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Essay Subject: History & evolution of political views, family relations, religion, stereotypes, surnames, intermarriage, self-identity, immigration.... More...

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Paper Abstract: History & evolution of political views, family relations, religion, stereotypes, surnames, intermarriage, self-identity, immigration. Paper Introduction: The Irish American family has undergone significant changes in the past century. Because of high rates of intermarriage with other white ethnics, Irish American families have essentially assimilated into mainstream culture. With the passage of time, most Irish Americans are now removed by as many as five generations from their Irish roots albeit Irish immigration to America continues at a steady pace. Most Irish Americans simply consider themselves "American" yet strong nationalist and religious affiliations contribute to a persistent sense of ethnic self-identity among this group. The struggle for independence in Ireland stimulates strong feelings from some Irish Americans. The bitterness of this quest has left an indelible mark and fostered ties between immigrant and homeland: "Few nations in Europe witnessed as fervent and as Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. New immigrants are similar to the early immigrants. Because Irish Americans have a relatively largepool of other Catholics of European ancestry from which to choose marriagepartners, a significant number of Irish Americans remain Catholic. 155). Strangers to these shores. Many Irish Americans support the IRA. (1994). Ethnic options: Choosing identities in America. The unemployment rate in Ireland ishigh and the country has a significant number of residents who are underthe age of 3 . For example, at a recent Stanford-Notre Damefootball game the Stanford marching band performed a routine that ridiculedthe Irish Famine, the Catholic clergy, and perpetuated the myth of theIrish drunk. Irish Americans admitgiving preference to people who share their ethnic backgrounds, often basedonly on surnames. Irish immigrants pursue the goal of assimilation. The Irish American andJewish American constituents of political representatives often lobby infavor of action favorable to the countries of their ancestry. 155). To a lesser extent than some European ethnic groups, IrishAmericans still tend to cluster in ethnic communities; examples areconcentrations of Irish Americans in New York, Massachusetts, andPennsylvania. The new Irish immigrants still tend toconcentrate in the big northern cities such as New York City, Boston,Philadelphia, and Cleveland, and also tend to concentrate in certain low-skilled occupational classes: "Like their predecessors, the new Irishcluster in the big cities, working in construction or homes, for the careof children and the elderly" (Parrillo, 1994, p. The new Irishimmigrants are largely separated by social class from Irish Americans whohave lived in America for generations. Public policy suggestions. America,p. Newsweek, p. A. The Irish Americans: Identity and assimilation. 1 5). Baltimore: JohnsHopkins University Press. In Norman Yetman (Ed.) Majority and Minority, 5thedition, pp. 45). 1 3). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. As recently as the Great Depression, the Catholic church served as asingular, guiding light to the Irish American community: "During theDepression, the Irish had little economic power, excluded as they were fromthe Protestant establishment. Early immigrants wanted to eliminate all traces of "Irishness." B. With news of the recentpeace agreement concerning Northern Ireland, the interest of IrishAmericans in their homeland has intensified, not abated. The bitterness of this quest has left anindelible mark and fostered ties between immigrant and homeland: "Fewnations in Europe witnessed as fervent and as drawn out a struggle fornational independence as did Catholic Ireland. 21). Ethnonationalism: The quest for understanding.Princeton: Princeton University Press. The dominant role of the Catholic church in the Irish Americancommunity also served to increase the ethnic self-identity of this group.Most of the Irish who emigrated to the United States were Catholic. C. As noted above, however, Irish immigration to the United Statescontinues at a steady pace. Insensitive behavior such asthis underscores the efforts of some Irish American advocates to includemore information about the history of Irish immigration in public schooltextbooks. In past generations, Irish Americanparents made it clear to their children that marrying another person ofIrish descent was preferable to out-marriage: "By the third generation,there was some tendency for the socially aspiring to marry Protestants, orto convert to Protestantism, although this was disapproved" (Fallows, 1979,p. Many Irish American Catholics do not consider Irish American Protestants as Irish. The early Irish who emigrated to the United States experiencedconsiderable hardship, and alcohol became a retreat for many: "In spite ofthe damage it has done to Irish families, the mystic joys of alcoholcontinue to be celebrated in literature and it remains very much part ofthe Irish literary tradition . B. Erin's daughters in America. While many Irish Americans have a strong sense of ethnic self-identity, most are at a loss to identify exactly what traits they possessthat distinguish their ancestry. the parish was the constant, and nearly the only cohesive element inthe lives of many Irish families" (Godfrey, 1995, p. The Church is religious, social, and educational institution. One public policy suggestion, therefore, would be toinvestigate whether or not further lessening of restrictions on immigrationfor the Irish should be considered. Many Irish Americans forgot their cultural roots.III. Both ethnicgroups contribute to causes that further the well-being of the people wholive in these countries. C. (June 1, 1998). 16). Another public policy suggestion pertains to alcoholism as acontributor to Irish American family dysfunction. Drinking and the bar scene are stilla part of Irish culture. Berkeley: University of California Press. Although the Irish have effectively assimilated into mainstreamsociety, they remain a distinct group because of their intense pride intheir heritage. . A. Connor, W. 2 ). The twilight of ethnicity among American Catholicsof European ancestry. Irish Americans intermarry at a high rate. 1 7). A. This creates conditions that are ripe for illegalimmigration. Thus Irish Americans were,and are, more likely to marry other Catholics of European descent asopposed to Catholic immigrants of Central or Latin American descent. Zarembo, Alan. Some Irish Americans are considered unpatriotic.II. America, p.4. The Irish who emigrated to the United Statesfound a country whose language and values closely paralleled their own.Because the new immigrants did not have to contend with language barriersthat hampered the assimilation experience of other European immigrants, theIrish were able to gain access to government jobs and political positionsat a higher rate. This stereotype was partially groundedin truth. The failure to seek help for either has crippledfamilies for generations" (Godfrey, 1995, p. Strong anecdotalevidence from testimonies of Irish Americans, however, supports thisconclusion. National identity often survives despite an ethnic group's immigrantexperience. This is partly based on the earlyIrish immigrant experience. 