Introduction
In the contemporary globalizing world, the mobility of people constitutes an important element of life. In particular, the combination of the advancement in transportation means and the increasing relevance of relocating for obtaining better opportunities has contributed to the growth of immigrants in the USA. Therefore, as the US population becomes more diverse, the attitudes toward immigrants are stereotypical and biased. On a broad scale, immigrants are disproportionately exposed to healthcare, education, employment, and socialization inequalities based on their ethnic difference and language. Thus, this paper is designed to explore the challenges that immigrants face when living and adapting to the social environment in the USA, as well as identify the coping strategies to overcome difficulties.
Immigration as a Common Socio-Political Phenomenon in the USA
For many years, the USA has been a country that includes citizens from various parts of the world. It has always been considered a land of opportunity, justice, and freedom, where everyone is able to build a happy life. The rate of immigration to the USA from different countries continues to grow. Indeed, according to Alegria et al., “estimates in 2014 suggest that approximately 42 million immigrants were living in the US, representing 13% of the total population, projected to increase to 22% by 2060” (145). However, to live the American dream, migrants are forced to encounter numerous obstacles. Overall, the term immigrant incorporates a notion of “a broad range of distinct nationalities, cultures, races, and ethnicities; it is not a monolithic group” (Alegria et al. 146). People labeled immigrants are diverse in their first language, origin, culture, religion, spirituality, habits, traditions, and other essential elements of human life. Thus, the abundance of differences among newcomers to the state exposes this population to a variety of challenges, including discrimination, language-related problems, diminished access to healthcare, and others.
Language Issues
One of the most evident and particularly decisive issues that make the life of immigrants in the USA difficult is the lack of language knowledge. Having a limited command of English, migrants from other countries suffer from miscommunication and limited opportunities to obtain jobs or education. According to Lou and Noels, “it is not uncommon for migrants in North America to be ignored and to receive signs of impatience and prejudice due to their non-native or nonstandard English” (478). Researchers claim that the sensitivity of language-based interactions is conditioned by the attachment of language to the cultural beliefs of the speakers and their overall competency. Indeed, “when no other demographic information is available, speakers of nonstandard English in the USA are perceived as less competent and credible, lower in social status, and less ‘American’ compared to standard English speakers” (Lou and Noels 503). Therefore, learning English as a second language becomes an integral part of immigrants’ lives in the USA, which necessitates additional effort, time, and financial resources.
Health Issues
Apart from language, which is an immediate element of everyday life, health issues are also pivotal. Indeed, when coming to the USA, migrants are exposed to obstacles in accessing healthcare services, both mental and physical. As stated by Alegria et al., a common contributor to the worse health of immigrants is poverty (148). However, there is a so-called first-generation paradox related to immigrants’ health. It shows that “the two largest immigrant groups in the US, Latinos and Asians, have found lower rates of psychiatric disorders among foreign-born respondents compared with the US-born” (Alegria et al. 146-147). However, despite such a paradox, immigrants are exposed to a higher level of stress and insecurities, which disrupt their mental and physical health across generations.
Discrimination against Immigrants
The above-mentioned characteristics of immigrants’ experiences in the USA serve as a basis for disproportionate discrimination against this vulnerable population group. Indeed, migrants face language-based bias on a daily basis, which causes their isolation and social exclusion. Research suggests that when using a second language, “migrants often encounter communication obstacles, some of which are followed by negative feedback and social rejection from native speakers” (Lou and Noels 478). Such a state of affairs causes psychological problems and diminishes immigrants’ motivation to communicate and participate in a discriminating society. Similarly, the cultural and even behavioral distinction of migrants limits their opportunities to engage in acculturation processes due to the constant feeling of exclusion (Alegria et al. 147-148). They are judged on the basis of prejudice that a person who is a foreigner and a non-English speaker is incapable of adequate functioning and unworthy of a decent attitude. The level of discrimination might reach violence and hate, which make the life of immigrants unbearable (Fedi et al. 2). Thus, it is imperative to learn coping and adapting strategies that would help this population deal with discrimination and become functional social participants.
Adapting Strategies
Given the plethora of difficulties that immigrants face in the USA on a daily basis, successful acculturation requires significant work and learning. The process of adaptation involves multicultural communication and interaction, which necessitate developing cultural sensitivity in both the domestic environment and the newcomers to the country. For example, one of the most common acculturation strategies is integrating into the new society by fully accepting the norms and social rules that exist in it (Fedi et al. 2-3). In such a manner, immigrants are to learn not only the language but also the traditions, common behavioral norms, social beliefs, and cultural values that persist in society. This adaptation method might cause discomfort and psychological problems in the population of immigrants since they are forced to abandon their ethnic uniqueness and substitute their cultural identities with those dominating in their new environment (Fedi et al. 3-4). However, the discourse in research, healthcare, education, workplace, and other key sectors develops in the direction of inclusion, cultural sensitivity, and ethnic diversity (Lou and Noels 500-502). Still, immigrants must comply with the requirements of adapting to the new reality of coping with difficulties and establishing their human rights in a multicultural social setting.
Conclusion
In summation, the investigation of the topic of immigrants’ experiences in the USA allowed for exposing several pivotal characteristics of this phenomenon. Firstly, immigration is one of the most influential factors of population growth in the USA, which makes the country a multicultural environment. Despite the reputation of the land of opportunity for all, US citizens exhibit biased attitudes toward immigrants due to their difficulty in using standard English and their cultural distinction from the majority. Therefore, migrants face discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, language, and beliefs across such settings as education, healthcare, workplace, and communities. When overcoming these challenges, this vulnerable population adheres to acculturation through integration to fit the new environment.
Works Cited
Alegria, Margarita, et al. “Immigration and Mental Health.” Current Epidemiology Reports, vol. 4, no. 2, 2017, pp. 145-155.
Fedi, Angela, et al. “Acculturation in the Discourse of Immigrants and Receiving Community Members: Results from a Cross-National Qualitative Study.” American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, vol. 89, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-46.
Lou, Nigel Mantou, and Kimberly A. Noels. “Sensitivity to Language-Based Rejection in Intercultural Communication: The Role of Language Mindsets and Implications for Migrants’ Cross-Cultural Adaptation.” Applied Linguistics, vol. 40, no. 3, 2019, pp. 478-505.