Socio-cultural Adaptation of Migrants: Theoretical and Methodological Aspect

Transcription

1 American-Eurasian Journal of Scientific Research 7 (5): , 2012 ISSN IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: /idosi.aejsr Socio-cultural Adaptation of Migrants: Theoretical and Methodological Aspect Zhanna Nikolaevna Khaliman Federal State Autonomous Institution of Higher Professional Education Far East Federal University, Vladivostok city, Russia Abstract: Development of the Russian Far East over the entire history was influenced by different specific social factors among which one of the determinant places belongs to migration processes. Migration to other socio-cultural communities generates the necessity to reconstruct social and personal space of the subjects of migration, i.e. the migrants and population of the hosting social environment. Observation of real social practices shows that migration in polyethnic region along with the positive effects is accompanied by aggravation of antagonism in the hosting society. Therefore, in this work we presented an attempt to theoretically understand the phenomenon of socio-cultural and psychological adaptation of migrants and revealed and highlighted the peculiarities of migrants adaptation and integration in the subcultural space of the region. Key words: Far East Migrants Ethno-cultural environment Adaptation INTRODUCTION The Main Part: Recognition of the polyvalent character of problems related to research The problem of migrants adaptation in different methodology generates the necessity to use a complex ethno-cultural environment, despite the large number of interdisciplinary approach combining the ethno-cultural empirical works, is one of the most complicated ones, and ethno-psychological knowledge and general since migration into socio-cultural communities generates theory of adaptation. Among them first of all we the necessity to redesign social and personal space not distinguish three main theoretical approaches to the only for the migrants but for the population of the hosting understanding of ethnos : primordialism, constructivism social environment. and instrumentalism. Lack of systemic theoretical base necessary for The representatives of primordial orientation uniting objective social conditions of polyethnic socium (P. van Berg [1], A. Smith [2], K. Girtz [3], YU. V. Bromley and results of subjective personal interpretation of social [4], L.N. Gumilev [5], S.M. Shirokogorov [6]), reality by the adaptation subjects are negatively reflected understanding ethnos as real socio-biological on the required constructive stability in the polyethnic phenomenon pay special attention to investigation of the space of the hosting region. As a result, the adaptation nature of such historical and cultural image and study its subjects (ethnic migrants and hosting population) do not changes at the interaction with environment within the have an opportunity, first, to build up an identification frameworks of the idea of ethnical processes. model of contrasts Us-Them and secondly, using the The supporters of constructive and instrumental interpretative strategies of social adaptation, to construct approaches (S.A. Arutyunov [7], B. Anderson [8], the consistent images of social reality for themselves and E. Hobsbaum [9], E. Gellner [10], V.A. Tishkov [11]), others. interpreting ethnos as conceptual and artificial In this respect the elaboration of theoretical bases for construction focus their attention on investigation migration subjects adaptation to regional polycultural of specific manifestations of ethnicity in any social reality becomes especially topical. form. Corresponding Author: Khaliman, Federal State Autonomous Institution of Higher Professional Education, Far East Federal University, Vladivistok city, 10 Pushkinskaya Str., 207., Russia. 187

