Cultural Assimilation: Immigrant and Minority Challenges

Cultural assimilation can, in a grand way, be considered the act of adopting the customs, values, and behaviours of a dominant culture which become part of the norms of an individual’s life. It is very daunting and quite difficult for immigrants and minorities alike. Such stressors may seem overwhelming because they lead to psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, and identity confusion. This article takes a glimpse into the psychological challenges of cultural assimilation and how immigrants and minorities may conceivably navigate through them to achieve a certain sense of belongingness and identity.

Read More: Cultural Shifts and Their Effects on Identity and Mental Health

Psychological Challenges of Cultural Assimilation

Assimilation into culture is very stressful and anxiety-provoking for an individual, especially when they are compelled to give away their culture and take a new way of life. The assumption of dominant culture also results in loss of cultural identity or identity confusion due to the confused attempts made by the individual to reconcile between their old and new identities. Linking cultural assimilation with shame and guilt, people often have to give up their culture to get immersed into the dominant culture. This may lead to of for one’s roots and identity.

Loss of Culture and Confusion in Identity

Such a situation may pose problems to them, that is, a loss of culture and possibly confusion in their identity when they are first migrating and becoming minorities or immigrants.

• Loss of culture: Immigrants and minorities are forced to give up their cultural practices, traditions, and customs to match up with the dominant culture.
• Identity confusion: Cultural assimilation creates identity confusion as the change of culture raises the question as to whether it is possible to reconcile the old with the new. Gradually it puts a person in uncertainty and self-doubt.

Sense of Disconnection:

The cultural assimilation would cause feelings of exclusion from the cultural and community background.

• Disconnection to heritage: the process of cultural assimilation puts a person in the stream of disconnection from their cultural and ethnic heritage and traditions which leads to feelings of loss and bereavement.
• Disconnection to community: Through the process of cultural assimilation, a person could develop the feeling of disconnection from the community which eventually leads them to loneliness and isolation.

Shame and Guilt

This pressure of conformity to the dominant group, especially if one is forced to abandon their culture from which they belong, produces a lot of shame and guilt.

• Shame: The shame that those immigrants and minorities carry within them about their cultural heritage and practices comes with the feelings of not being good enough and low self-esteem.
• Sense of Guilt: Individuals will likely feel guilty for betraying their cultural backgrounds and embracing a new life style that will make them feel regretful.

Anxiety and Depression

The assimilation process is quite stressful, and it can lead to anxiety and depression.

• Acculturative stress: The individuals feel stressed since they begin assimilating to the new culture as they do not know what to expect or what will happen.
• Depression: Losing cultural identity would be a natural phenomenon, and the desire to assimilate with dominant culture forces can lead to depression.

Role of Culture Identity

Cultural identity is a gift from our culture, and it is often a required ingredient to maintain mental health. Such people might feel dislodged when they are compelled to sacrifice their cultural identity to adapt to a culture that is quite alien to one’s native culture and homeland. The self-respect and self-worth of an individual are also directly associated with cultural identity. For example, if the immigrant can preserve his cultural identity, it is then more probable that there is a matter of pride and worth associated with psychological well-being.

Overcoming Problems

What is it that immigrants and minorities could do to overcome psychological problems arising from cultural assimilation? Here are some strategies that will help:

• Cultural identity: Preserving that sense of self is the need for cultural identity. It’s kept by keeping the practices of your culture, talking in your native tongue, and following the life around those similar to one’s cultural heritage.
• Belongingness: The presence of people going through a similar situation will make you feel a sense of belonging and assist you. The avenue whereby this is achieved includes Memberships in cultural bodies, cultural events, and cultural engagements.
• Self-care: The entire process of socialisation to culture is mostly stressful and anxiety-evoking. The techniques that may reduce stress and anxiety include meditation, physical activity, and spending time in natural surroundings.
• Solicit support: The processes of cultural assimilation can be mitigated by seeking help from mental health professionals, friends, and family.

Conclusion

Migration and cultural adoption create several challenges for immigrants and other minority groups. The process of assimilation is so psychologically demanding that a person may become overwhelmed with anxiety, depression, and identity confusion. These factors maintain cultural identity, a sense of community, practice of self-care, and finding support for individuals to face such problems and gain belonging and identity. The first process in the assimilation process starts with identifying a need to maintain cultural identity and providing support and resources for an individual in the process of assimilation.