REGARDS
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
To: XMCA --CMSNAMES
From: Pedro R. Portes
Professor in Educational Psychology_UNIV. OF LOUISVILLE, 40292
Phone: 588-0630__FAX 502-0726 310 SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Subject: modes of incorporation
Thanks for the very informative Paraguay brief Paul, Genieve was correct and I
overgeneralized apparently. This thread can be very revealing. Unlike
neighboring countries where the native population remains a kind of
involuntary majority, one might expect power in Paraguay to be more evenly
distributed. Is this the case? I think i should explain what I mean by this
awkward term that is beyond prolepsis probably. The issue is that there seems
to be a parallel between the notions of voluntary and involuntary, or
autonomous groups (Ogbu) from a Northern context where the non dominant
cultures are a minority and then from a Southern perspective
where majority groups were subjected to conditions similar to those
facing involuntary minorities.
In our ongoing research with 2nd generation immigrant students in San Diego &
Miami (and using student school achievement as the proxy for adaptation),
(teens from Asian, Caribbean and Latin Americancountries )
the notion that voluntary minorities are a homogeneous group is found to
be untenable. Some groups appear more in line with the stereotype of
involuntary minority students in that problematic typology.
The upshot of the study is that after SES, English Proficiency, Self esteem
achievement mot., t.v. viewing, homework, perceived discrimination and
such socio-psychological variables are accounted for, the ethnicity effect
still remains significant. It cannot be unpackaged by the other measures.
The best explanation/interpretation is precisely the history pertaining to
modes of incorporation, the interaction among contexts of reception by di-
fferent ethnic characteristics and the social capital of the various ethnic
enclaves that receive these groups and have etched their way in the
mainstream economy.
So it seems that yes, the history of the pattern of incorporation but also
current conditions concerning the host contexts, attitudes etc from both the
main and ethnic streams. Also, motives (which Paul clearly documented a key
in the past between colonizing groups...) may play a role in adaptation
differences. (For example, check old and new wave Cuban Immigrants, the latter
group having been socialized under a period of socio-genetic change).
Pedro
REGARDS