2 The methodology of modern sociology of knowledge activities aiming at overcoming adaptive barriers that slow implies the assessment of the role of consciousness in the down or impede this adaptation in any adaptive situation process of ethnos and nation functioning. To designate [13]. and explain this dialectics the concept of identity is According to the interpretative approach (M. Weber, widely used. J.G. Mead, I. Hoffman, A. Schutz), social adaptation is an As applied to our investigation, authors understand informative and communicative ideological construction the ethnic identity as a realization of the existing set of of the essences of being and strategies of personal objective and subjective features of ethnicity, according activities during uninterrupted interpretation of to which every person is attributed to specific ethnic self-identity and symbolical social contexts in terms of community, where this individual objectively realizes his their compliance with consistent understanding of social or her potential. Subjective ethnic identity of an individual reality that is purposefully formed or spontaneously is, first of all, the result of cognitive and emotional adopted during socialization. As a result of this process, acknowledgement of the person as a representative of a the adaptation subject can, first, fix, refine and reconstruct specific ethnos, a certain degree of self-identification in his identity and secondly, using the interpretative this ethnos and separation from another ethnos on the strategies of social adaptation, to construct the consistent basis of auto- and hetero-stereotypes. Part of the ideal images of social reality for himself and others [13]. substance of subjective ethnicity is ethnic To combine the structure (time-space and unconsciousness, including the ethnic constants process-result features of adaptation) and the meaningful (material suppressed or displaced by the majority of (subjective interpretation of social reality) context of people from the given ethnic group sharing every adaption process it is necessary to use the generation with the following one, i.e. the entire historical complementary normative and interpretative approach to experience of ethnos). understanding of social adaptation phenomenon. As a The basis for ethnic self-identification is objective result, the ontology of social adaptation of a person is a ethno-differentiating indicators, such as ethnonims, derivative of objective social conditions and results of language, territory, religion and economic and cultural their subjective and personal interpretations [13]. features [12]. At the same time, the subject of social adaptation is The unity of subjective and objective ethnic identity not only adapted in the given natural and social forms the boundary Us and Them ; although being very conditions, but changes and adapts these conditions flexible and subjected to constant changes it helps saving being components of social environment. the individual in social world. For ethno-cultural adaptation the world science The methodologically important here is the analysis uses the term acculturation. American anthropologists of the phenomenon of social adaptation of an individual. R. Redfield, R. Linton and M. Herskovits designated In modern domestic and foreign sociological and this phenomenon as an aggregate of phenomena arising socio-philosophical literature different theoretical and from the fact that the groups, belonging to different methodological orientations provide different culture, come into direct and long-term contact leading to understanding of the ontology of social adaptation of an changes in initial cultural patterns of one or both groups individual: 1) as a process of organism adaptation to [14]. different changes of environment; 2) condition of In this definition the authors distinguish the recipient homeostatic dynamic equilibrium between the organism group, whose initial culture undergoes changes and the and environment; 3) adequate productive effectiveness. donor group, from whose culture new images and At the same time, the entire diversity of explications of behavior schemes are drawn. social adaptation in literature may be reduced to the The authors also distinguished three main results of normative (structural and functional) or interpretative acculturation: 1) perception - mastering most of a different theoretical and methodological approach according to the culture and adoption of behavioral stereotypes and scheme of adaptive interaction subject-object [13]. values of a new culture; 2) adaptation - combination of Within the frameworks of the normative approach initial and imported elements in a harmonic integer or (N. Wiener, T. Parsons) social adaptation of a person is preservation of contradictory understandings, interacting determined as a process of continuous social control in daily behavior according to the circumstances; and 3) over the conformity of human behavior with some norms reaction - appearance of a variety of counter-acculturation and values prevailing in socium and imposed during movements and bringing psychological factors to the socialization and at the same time, it is a system of social forefront. 188

3 American anthropologists M. Mead studied the environment at preserving the language, culture, acculturation processes among immigrants based on the traditions, self-consciousness of their ethnic belonging. concept of intergenerational relations. Analyzing the At that it is assumed that the successfulness of relations between generations she distinguished three acculturation is effected by social and cultural adaptation types of cultures: postfigurative, where children, first of as a complex accommodation in objective socio-economic, all, learn from their parents and adult community members; political and cultural conditions of environment, configurative, where both children and adults learn from understanding of problems and adaptive situation by the the people of the same age; and pre-figurative, where migrant, interpretation of adaptation process and adults in addition learn from their children. M. Mead formation of adaptive space and identity on this basis. believed that the mechanisms of migrants acculturation Conventionally, we may distinguish three stages of as a rule agree with configurative and prefigurative types migrants adaptation: penetration into culture, evaluation of cultures [15]. and integration. Canadian psychologist J. Berry reduced acculturation At the first stage of adaptation the migrants to two main problems: commitment to proper culture experience all main effects of cultural shock. Resettlement (i.e. to what extent the proper cultural identity is breaks the dynamic equilibrium between the internal and preserved) and participation in intercultural contacts external environment: the original ideas, rules and (degree of inclusion in a different culture). According to behavioral models are often inadequate for the conditions J. Berry, to determine individual orientations for and requirements of new environment. The consequence acculturation it is necessary to clarify the opinion of the of social roles reconstruction and self-identification is a person on two main questions. The first question Is it feeling of inferiority or inability to master new important to maintain your cultural self-identity? is ethno-cultural environment. related to the attitude to proper culture, its value for the The analysis of opinions resulted from the test of person and necessity to preserve and develop the Kun-Makpartlend Who I am shows that even testing ethno-cultural identity. The second question Is it itself becomes difficult. Trying to protect the former important to contact to other ethnic groups? is identity under new conditions the migrants are afraid of formulated to determine the relation of a person to the this question. 90% of surveyed migrants gave only one contact group: to what extent interaction with the answer to each question and some of them did not members of this group is valuable and desirable for an provide a response at all. The self-notion loses integrity individual [16]. and identity goes to pieces : Who I am and What I S. Bockner was one of the first researchers who can do are the questions that are difficult to answer at distinguished the models of identity transformations the stage of entering new environment. The internal and (acculturation strategies) of migrants during their external dissimilarity with local population develops the adaptation to new culture: feeling of foreigners, unnecessary people of the second grade. Integration, i.e. the group of migrants preserves During searching for new identity in identification cultural identity simultaneously adapting some matrix of migrants the professional identity starts elements of cultural identity of the dominating group; dominating (63% of respondents opted for a category Assimilation, that is a gradual voluntary or forced worker, businessman, construction worker ). loss of cultural identity and in return, adoption of However, part of migrants loses this only method of norms and value of the dominating group up to the self-identification since they have to use their full dissolving; qualification potential inefficiently or only partially. Segregation or orientation to separate group The professional status of about one third of migrants development; decreases compared with the one before migration. Genocide, i.e. orientation to deliberate destruction of The migrants focus on labor and work is also proved by the group [17]. their overload. 59% of surveyed migrants pointed out that they devote all their time to work (working for hours As applied to our approach, the acculturation is a day without days off), 30 % of migrants mentioned understood as a process and result of normal load (12 hours a day and 6-day work week), 2% migrants adaptation and assimilation of different told about minimal load and 9% found difficulties in ethno-differentiating features of new ethno-cultural replying. 43% migrants answered that they would work 189

