Immigrant For Life
March 31, 2008 at 7:09 pm | In Culture, Future, Life, Muslims, Non-Muslim, Politics, Society | 10 CommentsWhen do we stop being referred to as immigrants? When does this association end? The association itself is not a negative portrayal, or at least it never used to be until as of late. However, when does one move from being an immigrant to being a native?
One would’ve thought after being born and bred in a particular country, being familiar with the culture, and mannerisms, speaking their language and obviously “sounding” through your accent as being from that country would render you a fully fledged citizen.
But it obviously doesn’t.
Because despite all this, and despite of how “integrated” or “assimilated” you have become, you will be reminded sometime or another that you infact haven’t. And probably never will.
You are referred to as either a 2nd or 3rd generation immigrant, belonging to the black and minority ethnic group, or a [insert ethnic origin or country of origin here] Scot even if you have never ever ventured to your parents or grandparents homeland and are only familiar with it through Bollywood or when war breaks out. Now of course they insert “Muslim” in so you could be a British-Pakistani-Muslim, or a Scottish-Muslim-Indian.
When does this end? Will our children be referred to as 5th/6th generation immigrants? Will they never be considered British or Irish or Welsh or Scottish, without having to express or add on the country of their descendent’s origins?
When does this brand of categorising come to an end? This medium of alienation and being seen as “not really one of us” simply because due to our colour of skin we appear “different” is a major problem. It is racist.
Then again people complain we use the race card to the point of saturation.
Can’t ever win, can we?
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I ask myself the same question. My children will be the 4th generation, will they at last be able to call themselves English? Ahthough I hope they grow up proud of the “Muslim” tag but not limited to people’s expectation of what that label means -same for us I suppose.
Comment by Umm Salihah — March 31, 2008 #
I think about that too. I feel a bit bemused. I really am an immigrant. My family moved to the UK when I was three. No one who meets me believes that. They think I am just about the most English person they’ve ever met, and they think I’m a snob too since for feminist reasons my Mum lumbered me with a double-barrelled name. The difference is that I’m from America and look like your typical English rose. I feel very uncomfortable about the fact that I am not English goes unnoticed when other people who are much more English than I am are considered to be outsiders.You are right. It is racism. Unfortunately no one realises it. They use labels such as 2nd generation immigrant without even realising the damage they are causing. I often feel that people should study more history. Then they would realise that no country is composed of ‘natives’ of any kind, or conversely that everyone is ‘native.’ Populations work through flux, through immigration and emigration. That is how the world has been and how it always will be and it is only fools who think otherwise. We all belong anywhere that we consider ourselves to belong.
Comment by catherinegray — March 31, 2008 #
Don’t think it ever ends – unless we “take over”! *evil grin*
I meant by numbers of course. Parts of Toronto are already desi-fied hehe
Comment by Mezba — March 31, 2008 #
Salaam,
Great topic…….sad but I think It will be a long time before people stop it with that “immigrant status” hooplah……..
tsk tsk tsk….
Comment by TheAngryMuslimah — April 1, 2008 #
I think it’s bcs of color of skin too. Mean a pakistani or an indian is more obvious among Europians. Even if he/she be the 4th generation.
Its a kind of lebal they have for veiled women too, for muslims too, for ethnic groups too.
Next generations of Iranians in other country dont face same problem. bcs their ethnic is not as obvious as others.
But me or other person who just leave Iran to live in other country, has to tolerate many stereotyped questions and try to answer them clearly that :”No, in Iran women dont need to wear black abayah.”, “Yes, in Iran we have many airpots.”, “Yes, in Iran, girls swim in pools and beaches.”
I’ve been looked down so much, in the matter that i was expected to be an oppressed uneducated woman, come from an uncultured country which is thirsty for freedom and taking her hijab off. Unfortunately, Even by some close relatives.
I tried so much to change this look. But it doesnt work fully. Anyway i know my children will not have same problem..
Comment by Shahrzad — April 1, 2008 #
ethnicity*
Comment by Shahrzad — April 1, 2008 #
Tell me about it!
Comment by Achelois — April 1, 2008 #
Thanks for your comments everyone.
Umm Saliha – I believe skin colour is what makes this distinction more obvious or, to take it a step further, is seen to be a justified reason for constantly referring to people as immigrants or progeny of immigrants. I suppose we will always embody a label of some kind, and be categorised accordingly.
Catherinegray – I agree with you. Hardly anyone is “native” as most people emigrate and settle. But if you “look” like the larger population then you aren’t seen to be an immigrant, even if you are. There is a large American and Canadian immigrant population in the UK, but no-one refers to them as such. The term has definitely become derogatory and/or has developed derogative connotations over the past decades
Mezba – Conquer and reign over Toronto eh! Well parts of the UK are desified – to the extent they are now referred to as “ghetto’s”. Working white class areas are rarely termed “ghetto’s” – its a term reserved for the coloured folk.
Shahrzad – Its hard to change attitudes and mindsets. I fear our children will have it much worse than we do
Achelois: I am telling you about it!
Comment by Sumera — April 1, 2008 #
Probably never as long as they maintain some of their cultural identities. I have a friend who is like a 5th or 6th generation Kenyan but originally from India, but I would describe him as Indian since he speaks kachi with his family and looks Indian.
Comment by Ali — April 2, 2008 #
The country where I immigrated from considers me an immigrant too! So you see how much *explaining* I have to do when people ask me where am from!
Comment by sf — April 2, 2008 #