Page 39 - IJPS-7-2

International Journal of

Population Studies

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Exploring assimilation as a combination of

objective and subjective processes: A case study
of rural-to-urban migrants in China

Zhenxiang Chen*

Department of Sociology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 3C3 Canada

Abstract

This paper explores assimilation as a two-path process, in which its objective and
subjective components are studied simultaneously using structural equation
modeling for rural-to-urban migrants in China. This model considers the choice of
reference group by the migrants themselves and the assimilation process into the
reference group. Structural equation modeling results show that it can be beneficial
for assimilation studies to allow migrants to choose their own reference group and
to include the subjective path (i.e., assimilation into the migrants’ chosen reference
group) along with the objective path (i.e., assimilation into the mainstream). This can
be achieved as follows: (1) The intertwining between the subjective and objective
paths can disentangle assimilation into a process driven by two forces; (2) major
stratification factors affecting the objective path through the subjective path may be
identified; and (3) the impacts of assimilation on important migrant outcomes, such
*Corresponding author: as subjective well-being, can be studied and separated into subjective and objective
Zhenxiang Chen
(zhenxiang.chen@smu.ca) components.
Citation: Chen, Z. (2021). Exploring
assimilation as a combination of Keywords: Migration; Assimilation; Reference group; Subjective well-being
objective and subjective processes:
A case study of rural-to-urban
migrants in China. International
Journal of Population Studies,
7(2):33-46. 1. Introduction
https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v7i2.346
Assimilation, defined as the process in which people with distinct cultural backgrounds
Received: September 8, 2022
adopt the cultural practice of another, has been an essential concept in studying migrants’
Accepted: November 19, 2022 settlement experience after migrating in the past several decades (Gan, 1973; 1992;
Published Online: December 7, 2022 Gordon, 1964). The general concept of assimilation has been widely studied in sociology,
and the theory has been developed over time. Gordon (1964), in addition to proposing
Copyright: © 2022 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article seven dimensions or stages of assimilation, established the fundamental distinction
distributed under the terms of the between acculturation and structural assimilation. He also suggested that assimilation
Creative Commons Attribution is a multidimensional process. Gans (1973) further modified the theory by adding the
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, dynamic or generational dimension to the theory and introduced the idea of “straight
provided the original work is line assimilation,” in which each successive generation of migrants assimilates further
properly cited. into the mainstream. However, “straight line assimilation” has been criticized, given its
Publisher’s Note: AccScience underlying premise of linear advancement in assimilation over generations. Recognizing
Publishing remains neutral with this limitation, Gans (1992) proposed “bumpy line assimilation,” meaning that it no
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional longer needs to be linear. Portes and Zhou (1993) further considered the possibility of
affiliations. second-generation immigrants assimilating into different sectors of American society,

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2021) 33 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v7i2.346