4 better at higher salary or if employed within their 50.5% assess the attitude as indifferent. 4.3% of surveyed specialty. The investigation results have shown that the suffer from bad attitude. Thus, the common feature in the migrants who arrived to work in the territory of the region interactions of native people and migrants is mainly work in construction (objects for APEC Summit), indifference, that determined the social and trade, consumer services and agriculture. psychological atmosphere of ethnic migrants adaptation. One of the important factors conditioning the This is proved by the data of another interview. character of migrants adaptation process and Answering the questions: Is it important to keep in touch construction of positive identity is housing. Analysis of with your ethnic group and other ethnic communities?, housing conditions has demonstrated that more than a 70% of respondents emphasize the importance of their half of migrants do not have their own homes: 48% live in ethnic identity and at the same time, quite a few of them hostels, rent an apartment, house or room and 14% more neglect any relationships with other groups (41.9%). stay with their relatives or friends. Thus, 53.7% of Apart from important socio-psychological reasons, respondents pointed out the necessary improvement of namely, increase of competitiveness in the labor market their housing conditions and considered their current conditioned by appearance of a plenty of cheap accommodation as temporary; 23.9% of respondents were workforce, there are also a number of psychological not satisfied with their accommodation even despite it reasons why migrants and hosting communities was a temporary one; and 22.2% of migrants were experience difficulties in understanding and interaction. satisfied with their housing. The friendly relations and efficient contacts between The study has shown that solving the housing migrants and local people are impeded by the differences problem the migrants rely only on themselves in values, orientations, behavior, traditions, customs and ( Hope to build a house or purchase an apartment bilateral rejection resulting from all mentioned above %). At the same time there were quite a few Only about half of migrants (42.3%) and local people people who showed themselves completely helpless (39.7%) are partially aware of customs, traditions and ( no opportunities at all - 32%). behavior of each other. Others do not have any idea Migrants assessment of the level of their family about it. income turned out to be one of the factors that impact on In this respect the most important objective of coping with the crisis identity and success of ethnic investigation was to compare the ideas on proper group migrants integration into polyethnic environment of the (in-group) and on another external (out-group) among Far East region. migrants and hosting communities. The notions Us and Survey of migrants living in the territory of Far East Them are the most important indicators of interrelations has shown that their income is as a rule low, income of between two contacting subjects of migration and thus, 60% of respondents covers only basic products, the indicators of success or failure in forming ethnic 24% - products, medicines and cloths and only 16% do identity according to the normal type. not experience difficulties. Two thirds of respondents According to the results obtained with the think that their situation will improve in future. modified methodology of Katz and Braly, in migrants At the second stage of adaptation the most important auto-stereotypes there is clear prevalence of positive factor aggravating the crisis of orientation in life is features (75% respondents noted: hospitable, helpful, migrants relationships with local population. friendly, modest and responsive) and some negative ones Having arrived to new socio-cultural environment (24.9% noted: lazy, weak, sly, heavy drinkers, resentful). often foreign and malevolent, the majority of migrants Prevalence of positive in-group self-assessment is an find themselves in full isolation from local people. impressive proof of the fact that the surveyed migrants Their contacts are short-term and episodic and often they have a well-developed feeling of Us aiming at forming are limited only by communication with law-enforcement the positive identity of its members. and public agencies and employers. Only a few migrants In migrants assessment of native population there have close friends among local people. are both negative (50.2% - greedy, lazy, scandalous, On the level of ethno-social comfort we may judge on stubborn, disunited, not knowing their own culture, the answers to the question: What is the local aggressive) and positive characteristics (49.8% - population attitude to you? 40.2% of respondents note hospitable, smart, responsive, tolerant, cheery and tolerance of the local people. Almost half of migrants, sociable). 190

