Americanization

The Melting Pot Model

One approach to Americanization is based on the metaphor of a melting pot. In a melting pot, substances such as different metals are heated and fused together to become one. In the melting pot model of Americanization, people who immigrate to the United States are absorbed into American culture as they adopt the beliefs and practices of the dominant group, while some aspects of their culture, simultaneously, melt into the dominant American culture. The United States is comprised of people from diverse countries of origin, and aspects of these distinct cultures have been infused into one core culture that is referred to as American (U.S.) culture.

There are many dimensions of American culture across which the melting pot model may be observed, such as linguistic practices, artistic expression, culinary developments, and cultural institutions. In terms of linguistic practices, many words in the American English language are taken from other languages in the world. For example, “kindergarten” and “angst” are German; [Page 218]“bagel” and “schmooze” are Yiddish; “ballet” and “fiancé” are French. With respect to artistic expression, the styles seen in American jazz incorporated aspects of musical traditions more commonly seen in Africa. The cuisine preferred in the United States is also heavily influenced by diverse cultures. Although certain foods such as hot dogs and hamburgers are commonly thought of as “American foods,” these foods are actually German in origin. Pizza is Italian, and many of the foods and ways in which Americans prepare meat is borrowed from the Native Americans. In addition, many cultural and legal institutions in the United States have been imported from other cultures. The American court system is derived from the British system.

Proponents of the melting pot model suggest that immigrants assimilate most of their identity into the host culture, and the host culture is inherently inclusive. Many have characterized the United States as a country that has borrowed the best aspects of many diverse cultures. Not all people, however, believed that immigrants should primarily abandon their cultural heritages in order to melt into the dominant U.S. culture.

Multiculturalism

The multiculturalism model is one that values and promotes ethnic/racial diversity. The term was originally coined in Canada and has become the official government policy in Canada since 1971. The multiculturalism model enables people to retain their immigrant cultures while simultaneously having a shared, superordinate identity as Americans. The influential academic scholar Fathali Moghaddam described two types of multiculturalism: laissez-faire multiculturalism and planned multiculturalism.

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