A Sociological Interpretation Of Jane's Immigration Experiences
Various reasons motivate people to leave their native countries. For a number of individuals, it is because of economic, political, and social factors, while for others, it is the matter of choice and opportunity. The following paper discusses the life of Jane and presents a sociological interpretation of her immigration experiences. For confidentiality and anonymity purposes, I will refer to the interviewee as Jane. Jane came to the United States in 2012. Since an early age, Jane was heavily involved in tennis since her parents wanted her to become a professional tennis player. When she was 18, she received an offer from Sierra College and Sacramento State University to play on the tennis team and pursue her studies in the U.S. As Jane recalls,
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it was an offer that she could not reject since such opportunities do not come often, and the privilege of being chosen to play for an American University entailed a notable source of prestige. After living in the U.S for three years, Jane is now married and is a permanent resident, who is studying Sociology at Sacramento State University. I will discuss Jane’s experiences through the analysis of the social capital theory, empowerment and incorporation, and the concept of the second generation to illustrate sociological construct of the broader immigration processes.
The social capital theory is an essential concept when examining policies and immigration processes. The social capital theory suggests, individuals with stronger connections, resources, and relationships are more likely to immigrate when compared to the individuals lacking those resources (Gutierrez, 02/01/2016). Likewise, Portes and Rumbaut (2014) suggest, when examining immigration patterns, social networks are crucial to the buildup of the migrating systems. For example, it is reasonable to conclude that Jane was born into a financially stable family because her parents invested in her human capital from an early age in the form of tennis. Therefore, Jane had a social network with strong connections and resources that elevated her athletic skills to an international level. She has traveled to Miami, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, and Russia to compete in the professional tennis tournaments. Similarly, after receiving an invitation from Sacramento State University and Sierra College, Jane and her family decided to use the opportunity. As a part of the process, Jane was required to pay the visa
application fees before she completed the nonimmigrant visa electronic application. After the application, she had to schedule an appointment with the U.S Embassy. The process took approximately three months and cost around $1000. After the paperwork was approved, Jane was required to purchase the travel’s insurance for $900, pay tuition of $3500 for Sierra College, and $1400 for the air travel. Therefore, the total sum of the documents and traveling expenses was $6800, which does suggest that Jane’s family had the resources to sponsor her professional goals. Similarly, Jane was a “pioneer migrant” because she was the first one from her family to come to the United States. As a result, she experienced emotional hardships and separation anxiety. As Jane recalls, she was nervous and uncertain of how everything would turn out. She did not understand English and did not know how the educational system works here. Jane’s Sierra College tennis coach arranged her living situation and asked his friends to accommodate Jane for a few months. After less than a year, Jane’s Sacramento State coach arranged an apartment for Jane’s teammates and her that was located near Sacramento State University. Similarly, Jane’s parents supported her financially, but after she had transferred to Sacramento State University, she was a paid athlete. Thus, it can be argued that Jane had the structural advantages since she had the social capital and the resources to negate the system for her advantage. All the assistance Jane had is a form of social capital, which is why from the start she had the benefits and connections to be successful.
it was an offer that she could not reject since such opportunities do not come often, and the privilege of being chosen to play for an American University entailed a notable source of prestige. After living in the U.S for three years, Jane is now married and is a permanent resident, who is studying Sociology at Sacramento State University. I will discuss Jane’s experiences through the analysis of the social capital theory, empowerment and incorporation, and the concept of the second generation to illustrate sociological construct of the broader immigration processes.
The social capital theory is an essential concept when examining policies and immigration processes. The social capital theory suggests, individuals with stronger connections, resources, and relationships are more likely to immigrate when compared to the individuals lacking those resources (Gutierrez, 02/01/2016). Likewise, Portes and Rumbaut (2014) suggest, when examining immigration patterns, social networks are crucial to the buildup of the migrating systems. For example, it is reasonable to conclude that Jane was born into a financially stable family because her parents invested in her human capital from an early age in the form of tennis. Therefore, Jane had a social network with strong connections and resources that elevated her athletic skills to an international level. She has traveled to Miami, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, and Russia to compete in the professional tennis tournaments. Similarly, after receiving an invitation from Sacramento State University and Sierra College, Jane and her family decided to use the opportunity. As a part of the process, Jane was required to pay the visa
application fees before she completed the nonimmigrant visa electronic application. After the application, she had to schedule an appointment with the U.S Embassy. The process took approximately three months and cost around $1000. After the paperwork was approved, Jane was required to purchase the travel’s insurance for $900, pay tuition of $3500 for Sierra College, and $1400 for the air travel. Therefore, the total sum of the documents and traveling expenses was $6800, which does suggest that Jane’s family had the resources to sponsor her professional goals. Similarly, Jane was a “pioneer migrant” because she was the first one from her family to come to the United States. As a result, she experienced emotional hardships and separation anxiety. As Jane recalls, she was nervous and uncertain of how everything would turn out. She did not understand English and did not know how the educational system works here. Jane’s Sierra College tennis coach arranged her living situation and asked his friends to accommodate Jane for a few months. After less than a year, Jane’s Sacramento State coach arranged an apartment for Jane’s teammates and her that was located near Sacramento State University. Similarly, Jane’s parents supported her financially, but after she had transferred to Sacramento State University, she was a paid athlete. Thus, it can be argued that Jane had the structural advantages since she had the social capital and the resources to negate the system for her advantage. All the assistance Jane had is a form of social capital, which is why from the start she had the benefits and connections to be successful.