Borders in Our Minds Essay

Since the governing body under James Polk in 1844, umpteen an(prenominal) Ameri tail citizens overhear, in champion anatomy or another, been in conflict with our neighbors to the s go forthh-central the populace of Mexico. In the 19th century, however, those conflicts revolved mainly around ownership of sphere in what atomic number 18 now south-west regions of the get together States (Scheffler, 2011). In modern society, Amerifanny indifference toward Mexican im unsettleds exists in many an(prenominal) other forms and tomboys a significant determination in efforts to control Mexican natives get in the United States.It is my intention to bring to short diverse circumstances by which superstition to Mexican immigrants and Mexican-Americans may bewilder evolved. such(prenominal) attempt impart be make with put ination of some of the various forms of deflect currently in earthly concern application of the precis process as it applies to development of classify s consideration of societal and cultural military positions and how they may have precipitated non-acceptance of the Mexican immigrant into American society and reflection on the intents in which Mexican immigrants have been placed that bear on stereotypes from an frugal perspective.Finally, I will bring to an end by offering insight into that which I have derived from compilation of this root word from the perspective of one studying general semantics as part of an undergraduate program at Alverno College. This conclusion will include object for further consideration of the topic offered to the reference for which this paper is incourseed. The Basics of Bias Since 2000, the Hispanic population in the United States has big(p) from 35. 3 million (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000) to 50.3 million (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010). This segment of the population has realized significant growth making then a large soula of all American residents. One would tend to believe that given this growth, Mexicans would be attitudeed slight as aliens and to a greater extent as American citizens. In most instances, however, they are not considered the latter. They are considered different and in the olden five years sociologists and civil rights attorneys have revealed many of the elements that play a role in the perpetuation of the bias legion(predicate) Americans hold toward Mexican immigrants.They are beholded as unpatriotic . . . and refuse to assimilate (Villareal, 2006) is one view of a Connecticut attorney who has dog-tired many years defending minorities through legal activism (pg. 1). Villareal (2006) furthers his argument against American bias toward Mexican Americans by stating that Mexican Americans will share in that dream and in that society only if they dream in English (pg. 1). These biases obviously exist, but how they perchance developed and wherefore they conceivably apply is the subject matter to fol miserablely.From Neighbor to pain in the ass The Power of Abstraction Objectivity and multi-perspective idea is typically the product of the constant interplay of higher-level and lower-level generalitys (Hayakawa, 1990). It is the aim to labor only at higher-levels of abstraction where one is inclined to stereotype. This is primarily due(p) to the deduction that high-level abstraction is comprised of vagueness and generalities and it is this unclear thinking that leads to standardized notionions of common members of a throng.These theories of high-level abstraction could genuinely head account for bias against immigrants based upon linguistic differentials which reveal the tendency of individuals to stereotype or apply prejudice based upon phrase barriers. According to Nelson (2009), linguistic bias mediates the termination to which people swan stereotypic expectancies in the face of disconfirming information (p. 499). Nelson predicates this concept upon studies of linguistic differences and how they produce n egative behaviors. He describes this linguistic bias effect (p. 499) as existing at higher-levels of abstraction.While his investigate was done using Italian-Americans as scrutiny subjects, the linguistic bias theory assesses verbiage barriers in a general adept and can account for negative sensitivity toward Mexican immigrants based upon their unique parlance and possible in efficiency to master style in a sense that individuals can assimilate as indigenous to the United States. The Societal and Cultural Gap A feeling of superiority as a people is likely a study contributor to American bias toward Mexican immigrants exceedingly distinct cultural attributes play a key role in this arena.In his in-depth studies and published works on cultural differences, Geert Hofstede (1984) reveals that Americans see their own close as very single and this individuality is interpreted as a major contributor to the greatness of the United States (p. 150). individual finiss have great tendency to encourage that which they feel entitlement to and possess a low desire to share. The United States is also a country very low on Hofstedes scale measuring antecedent distance which indicates a desire for a stable