul R.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from the United States Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (R49/CCR42172-02) and from the Centers for Disease Control’s Office of the Director (1K01 CE000496-01). We wish to thank the Mexican families who participated in this study.
PY - 2013/1/1
Y1 - 2013/1/1
N2 - This study explores the roles played by U.S. schools, workplaces, churches, and peers in the acculturation process of immigrant adolescents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with members of 10 undocumented Mexican families (12 adolescents and 14 of their parents) who had immigrated within the past 7 years. Results indicated that assimilation was prompted by two powerful mechanisms: monolingualism and discrimination. Monolingualism and discrimination in interpersonal interactions and social policies directed Mexican adolescents and their parents to learn English and to conform to host culture norms, appearance, and behaviors to advance in school and in their work. These assimilation mechanisms contributed to female adolescents' and parents' feelings of anxiety and depression. Male adolescents reported feeling angry and ready to physically defend themselves. Mexican families found a refuge from assimilation stress in church. Churches valued biculturalism and religious faith was used to handle daily assimilation stress. Implications for social policy were discussed.
AB - This study explores the roles played by U.S. schools, workplaces, churches, and peers in the acculturation process of immigrant adolescents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with members of 10 undocumented Mexican families (12 adolescents and 14 of their parents) who had immigrated within the past 7 years. Results indicated that assimilation was prompted by two powerful mechanisms: monolingualism and discrimination. Monolingualism and discrimination in interpersonal interactions and social policies directed Mexican adolescents and their parents to learn English and to conform to host culture norms, appearance, and behaviors to advance in school and in their work. These assimilation mechanisms contributed to female adolescents' and parents' feelings of anxiety and depression. Male adolescents reported feeling angry and ready to physically defend themselves. Mexican families found a refuge from assimilation stress in church. Churches valued biculturalism and religious faith was used to handle daily assimilation stress. Implications for social policy were discussed.
KW - Latinos
KW - acculturation
KW - assimilation
KW - discrimination
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U2 - 10.1080/19371910903269687
DO - 10.1080/19371910903269687
M3 - Article
C2 - 23369018
AN - SCOPUS:84873387124
SN - 1937-1918
VL - 28
SP - 1
EP - 20
JO - Social Work in Public Health
JF - Social Work in Public Health
IS - 1
ER -