Since the founding of our country, most immigrants have experienced ascribed discrimination before achieving integration and dynamically constructed group identities while integrating. Before uncovering group identities, though, we must define so-called social construction. According to Nancy Foner, social construction refers to “how physical characteristics and/or putative ancestry are interpreted within particular social contexts and are used to define categories of people as inferior and superior” (12). In the U.S., a group of intolerant native-born Americans known as nativists have ranked immigrant groups as inferior and superior based on national origin, physiognomy, economics, religion, and language. From multiple scholarly perspectives, …show more content…
Arguably, Irish-Americans formed their hyphenated group identity in response to American Revolution-borne nativist loathing of “immigrants of other [non-English] European origins” (Conzen 7). Adaptively curating homeland cultural traditions to convince natives of their worthiness as social contributors, Irish-Americans strengthened group morale and won social acceptance by founding massive Catholic congregations. For instance, although many nativists in the mid-nineteenth century characterized Irish immigrants as “undesirable” workers and “white niggers,” Catholic leaders of the 18,000-strong Irish community of Buffalo, New York popularized the Irish-American celebration of St. Patrick’s Day by uniting the community through the “social utility” of church toasts (Bodnar 70; Conzen 14, 21). Irish-Americans clearly faced physical stereotypes, ethnic discrimination, and few socio-economic opportunities. However, the group developed a festival of minimal importance in Ireland into a key demonstration of solidarity with both homeland and American traditions to counterbalance nativism. Irish-American community leaders developed “social capital” by educating thousands of community members in relatable causes, such as combatting poverty and supporting America, on St. Patrick’s …show more content…
Asian professional immigrants have proven their material worth amidst native-born white hegemony by practicing advancement-conducive behaviors. For example, Zhou argues that Asian-American immigrants have “selectively unpack[ed Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist traditions such as]...two-parent families, a strong work ethic, delayed gratification, and thrift” to earn “about $3,500” above the national median income and “resemble the ideals of the mainstream (WASP) culture” (207; Portes & Rumbaut 28; Zhou 207). A large number of Asian-American immigrant families appealed to white values of nuclear family stability and low criminal activity to earn acceptance into white-dominated economic institutions. Furthermore, new generations of Asian immigrants americanized through educational institutions to socio-economically succeed. Seeking to disprove slogans that construct racial inferiority like “no chinks allowed,” many first-generation Asian parents chose to learn English and American “holiday celebration” traditions through their children’s Chinese and Korean-language schools and combine their increasing English proficiency with their professional skills to economically advance (Foner 31; Zhou & Kim 21). Through educational communities, Asian professional immigrant parents gained competitive