Ashore on the Land of Joiners: Intergenerational Social Incorporation of Immigrants

Abstract

Juxtaposing two cliches, “the land of immigrants” and “the land of joiners,” poses an intriguing question: Do they fit in with each other? In other words, is Tocqueville's oft-quoted dictum – “Americans of all ages, all stations of life, and all types of disposition are forever forming associations” – applicable to immigrants as well? Focusing on the process of social incorporation of immigrants that connects the two sides, and taking advantage of the unique features of the dataset, the study examines intergenerational patterns of immigrants’ participation in voluntary associations. Substantial variations across generations and association types are found, and their pathways of social incorporation are charted.