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1 vote
Matching:

a. diffusion
b. cognitive dissonance
c. assimilation
d. independent invention
e. genocide
f. enculturation
1. tomatoes are incorporated into Italian cuisine bc Italians like the taste and they grow well in the Mediterranean environment
2. Australian aborigines are forced by colonial administrators to use steel axes even though they prefer to use traditional stone axes
3. native American children are taught by their elders to care for nature out of respect for the great spirit.
4. a woman from Romania is pressured to remove her headscarf if she wishes to keep her job
5. the Guatemalan government massacres over 250,000 indigenous people in the "scorched earth campaign" out of fear they might join forces with communist rebels
6. the latest style craze in the US is African tribal jewelry with millions of people purchasing and wearing items with designs from Kenya and Cameroon
7. all Americans are required to celebrate st Patricks day by wearing green in the U.S by an act of congress. anyone not wearing green is arrested
8. pyramids in Egypt and Mesoamerica
9. refusing to allow an Indian-American woman to compete in Miss America beauty pageant if she does a traditional dance from India as her talent, bc that's not American
10. the melting pot in the US

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

Assimilation is the process by which minority cultures adopt characteristics of the dominant culture, sometimes resulting in the loss of their own cultural identity. It can be driven by desires for economic and social integration but can also occur through coercive measures, as seen historically with Indigenous peoples.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Assimilation and Its Role in Society

Assimilation is a complex social process where members of minority cultures become more like the dominant culture, aiming for integration and often losing their own cultural specificity. Pressure to conform to societal norms can cause cognitive dissonance in individuals as they struggle to reconcile their original cultural practices with the expectations of the dominant culture. For example, the integration of tomatoes into Italian cuisine illustrates a benign aspect of assimilation where a new element becomes part of a culture due to its adaptability and acceptance in the local Mediterranean environment. However, the darker side of assimilation can be seen when minorities face discrimination, such as being forced to abandon traditional practices or clothing to fit into a workplace or society at large.

Likewise, historical instances like the forced migration and re-education of Indigenous peoples display the coercive nature of assimilation as it was practiced by colonizing powers. Today, assimilation still occurs, sometimes under more subtle societal pressures, such as the need to learn a dominant language or adapt to prevalent social norms to achieve socioeconomic growth. Whether through intermarriage, changes in language, or adoption of dominant cultural behaviors, assimilation continues to shape the identities of individuals and communities, for better or worse.

User David Fletcher
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