The concept of the “American Dream” is definitely a huge explanation for migration to the US. Immigrating for opportunity, educational and monetary, are huge motivators. I’ve heard this widespread in media, taught in classes, and from family. I know that religious freedom, fleeing from unsafe activity in a home country (gangs, war, political instability, etc.) are also common. These explanations I haven’t experienced first hand but have heard about from classmates and through media.
My aunt referred to a large reason for our family’s immigration to America being educationally motivated. I was extremely surprised to learn that Hong Kong in the 60s and 70s had only THREE colleges. HK has a large, bustling city population, but it appears that due to limited educational opportunities, it is very difficult to test into one of the few colleges, who can afford to be extremely selective. This relates directly to Yang’s “Intercountry Disparities” section, where he states this this selectivity in Asian countries for a college seat remained until the 90s, with the gap still large today.
Yang also touches on political conditions/uprisings as a key aspect of inter country disparities as a cause for immigration. I have heard from friends and through media about war/political unrest being a huge motivator. I also see how the explanations I mentioned are push and pull factors all in one. “Humans always want to have a better life. It is this yen for a better life that underlies the decision of individuals and families to migrate from one country to another.” [Yang, 18] This is precisely what my aunt said to me when explaining her immigration story. The disparities of educational opportunity were a huge factor for my family.
World system theory indicates that the more involved the U.S. is in an Asian country, the higher that level of immigration to the U.S. Hong Kong had long been a British colony, and thus was greatly influenced by “Western” society. Though I don’t take this as a direct relation to the U.S., English being taught to students as a second language likely encouraged this transition.
The system of network-dependent sponsorship also speaks to my families experiences. Personally, my family migrated through sponsorship by my grand uncle. It is noted that social networks help migration by maximizing pros and minimizing cons through social and financial assistance for the post migration period. In my family, my grandfather was able to work as a waiter at a restaurant partially owned by my grand uncle. Additionally, my grandmother worked as a seamstress at a factory owned by a “cousin”, a person she knew from her home village.
Hey Christal,
I did not know that back then Hong Kong only had three colleges. With the world view, I have today, it is so shocking to me back that back then there were so little colleges when today I’m used to knowing that colleges/universities are littered all over different countries. I agree with that theory since, in my home country of the Philippines which the US owned for quite some time, many of my fellow Filipinos migrate to the US. I sort of understand that system well since it was what my parents used in order to bring me or at least to my knowledge. My mom did this with my dad back in the 90’s when she brought him to the US. Finally, seeing your reply to my discussion board, I commend and admire that your aunt decided to move to the US straight out of high school in order to provide for the family. To me, that is the migrant spirit, to be willing to sacrifice in order that your family lives a better life, in a better situation than they are currently in.
You do a wonderful job here of intertwining the theory with your own examples– lovely!