Technology
Segmented Assimilation Theory
Quick fact
Segmented assimilation theory, developed by Alejandro Portes and Min Zhou in 1993, shows that the children of immigrants can follow three distinct paths: upward mobility like classical assimilation, downward assimilation into inner-city poverty, or selective acculturation that preserves ethnic ties while achieving success.
Why this is interesting
You might think that immigrants eventually blend into the American mainstream, but many do not. Why do some immigrant groups prosper while others struggle, even when they arrive with similar dreams?