In class last week we discussed the changing patterns of immigration in the United States as well as the challenges of assimilation that immigrants have faced over the years. The written work of Aguilar-San Juan poses an interesting discussion in regards to the sociological differences felt between Vietnamese Americans who reside in Orange County, CA and those who reside in Boston, MA. My expert question stems from this reading, where I asked classmates to think more in depth about the importance of physical place when establishing a sense of community and identity for these immigrants. More specifically, I asked people to think about the significance of how Vietnamese Americans feel a stronger sense of belonging when they live in an area that is culturally similar to where they originate, thus placing an emphasis on the implications of territorializing. Further, I asked classmates to think about how territorializing can be seen at Bowdoin. Aside from pre existing clubs, are there more subtle ways in which people establish their own niches and sense of place on campus in order to feel more assimilated? How is this similar to what we read about the Vietnamese Americans and their sense of identity in a place?
To quickly summarize the reading, Aguilar-San Juan discusses his findings in that Vietnamese Americans found a stronger sense of place and establishment in the smaller population of Orange County than those who lived in the diverse city of Boston. This contradicts what we had learned a previously in class that “cities tend to enhance ethnic distinction” (Aguilar-San Juan, 48). The reading went on to discuss the meaning behind this contradiction and explained how this group of immigrants do not feel as strong a sense of place in Boston because they are grouped in with other minorities and are not recognized by the general population as their own established group. In Boston, Vietnamese Americans are grouped in with the Chinatown population and are labeled as “Asian” instead of their distinct Vietnamese culture. In Orange County, Vietnamese Americans are recognized as their own cultural group because the settlement is less ethnically diverse and they do not have to share an identity with another ethnic group.
Several classmates raised interesting points in regards to my expert question. We discussed how because Boston is already diverse, it is much more difficult for the Vietnamese to establish their own identity. We discussed placemaking at Bowdoin and which groups are successful in producing enclaves due to the lack of critical mass on campus. More specifically, classmates raised interesting points about the LASO group on campus and how there is a language barrier that serves as both an inclusionary and exclusionary aspect for students who are interested. We talked about the consequences of how people integrate themselves into large communities such as the hierarchy of groups that is produced on campus that could be reflective of economic power. We then discussed how different communities are developed based on majors and that there are designated study spaces for certain majors where students studying similar subjects gather to a common space which fosters a community in itself.
Our discussion got me thinking about how much the size of population matters when we think about how these enclaves form. Would we see similar results in specific communities forming if there were twenty people in a room vs two thousand on a college campus? Is it the cultural similarities that draw specific people into communities or do other economic and social factors take precedence?
In responding to your last question “Is it the cultural similarities that draw specific people into communities or do other economic and social factors take precedence?”, I think it depends on what the individual holds important. For an individual that may not have economic capital, they may find social and cultural similarities to be the main proponent of creating community. Especially in the sense of immigrants, culture is immensely important when coming to a new land. While the desire to be American is present, some individuals fight hard to keep their transnational identity intact. In the example of the farmers in California, farming was a way of maintaining and reaffirming their cultural traditions from back home. Cultural similarities are important, but social and economic factors could both become the main nexus point that branches onto other similarities that foster community.
Along with pre-existing clubs at Bowdoin, I think that athletic teams, intramural or not, also play a huge role for students here as they try to assimilate. With being a member on a team at Bowdoin, it gives you an automatic opportunity to form friendships with all class years. A team can also act as a whole new type of culture for a student, providing structure and comfort. This is similar to the Vietnamese American population in Orange County. They are able to create such a strong sense of community compared to the Vietnamese American population in Boston because their identity in Orange County is a smaller, more “exclusive” identity. Therefore, this is similar to sports teams at Bowdoin because each team has their own identity on campus, allowing for them to settle as their own group within the whole student body.
I too see the important role athletic teams play in shaping an identity for some students on campus. In regard to your question Is it the cultural similarities that draw specific people into communities or do other economic and social factors take precedence? Athletics provide an area where similar interests could bring diverse people together (bridging capital) but also reinforce and create exclusivity amongst similarities (bonding social capital). Here is where I would push back on the the previous comment comparing athletics to the Vietnams American population in the OC as creating more “exclusive” identity. I feel as though this is something that is perpetuated in a negative way on Bowdoin campus. Where athletics can be seen as an “exclusive” part of the Bowdoin community that only some members are a part of– creating divisions amongst the student body.