FREE ESSAY ON GREATEST DESIRE TO CONFORM

GREATEST DESIRE TO CONFORM

The area in American life reflecting the greatest desire to change is immigration.
Immigrants come to America hoping for and wanting a better life. They no longer wish to
live the hard life of the peasantry society. In addition, immigrants come in search of
individuality. They want to conform and be free of their problems they once faced or
still face in their nation. America has always obtained the myth where one can gain
social mobility and freedom. They strive to acquire opportunities that they do not have
in their homelands. *America is like a utopia because of all its opportunities it has to
offer - (simile). As each new era of foreigners migrate to America, they face the
obstacle of conforming to mainstream America.
Immigrants come to this land of opportunity with the hopes and dreams of a better life
for themselves and their family. Often considered peasants in their country, these
hardworking individuals come to America fighting to become part of the middle and upper
class societies. Most of these foreigners are impoverished, with no land or home they
could call their own. They work hard during the summers in order to conserve food for the
winters. These immigrants fall within a lower social class, as a result they strive to
conform to a more facilitating and suitable lifestyle. Although they desirably want to
conform to an American culture, these foreigners fear conformity in that it entails new
ways of living. When conforming to new living conditions, many of these immigrants are
overwhelmed with feelings of insecurity, fearing that they will not be able to assimilate
to new standards of living. Having left behind familiar surroundings in their homeland,
these foreigners face new challenges in a strange land. Indeed, it is hard to change what
one has been exposed to and taught in life, however one must try his or her hardest to do
so when going forth with such a drastic move. Inevitably, it will be difficult having
made such a drastic change, but in the end they will live a better life, that of America:
the land of opportunity and freedom.
As they begin to build a new life in America, they face the process of assimilation.
America holds an idea of a mainstream society; consequently those individuals not fitting
this image are left with feelings of abandonment and insecurity. As a result, they feel
pressured in achieving the American dream. On the other hand, their children born and
raised as first-generation Americans find it easier to conform to American standards in
comparison to their parents and have become a part of mainstream America, regarding
America their homeland. As these immigrants begin to progress forward, gaining acceptance
and recognition, they begin to look down upon the new immigrants coming into the country.
Its ironic how quickly one forgets the past and repeats history in terms of the
mistreatment and hostile hospitality a new immigrant once received.
For instance, my family is from Albania. Albanians are a race of people who have certain
underlying qualities, beliefs, and customs that distinctively set them apart from others.
One of the most celebrated and perhaps unfair of all customs, is the cultures strict
arranged or 'influenced' marriages. We hold the belief that women are not allowed to date
and are to be married at a young age to the gentlemen chosen by their elders. The
Albanian men are not exactly relieved of their role in the arranged nuptials, as they too
must be betrothed to the Albanian women. However, they have the privilege to date freely
before marriage. Albanians are very paternalistic, undeniably believing that the men are
the heads of every household. Respect and honor are held with the utmost regard. To
dishonor a person would mean to disregard the true meaning of life. Consequently,
retribution is a common and necessary solution to indignity. 
Furthermore, as way of example, my description of the Albanian people is described in
ways in which they are brought up in their homeland. They come to the United States
bringing with them these traditions, customs, and beliefs, but like my family most have
assimilated to American ways. *My family is an example of conforming to modernization, as
for those who believe in changing America to that of their beliefs; it states they have
no desire to conform to mainstream America - (Metaphor). My family has changed their
cultural beliefs and traditions; they have willingly and desirably conformed to
mainstream America. They are of middle or upper class society, no longer peasants, they
have earned their own homes and land, and they are happy with the assimilation to
American ways.
Immigrants presently migrating to America bring with them the beliefs and cultures I
stated earlier with the hope to change Americans to believe and follow these traditions,
in addition they do not wish to conform to American ways. Instead, they try changing
America to their ways. They believe that they should not have to change their lifestyles
in exchange for an American way of living. Although they want to live a life of freedom
and opportunity, they do not want to contribute to America in any way. I consider these
types of immigrants, those not trying to conform, to be very selfish and self-centered
people. It is not morally right to want something and not give anything back in return.
Granted, the focus of this essay is not about Albanian people, however I wanted to
exemplify the differences regarding conformity with new immigrants coming to America and
with those who arrived many years ago. Of course, I do not want readers to assume this is
true for all immigrants. It is not necessarily true that all immigrants that have
migrated many years ago have assimilated to American ways or those who migrate today do
not wish to conform at all, but this was simply an example of personal experience.
Conformity occurs on all levels. It deals with the way one talks, dresses, and behaves.
Also, it deals with the morals and values one hold. Most immigrants have attempted to
learn the English language, with their accents barely noticeable at times; they have
full-time jobs, their own homes, and have acquired an education. On a positive note, this
is quite a change and accomplishment in comparison to what immigrants is accustomed to in
their homelands.
In conclusion, immigrants migrating to America will eventually conform. America consists
of a plethora of opportunities; this is something a person cannot give up. So they will
attempt to achieve this freedom and social mobility. They will struggle in conforming to
mainstream America because it is so desirably aspired. They want like any other person to
be recognized and accepted as abiding citizens. They are willing to accept American
standards in order to promote personal achievement and financial establishment. Accepting
American standards indicates accepting the American way of living: survival of the
fittest.