Immigration vs. Integration

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the American immigration contradiction, in light of both intersectionality and essentialism, through the use of three related terms: xenophobia, assimilation, and ethnocentrism. The paper describes xenophobia as the fear and hatred of immigrants and compares it to ethnocentrism, which is explained as one group of people believing that they are superior to other groups. Assimilation is described as the process by which immigrant groups are absorbed into the larger culture of the United States despite these evident contradictions and obstacles to add to the culture at large.

From the Paper:

"The United States has always been considered to be a country where certain freedoms from discrimination and persecution are offered to a constantly-changing immigrant community which, as it is assimilated into the larger culture, changes this culture at the same time, creating a cycle of both intersectionality and diversity. At the same time, however, immigration policy can be seen to be contradictory because this consideration is countered by the dual anti-essentialist consideration that often treats immigrants as a threat to what are perceived as American values, and thus is often responsible for creating discriminatory policy. This treatment is frequently based on anti-essentialism as it is propounded in the mass media and asks that the immigrant role-play to meet stereotyped predetermined intuitions."

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• Persuasive Essay # 73612 : "Immigration Laws in the U.S."

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