Final answer:
Assimilation describes the process in which a minority individual or group takes on the characteristics of the dominant culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assimilation describes the process by which a minority individual or group gives up its own identity by taking on the characteristics of the dominant culture. In the United States, which has a history of welcoming and absorbing immigrants from different lands, assimilation has been a function of immigration. Assimilation occurs when a minority group's members lose their original cultural identity as they take on the characteristics of the dominant or host culture.
Assimilation is often measured by sociologists using benchmarks such as socioeconomic status, language assimilation, spatial concentration, and intermarriage. However, it can be challenging for new immigrants to fully assimilate, especially when faced with language barriers and racial or ethnic discrimination, which can limit employment and educational opportunities.
In stark contrast, Assimilation is antithetical to pluralism's 'salad bowl' concept, where each culture maintains its own distinct 'flavor' or characteristics within a society.