Graduation Date
1996
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Program
Social Science
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Caleb Rosado
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Paul V. Crosbie
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Maria Gonzalez
Keywords
Sociology
Abstract
Assimilation into the mainstream culture has been studied extensively. The degree of assimilation, ethnic identity, and cultural awareness varies for the first, second, and third generations of an ethnic group. In order to test these assumptions a study was conducted at the campus of Humboldt State University. Using Marcus Lee Hansen's third generation hypothesis of "what the [child] wishes to forget, the grand[child] wishes to remember", as a theoretical framework and Milton Gordon's schema of assimilation, a questionnaire was devised and administered. The sample was composed of 25 Latino males and 25 Latina females of various ages and class standings. For many respondents of the second generation, the results showed a level of interest in their past and an interactive relationship with their ethnic group. The third generation seemed to rate lower than expected with specific issues of identity and cultural awareness. At first, the findings of this study would suggest a rejection of Hansen's hypothesis. However, this study explores the possibilities that under some circumstances, such as a college environment, where there is a heightened ethnic awareness, assimilation behavior of the ethnic group could be affected. In addition, societal changes which have evolved since Hansen developed his theories may also have affected assimilation patterns. Therefore, Hansen's hypothesis is not necessarily rejected but perhaps amended. There is also a concept which Hansen called the "third generation spirit" meaning that a first or second generation may have the ability to feel and think like a third generation. It is possible that this could allow for the behavior that is seen in today's generational ethnic groups and explain why they no longer are i v restricted to certain behavioral patterns as in Hansen's times. These findings are also discussed in relation to other theories of ethnic identity, cultural awareness, and assimilation. It is important to state that although I worked with a Latina/o population each person has their unique perspectives and past. What may be the experience of one Latina/o certainly does not govern all the other experiences of the rest of the Latina/o population.
Recommended Citation
Flores, Elizabeth, "The Third Generation Hypothesis and Latina/o Dating Patterns at Humboldt State University" (1996). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2420.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2420