There are a couple of common reasons why people chose to immigrate to the United States. It can be in the hope of better life, higher education, medical facilities, etc. It is also known to us through news and social media some chose to escape their own country only due to political unrest. From my experience, me and my family immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh in 2018. We decided to settle in this foreign land so that me and my siblings can receive higher education and get better jobs in the future. Though we were living well off in Bangladesh, political unrest and the government’s failure to protect people in terms of rights, lives and wealth forced us to think it’s better to live in the United States. Also, after talking to many immigrant personals one of the common reasons that reflects is to better their future.
In the reading, ‘ A theory of Asian immigration to the United States’ by Yang the explanation of ‘Classic Pull-Push theory’ encapsulates the basic reason of why people migrate within a nation and internationally. It is due to the push factors: natural disasters, population pressure, economic hardships, political turmoil etc. On the other hand the pull factor comprises economic opportunity, environmental advantage etc. People mainly thinking about the ultimate benefits of pull factors chose to migrate. I believe there is no difference in the theories detailed in the reading and the common explanation of people’s migration to a new place.
The ‘other cluster factors’ that I would like to Yang’s theory lack of equal rights in case of woman and same sex marriage. There are instances in history where women even had to flee from their country for taking stand for what is right. To me this concept is very disturbing, of why women can not enjoy equal rights as men? Everybody is equal and should receive equal opportunity based on their work and merit.
I agree women should be able to live equally as men without discrimination of gender. My father is from Bangladesh as well, but he moved to the United States in the 1980’s to work and loved it here ever since. I hope the situations in Bangladesh get better and people are able to live peacefully without problems like political issues. The immigration system and a lot of other things have changed and not for the better since back then especially under the current administration.
I agree with you. Many parents choose to immigrate to the United States because they want to get a better life and higher education. Also, I like what you say that everybody is equal and should receive equal opportunity based on their work and merit.
I agree that many people leave their countries to get equal rights and also not be forced into a box like everyone else. Especially, women and LGBT+ people.
It’s terrible that in many countries many demographics of people are considered second class citizens. I don’t even understand how in some cultures its acceptable for women to not have full rights. All people should have equal rights, that should be a standard across the world.
Thank you for raising the issue of gender — very important for us to consider, and we will!