Page 40 - IJPS-7-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Objective and subjective assimilation of migrants

some of whom can experience downward assimilation if similarity or likeness is always a relative term. For example,
they assimilate to the bottom of the society. while migrants may not be similar to the mainstream
The contributions of all these major modifications are residents of the host society, they may be similar to a
significant, because they make the assimilation theories particular group of citizens within the host society. This
more comprehensive and have guided scholars in thinking is also known as segmented assimilation, in which certain
about the assimilation process of newcomers. Nevertheless, groups of migrants become more similar to the mainstream
all of these theories are based on a presumption of the society, but other groups become similar to the minority
society (Porter & Zhou, 1993). Hence, segmentation
reference group that the researchers have chosen for the applies in the sense that not all migrants are becoming
migrants. For example, Gordon (1964) presumed that
the reference group was the group with the core culture, similar to the mainstream, but it does not apply in the
while Gans (1973; 1992) presumed that the reference sense that all migrants are becoming similar to a particular
group was the parents. While not explicitly stated, these reference group in the host society. In other words, if the
presumptions about the reference group assume that researchers focus on migrants who become similar to
assimilation is an objective process. However, assimilation the minority residents and select the minority residents
could be a combination of both subjective and objective as the reference group, the migrants are undoubtably
assimilated. However, if the mainstream residents are
processes (as described below). Therefore, it is important selected as the reference group, the migrants do not appear
for assimilation studies to take into account the reference to be assimilated. Thus, the central question is “compared
group chosen by the migrants themselves as well as how to whom?” The assimilation outcome can be significantly
they assimilate into their chosen group.
different depending on the chosen reference group (Kasnitz
This research studies assimilation as a combination et al., 2009). Therefore, the migrant reference group is
of both objective and subjective processes. Specifically, it an indispensable component for either understanding
applies a subject-centered approach (Lee & Zhou, 2015; assimilation or even arguing for its existence.
Zhou et al., 2008). This research considers migrants’
selected reference groups and investigates the impact 1.1.2. Scholar-selected reference groups
of assimilation into the reference group on assimilation Migrant reference groups are usually chosen by migration
into the mainstream using structural equation modeling. scholars rather than the subjects – the migrants – of the
The results show that migrants’ choices of the reference assimilation process. It is important to clarify that the
group matter for their assimilation into the mainstream, scholars do not choose the reference group without any
suggesting that assimilation is a mixture of objective and basis; to the contrary. For example, Kasnitz et al. (2009)
subjective process. First, the choice of the reference group argue that the most obvious reference group for the second
is shown to be subjective and intentional. In addition, generation is composed of other young people who share
assimilation into the mainstream (the objective path) is their racial backgrounds. In this case, the foundation is the
shown to be largely dependent on the level of assimilation racial background. However, the critical limitation is that
into the reference group (the subjective path). The results the foundation depends on the scholars’ own observations
also suggest that there are major stratification factors or understandings of migrants. No study on assimilation
that affect the objective path through the subjective path. formulates the reference group by asking migrants which
The total effects of these factors will not be captured if group that they want to choose as their reference group.
the subjective path is not considered. Finally, the results
also show the differential impacts of both objective and By definition, assimilation is about one group adopting
subjective assimilation on subjective well-being as an the practice of another. There is no explicit statement
on whether this “another” should be chosen by the “one
application after considering and disentangling the two group” or someone else. Therefore, based on the definition,
paths. By taking both the objective and subjective paths scholars may choose the reference group for the migrants
into account, this research significantly improves our and observe their objective assimilation process (i.e.,
understanding about the assimilation process, thereby the simple fact that one group becomes more similar to
contributing to the literature on assimilation.
another, whether consciously or unconsciously). This
1.1. A theoretical framework existing practice would not be an issue if assimilation was
an entirely objective process. However, if assimilation
1.1.1. The role of the reference group in assimilation
includes a subjective component, this renders the process
While the precise definition of assimilation can vary, the explored incomplete. In this case, the reference group
fundamental idea behind assimilation is an increasing chosen by the migrants and their subjective willingness to
similarity or likeness (Brubaker, 2001). Nevertheless, this assimilate into the reference group should be taken into

Volume 7 Issue 2 (2021) 34 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.v7i2.346