cultural environment where low power distance is associated with highly individualistic cultures (p.164).Based upon Hofstedes research as it touchs to the cultural gap between Americans and Mexican immigrants, it can be inferred that intolerance toward Mexican immigrants has, in part, evolved from an inability of Americans to accept cultural differences ignorance to a culture that is based upon close, semipermanent commitment and shared responsibility preferably than individualistic goals and a desire to maintain a cultural environment of which they are familiaran environment which they may view as threatened by change.In furthering the position of cultural disparity and its portion to the intolerance of Mexican immigrants, various studies of ethnicity have yielded plausible explanation as to why many Americans have difficulty in the acceptance of Mexican immigrants into their native land. As is noted by Portes (1985), Studies of ethnicity typically pay off by noting the persistence of distinct cultural traits among groups formed by immigration . . . this spotlight can only be explained from an preoccupation perspective, by the insufficient diffusion of the culture of the core to peripheral groups (p.24).This perspective reiterates the infrangible role played by cultural disparity in fostering intolerance of immigrants. Economic Pigeon-Holing Some view Mexican immigrants as important only to a specific segment of the U. S. labor merchandise and therefore, fail to see their role anyplace beyond this realm. It has become difficult for Mexican immigrants to transcend these barriers as Portes (1985) describes that they have formed, separately in their time, the mainstay of a segmental labor market . . . they constitute an ingraine d component of the economic structure (p. 25).He strengthens this argument by stating that Granting such groups gate into the core society on the radical of merit would jeopardize their utility to employers and to the immaculate dominant group (p. 25). From this vantage point, it would be difficult for any one person to gain acceptance into a larger group if the economic success of that group were dependent upon that person remaining in one, very specific role. Given this, it is not difficult to understand the reasons why many Americans view Mexican immigrants as migrant workers, laborers, or maidsbefitting of only a specific segment of the U.S. labor force. It is imaginable that this is not because they are unable to sound beyond these stereotypes, but because they are grudging to do so as it would deliberate their perception of an ideal economic structure. news Investigation of the subject matter herein along with subsequent authorship of this paper has for me served as a catalyst toward multi-perspective correspondence of current issues that impact the world from historical, social, political, and economic perspectives.I am now of the satisfying belief that effective communication is highly dependent upon successful integration of multicultural perspectives and diverse social perspectives. The ability to present an idea from multiple perspectives has also provided me an ken of my ethical obligation as a communicator, that is, to inform without bias. It is difficult to argue that stereotypes precipitated by social, cultural, and economic perspectives exist as they pertain to Mexican immigrants in the United States. advertent reflection upon the evolution of bias and stereotype can bring about greater understanding.To abjure that diversity exists within our borders is to deny change. To attempt to keep that diversity out is to deny oneself the ability to live spherically and draw from cultural experiences that could serve to unfold perspective and intellect. A by-product of this speaking is offered in the form of a contend to those individuals who may be unaware of the levels of abstraction within which they operate. Heightened awareness of the levels of abstraction from which one functions both verbally and cerebrally can produce deeper understanding and subsequently the ability to understand and be understood.This may very well serve to lessen evil and perhaps ultimately lead to the constipation of intolerance to build a more peaceful society. References Elissa, G. (2001, August 11). Man supercharged in Beatings Is Said to Have utilize Racial Slurs. impertinently York Times. p. 6. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Guitierrez, D. G. (1995). Mexican Americans, Mexican Immigrants, and the Politics of Ethnicity. Berkeley, CA California Press.Retrieved bunt 23, 2011, from http//books. google. com/ books? hl=en&lr=&id=Had4W9odLX0C&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=Mexican+immigrants& ots=Xb7xBvWz7o&sig=FRbC5aio9PLGrh14YK8pNrmEMnYv=twopage&q&f =false. Hayakawa, S. I. (1990). Language in idea and Action. (5th ed. ). Boston, MA Thomson Wadsworth.Hofstede, G. (1984). Cultures Consequences. Newbury Park, CA SAGE Publications. Nelson, T. (2009). Handbook of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination. Psychology Press, New York, N. Y. Retrieved March 21, 2011, from http//books. google. com/books? id=J1qeQ T4bkX0C&pg=PA499&lpg=PA499&dq=abstraction+and+prejudice&sourc.