5 Evaluation of the transformation level of ethnic answering positively: Diligence, High quality of work, identity and accordingly, of the intensity of any of its Respect to elderly people and Help to each other. type in our investigation is based on total points obtained At the same time, ethnic migrants neglected influence of from calculations of the overall number of all positive local culture: There is nothing to learn from them! replies of respondents on the following questions of the In migration, high significance of ethno-affiliating questionnaire What is your attitude to probable marriage trends reflecting the growing demand in proper ethnic of your close relative (son, daughter, brother, sister) with identity is an indicator of ethnic identity formation on the person of another nationality?. ethno-isolationism type. When ethnic identity takes In the groups of migrants living in the Far East region different forms of hyper-identity (ethno-isolationism, the dominating is the orientation to the mixed marriage ethno-egoism or national fanaticism), it stops manifested in the preparedness to accept a person of performing its adaptive role for the person coming to a different nationality as a spouse and as a spouse of a new ethno-cultural environment. child. So, 46.2% believe that nationality is not relevant in These results are proved by the survey of local terms of a marriage; 29.9% of the surveyed migrants people. For instance, despite the good contacts with the would prefer a person of the same nationality but would hosting community only 17% of respondents perceive the not object if it is a choice. migrants as friends, others pointed out that perceive the 1.8% of respondents agree with the opposite migrant as a foreigner and objected to the marriage with orientations, namely, they are indifferent to the the person of different nationality. partner s nationality at the condition of his or her Rejection by the hosting community results in observance of the customs and traditions of another isolationism of migrants and orientation on friends, i.e. partner s nation. hyper-identity formation. The grouping of migrants often 10.2% of migrants demonstrate the pronounced accelerates and strengthens negative social attitude that ethno-isolation in interethnic communication and object furthers development of migrant-phobia among the to the marriage with a person of another nationality. 12% hosting population. In the people s minds in the Far East of respondents believe that possible interethnic marriage region there is a deeply enrooted idea of treating migrants of the close relatives depends on the nationality of the as a cheap labor force that may be used for the hardest chosen one. and dirtiest labor. Thus, the comparative analysis of the transformation The third stage of adaptation, integration, is of respondents ethnic identity has shown that among the characterized by full assimilation of a migrant in the ethnic migrants arrived to the Far East, the undoubtedly hosting community. dominating is positive ethnic identity. Orientation of The main objective at the stage of migrants migrants on proper ethno-cultural environment at integration is to reach such adaptive result, which simultaneous openness for other ethnic groups strengthens and restores their identity and construct the predetermined the high points (54.8%) for this type of consistent adaptive space acceptable socially and ethnic identity on a scale of ethnicity indicators. psychologically. Main condition for successful At the same time at general prevalence of ethnic completion of social adaptation of migrants is identity formed on the type of a norm, the vectors of development of proper productive models of social identity transformation for a group of migrants turn out to behavior based on individual resources. The investigation be directed to different poles of the ethnic scale. So, in the results proved that despite the remaining cultural course of analysis of ethnic identity transformation it was differences between ethnic migrants and hosting found out that the vector of ethnic identity of 13.5% of population, the migrants are included in the region s life surveyed is directed towards hypo-identical purposes and are integrated into its culture. During adaptation (aiming at grading proper ethnic identity), whereas 31.5% migrants reappraise proper system of values refusing from demonstrated a trend to ethnicity accentuation resulting non-adaptive behavior conventional in their previous in the increasing importance of hyper-identical purposes. lives. So, among the respondents we have found up to This is proved by the migrants answers to the question 39.2% who fully adapted themselves to new conditions Is there anything that local people can learn from you? and 21% who were determined to stay. This stage takes The absolute majority of migrants were unanimous from 3 to 5 years. 191

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