Chapter Main Points

  • Assimilation and pluralism are two broad pathways of development for intergroup relations. Assimilation and pluralism are, in some ways, contrary processes. But, they can appear together in a variety of combinations.
     
  • Two types of assimilation are the melting pot and Anglo-conformity. The latter has historically been the dominant value in the United States.
     
  • Gordon theorized that assimilation occurs through a series of stages, with integration being the crucial stage. In his view, it is common for American minority groups, especially racial minority groups, to be acculturated but not integrated. Once a group has begun to integrate, all other stages will follow in order.
     
  • In the past few decades, people’s interest in pluralism has increased. Three types of pluralis­tic situations exist: cultural, or full, pluralism; structural pluralism; and enclave, or middle­man, minority groups.
     
  • According to many scholars, white ethnic groups survived decades of assimilation, though in different forms. New ethnic (and racial) minority groups continue to appear, and old ones change as society changes. As the 21st century unfolds, white ethnicity may be less relevant for most people, except perhaps as a context for criticizing other groups.
     
  • In the United States today, assimilation may be segmented and have outcomes other than equality with and acceptance into the middle class.