Cultural Geography
Fall 2004
Chapter 6:
ETHNIC GEOGRAPHY
Ethnic geography studies the spatial distributions and interactions
of ethnic groupspopulations
distinguished by common origins and distinctive cultural or racial traits.
No
such thing as an ethnically pure nation state
Guest Workers- Resident Aliens in
Middle
Eastern countries- 60-90% of workforce is foreign (
Culture- traits of a human group- beliefs, symbols, values,
behavior and complexes (social customs, language, religion, food, tools,
structures, etc.)
Culture
is learned
Ethnicity identification of a large group of people sharing
the traits of a culture
Ethnicity is a spatial concept; recognized homeland areas,
urban enclaves, or rural settlement districts are the rule.
Territory and ethnicity are
inseparable- related to culture (language and religion)
Ethnicity
does not have a single trait- language, religion, national origin, customs or
race. Unifying bonds:
1.
Shared ancestry
2.
Cultural
heritage
3.
Traditions
4.
Maintenance of
in-group interactions/relationships
Most
societies are multiethnic, with ethnic mixing increasingly common in response
to migration and refugee flows into even formerly homogeneous societies and
countries. Ethnocentrism is a feeling of one's own ethnic group
superiority that tends to encourage isolation and to inhibit the amalgamation
of complex societies.
Ethnic groups- cultural institutions
and traditional food/music
Territorial isolation- assists groups
retain identification
Ethnic minorities are associated with
homelands
Ethnic
Cleansing- mass genocide of a target
population from a geographic region or political area.
US
Homelands- Enclaves of spatial refuge and support systems- Chinatown or Little Italy- product of self-selection
not segregation.
Matter
of Race
Race-
hereditary, biological characteristics, greatest genetic variation between an group is less than within a given population. Race is not equivalent to ethnicity or
nationality
Ethnic
distinctions may be based either on cultural or racial characteristics. The
former involves acquired traits, the latter genetic differences. Genetic drift and adaptation may create distinctive heritable traits among separate
populations. Those traits have nothing to do with language, religion,
nationality, or other acquired characteristics.
Immigration
Streams
Some
societies, such as the Anglo American, are the product of multiethnic
immigration and mixing. The origin areas of U.S. immigrant flows have changed
from earlier European and African homelands to a recent strong prominence of
Asian and Latin American nationals- all cultures and races of the world (70
million immigrants.)
US
Immigration
First Wave- up to 1870, Western and
Second
Wave- (1870-1921) Eastern and
Third Wave-
1960s.
2002- 11.5% of
1990s- illegal
immigration- over 6 million
Parts of CA- 60% Asian
Canada- 1) up to 1760, French, 2) British and US Loyalists
and 3) 20th century, Continental Europe and rest of world
Acculturation
and Assimilation
US- No single, majority ethnic group exists- becoming state where no
racial majority exists
The
merger of different ethnic groups into a single social structure, if it occurs
at all, may involve:
amalgamationthe creation of a
composite mainstream society with merged characteristics
acculturationadoption by new immigrant
groups of the values and norms of a dominating host culture or charter group.
Assimilation- When integration is complete.
Behavioral- acculturation
Structural- fusion of
immigrant within the host culture- groups, social systems and occupations
(marriage, etc.) residential segregation, intermarriage, political office,
etc.
Competition Theory- ethnic awareness is heightened as groups entire
mainstream life.- pressure to integrate actually
focuses ethnic identity- forcing groups together
Amalgamation
Theory, the idea of a melting
pot, has recently fallen out of favor with some scholars as being unrealistic
due to cultural tensions that exist in many societies.
Current trends- amalgamation is unrealistic given social and
cultural tensions. Retained/defended
cultural identities are normal and militant multiculturalism is typical. Homeland connections
increase via- telecommunications (TV, cable, internet, movies, etc.)
2000
Census- 18% of Americans speak language other than English in home (60% of
these speak Spanish)
Areal
Expressions of Ethnicity
Territoriality
and ethnicity are associated and often disruptive.
