Beyond the supermarket: Acculturation processes of the Chinese diaspora & the Argentinian society
Author
Samaruga, Melisa Estefania
Term
4. term
Publication year
2014
Submitted on
2014-05-20
Pages
86
Abstract
Den kinesiske diaspora i Argentina tæller næsten 120.000 personer og er landets fjerde største udenlandske gruppe. Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan både kinesiske tilflyttere og argentinere tilpasser sig hinanden, når to kulturer mødes (akkulturation, dvs. gensidig kulturel tilpasning), set gennem økonomiske, sociale og kulturelle forhold. Studiet vurderer værtsbefolkningens accept og interesse ved at se på, at argentinere i stigende grad deltager i aktiviteter, institutioner og fejringer, som tidligere var forbeholdt det kinesiske miljø. Analysen er forankret i akkulturationsteori med særligt fokus på arbejdet af John Berry, Young Kim samt Annie Montreuil og Richard Bourhis. Resultaterne peger på, at kinesere i Argentina ofte opfattes som "værdsatte" immigranter, især sammenlignet med bolivianere, paraguayere og peruvianere, som ofte opfattes som "mindre værdsatte". Det største hinder for den kinesiske diaspora er sprogbarrieren, efterfulgt af udfordringen med at opbygge lokale sociale netværk. Alder ved ankomst spiller en central rolle: Dem, der kom som unge, fulgte oftere en integrationsstrategi (at bevare egen kultur og samtidig deltage aktivt i det argentinske samfund), mens dem, der ankom som voksne, oftere valgte separation (primært at holde sig til eget miljø). Set fra værtsbefolkningens perspektiv i Buenos Aires-provinsen tydede mønstrene på overvejende integrationisme eller individualisme (åbenhed for både at bevare oprindelig kultur og/eller bedømme mennesker som individer) frem for segregationisme, assimilationisme eller eksklusionisme.
The Chinese diaspora in Argentina numbers almost 120,000 people and is the country’s fourth-largest foreign community. This thesis explores how both Chinese migrants and Argentinians adjust to one another when two cultures meet (acculturation, meaning mutual cultural adaptation), across economic, social, and cultural dimensions. The study assesses host acceptance and interest by examining increased participation by Argentinians in activities, institutions, and celebrations that were once exclusive to the Chinese community. The analysis is grounded in acculturation theory, with particular attention to the work of John Berry, Young Kim, and Annie Montreuil & Richard Bourhis. Findings indicate that Chinese people in Argentina are often perceived as "valued" immigrants, especially in comparison with Bolivians, Paraguayans, and Peruvians, who are often seen as "devalued." The most significant obstacle for the Chinese diaspora is the language barrier, followed by building local social networks. Age at arrival matters: those who arrived when young more often followed an integration strategy (maintaining their heritage culture while actively engaging with Argentine society), whereas those who arrived as adults more often followed separation (primarily staying within their own community). From the host-society perspective in the province of Buenos Aires, patterns suggest a predominance of integrationism or individualism (openness to both maintaining heritage culture and/or seeing people as individuals) rather than segregationism, assimilationism, or exclusionism.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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