Geog Chapter 14 Review Questions PDF

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Chapter 14 Review Questions 1. Mexican immigrants have experienced a deteriorating economic situation, which has eliminated many jobs, and the deteriorating political situation. Many have lost their jobs, homes, and sense of wellbeing. Before 2007, there were books that stated the benefits of Mexican migrants. They fought fires and helped cleanup New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Between 2007 and 2008, there was an increase in energy prices, collapse of the housing bubble, and many people were laid off in the automobile industry. These terrors caused families to split up. Since 2008, Obama has not been successful in solving the immigration problem. The new policy is trying to find all of the illegal workers in order to fire them. The news focus has moved away from small towns to traditional Mexican gateways (Texas, California, Arizona). 2. Integration is defined as social interaction with the host society at various levels. Acculturation is defined as the adoption of host society cultural traits. Selective acculturation is defined as the adoption of cultural traits that benefit their economic and social integration in the United States. 3. Barriers to integration tend to separate different immigrant groups. Several examples include:  Discrimination towards a specific group by the host society  Lack of incentives to interact with the larger society  Low levels of community and family resources  Immigration status 4. According to Jones’ “accommodation typology,” Mexican immigrants face discrimination on the job, temporariness, low socio-economic status, and a low level of integration with the host society. They have a low percent of foreign born who speak only English at home and a pretty low percent of foreign born who are above the poverty level. 5. Disidentification is the process in which people try to distance themselves from their homeland and their roots. This relates to Mexican Americans because many of them tried to distance themselves by criticizing Mexico while talking to others, avoiding travel there, and deemphasizing Spanish in the home. 6. Location inertia represents turn-of-the-century jobs in food and garment manufacturing on the near southwest side that attracted Mexican migrants initially but have since disappeared. Residential segregation is related to a group’s social acceptance by the mainstream society. The following question was raised by 2 sociologists: “Would you accept a particular outgroup member as your neighbor?” The social distance scale measured the acceptance of

immigrants in U.S. society during a period of ethnocentrism and isolationism. Spatial substitution was very common in San Antonio. It was typical between Mexicans and Mexican Americans. Both populations have increased in the inner city. The growth of Mexican Americans was higher and caused an increase concentration of Mexican immigrants who replaced Mexican Americans. Mexican immigrants are replacing Mexican Americans. 7. Jones’ field research revealed that there is a loose clustering of Mexican immigrant homes, often adjacent to unattractive features such as creek beds, railroad tracks, highways, or manufacturing and warehouses. 8. A. Social interaction (social distancing): occurs between the Mexican immigrants and the Mexican Americans. They both settled in the same areas. However, the survey results reveal that Mexican immigrants don’t have strong contact with either group (Anglo or Mexican American community). B. Acculturation: Almost all of the respondents preferred Mexican food and Mexican music. 90% of the interviewees considered themselves Mexican. 5% preferred Hispanic, Latino, or Mexican American. The other 5% preferred to be known as American. C. Perceived Discrimination (in schools and work places): Mexicans were discriminated in schools, work places, and in public agencies. This was an important barrier to Mexican integration and acculturation. About 30% of the respondents agreed that teachers give less attention to Mexican students. 58% of respondents believed that bosses mistreat Mexican workers. D. Cultural Retrenchment: Low incomes and discrimination may be causing earlier arrivals into cultural retrenchment. The household income for early arrivals is about $12,500 while the income for later arrivals is $17,500. There is something holding back the economic progress of first-generation Mexicans in San Antonio and promoting cultural retrenchment....