Example-
Soviet Union- freed 14 ethnic republics
Charter Cultures
First Effective Settlement- initial group to establish a viable,
self-perpetuating society leaves a dominant imprint- US East Coast, Quebec
Charter Group- dominant first arrivals that establish cultural
norms (English across US, Hispanic culture across Southwest)
Except
for French Canadians and some Native Americans, Anglo America has no defined ethnic homeland areas. However,
immigrant streams have created recognizable spatial ethnic patterns.
Ethnic provinces include
larger racial or cultural concentrations, including those of French Canadians
in
Ethnic islands reflect both
rural and urban cluster and chain
migration and take the form of distinctive rural landscapes and
pronounced urban immigrant neighborhoods.
Cluster Migration- taking up large areas as a group
Chain Migration- accumulation of relatives, friends, etc through an
initial contact
Black migration- African Americans first come as slaves and remained
in rural south after emancipation. Move
north into factory towns during WW1 when European immigration is interrupted
(Jazz develops). During WWII and after
this continues- 5 million blacks move to urban areas- 86% live in urban areas
versus 75% of Americans overall
Hispanic-
not a homogeneous group (term is defined by Census Bureau in 1980)- often
difficult to identify (many consider themselves white) Most rapidly growing monitory in US (57%-
surpassed Africans Americans) Mexican
Americans are 60% of the Hispanic total. Urban- 91%
Issue- patterns of poverty, isolation and cultural alienation
Consider-
Borderlands issues- large number of Mexican Americans with language, culture
and religious differences with rest of US
Asian- 1.5 million (1965) to 12 million (2000.) First mostly Japanese and Chinese, now includes
Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Thailand and Pakistan- 1/3 of US
immigration, 40% in west and 35% in California.
50% of Filipinos, 40% of Vietnamese. 96% of Asians are Urban
LA/Long
Beach- largest Vietnamese community outside of
Immigration pattern- 1) family reunification laws, educational privileges
and then job/skill categories (chain migration), 2) Refugee resettlement (
Immigrant Clusters- short-term immigrant clustering is more common than
dispersals.
Urban Ethnic Diversity and Segregation
US
immigrant neighborhoods have had a pronounced impact upon US cities- urban 20th
century is a mosaic of ethnic enclave
The
immigrant neighborhood is evidence of social distance between immigrant
and charter groups.
It
may reflect either self-elected
defensive refuge or imposed
segregation. When self-created and maintained, the ethnic community can
ease the entry of new arrivals into mainstream society. When imposed by the
majority group, the immigrant or racial ghetto perpetuates discord and separation
Assimilation
Controls
External (attitudes held by the charter group)
Process when a charter group feels threatened by an
immigrant group- results in blocking efforts to control or contain. Tipping point- when immigrant group has taken
up enough territory that the charter group leaves the enclave- exodus- White
Flight in urban
Expressions- immigrants relegated to worst housing and low end
of occupational structure
Internal (group cohesiveness and defensives)
Principal
Functions:
·
Defense- reduces
isolation, exclusive domains, defined ethnic territories against antagonistic
immigrant groups
·
Support-
provides culture of home
·
Preservation-
preserves and promotes cultural heritage (religion, language, etc.)
·
Attack-
political power
Ethnic communities are not permanent
Ethnoburb- enduring social/political area within a city.
Colony- entry point for members of a community into the new
country
Enclave- neighborhood
Cultural
Transfer
New
groups bring culture with them- food, dress, building styles, furniture,
marriage customs, religion, etc. Some of
this impacts charter group, depending upon:
Ethnic
Landscapes
Cultural
geographers are interested in landscape evidence of ethnicity. It may take such
variant forms as differing house or building styles, settlement patterns, land
survey systems, or styles and manners of dress and customary behavior. In all
world regions, including Anglo America, such landscape contrasts help document
the essential spatial aspect of ethnicity.