45). This is partly caused by a machoIrish culture that places a premium on male associations and friendships,sometimes at the expense of the family: "Until recently, alcoholism andmental illness were considered moral weaknesses rather than diseases andcaused unspeakable shame. As Parrillo (1994) notes, "Antipathy against [IrishCatholics] gradually lessened as their command of English, improvedeconomic position, and physical appearance made them less objectionable toAnglo-American Protestants than the new immigrants arriving from otherparts of Europe" (p. In part, this was simple anti-Catholicism, but it also derived from Irish involvement in the politics oftheir homeland" (Quinn, 1996, p. THESIS: Most Irish Americans simply consider themselves "American" yet strong nationalist and religious affiliations contribute to a persistent sense of ethnic self-identity.I. Stereotypes of Irish Americans persist. Thisprocess operates through the Catholic church, the Catholic schools, and ahome environment in which the parents are overwhelmingly Catholic, even ifof mixed ancestry: "Marriage with non-Irish Catholics was a permissiblealternative to marriage within the Irish community, but followed apreference hierarchy in which the earlier-arriving Catholics--English orGerman--were considered more suitable than the later-arriving Catholics ofthe 'new immigration'" (Fallows, 1979, p. They ardently adhered to the melting pot theory. 42 -429. One gauge of the intense interest that many Irish Americans have inthe outcome of the Irish struggle is the level of support for the IrishRepublican Army (IRA). Members from both ethnic groups havedeep concerns about the welfare of their homelands. Strong ethnic identification was an underlying feature of early IrishAmericans even as they pursued their outward goal of assimilation intomainstream society. B. 44). Boston: Allyn and Bacon. He could be tengenerations away, but the name is everything. 155). Irish Americans have long been a source offinancial and other resources for Irish natives engaged in resisting theBritish occupation forces. Irish American youth areinfluenced by a strong socialization process regarding marriage. A renewed interest in ethnic self-identity for the Irish has alsobeen stimulated by the emergence of multiculturalism. Parrillo, V. How the Irish stayed Irish. 2). . References Alba, R. (199 ). (199 ). Dinnerstein, L., Nichols, R., and Reimer, D. (May 18, 1998). Most stay within the Catholic religion for marriage.V. (IrishAmerican response to the Irish peace accords. Even today, the church plays an important role in thelives of Irish Americans, many of who readily identify themselves as "IrishCatholics." In this respect, Irish Americans share an underlyingsimilarity with African Americans, both of who have collectively relied onthe church to see them through troubled times: "Living in societies wherefew if any official cultural or educational institutions reflected theirhistory or traditions, they made the church a bulwark of their identity,the organization that gave them the leadership, discipline and sense ofpurpose they needed to survive as a people" (Quinn, 1996, p. (1991). The struggle for independence in Ireland is an important issue for many Irish Americans. In 1991,legislation was enacted that reserved 48, resident visas to Irishimmigrants over a three-year period. Each year a significant number ofIrish natives relocate to the United States: "Almost 32, Irish enteredthe United States legally in 1981-199 , but with a two-year waiting list,perhaps 5 , more came illegally" (Parrillo, 1994, p. This mentalitystresses any differences between ethnic groups. There must be tangiblereasons for the dislike. As one Irish American reminisced about hisimmigrant grandfather, "I know when he was younger he used to make cakes inthe kitchen with guns in them and send them to Ireland. (1979). Since the Notre Dame team goes by the name "Fighting Irish,"the Stanford team deemed this type of parody appropriate: "What better wayto poke ironic fun at such an opponent than by parading vicious Irishstereotypes and parodying modern Ireland's most horrific tragedy?" (Golway,1997, p. 43percent of the respondents thought of themselves as being Irish, 29 percentconsidered themselves to be British, 21 percent Ulster, and the remaining 7percent considered themselves to be of mixed, other, or uncertainnationality" (Connor, 1994, p. Those involved in ethnic disputes, such as the one occurringin Ireland, develop an "us" versus "them" mentality. To Irish Americans, this was a watershed event in their questfor assimilation: "With that single event, the Irish felt absorbed intothe great America that had excluded them for at least a hundred years"(Godfrey, 1995, p. A. . That they didn't--that they remained a distinct group replete with a separate parochialeducational system largely of their making--is testament to both theexternal prejudices they faced and the internal dynamics of their ownhistory" (Quinn, 1996, p. The church wasmore than just a religious institution, it was a social institution aswell. . Thus some form ofpublicly-sponsored mental health intervention might be warranted,particularly in areas where Irish American families are concentrated. Waters, M. The way we really were (IrishAmericans in New York, New York). 1 3). Most Catholics areconcentrated in urban areas: "In contrast with Protestant Americans, themajor Catholic groups of European origin are concentrated in the largecities of the Northeast and the Midwest and in their suburbs" (Alba, 1991,p. B. Godfrey, A.W. A. Hayden, T. Religion contributes to a strong sense of ethnic self-identity amongIrish Americans because of place of residence as well. Fallows, M. Surnames are an ethnic marker that encourages affinity.IV. Many middle-aged Irish Americans were productsof families where alcoholism was problematic and this has doubtless leftrecurring emotional and psychosomatic scars. The crowning achievement of Irish Americanpolitical involvement was, of course, the election of John F. The proximity of Irish Americans with others of Irishdescent and with other Catholics increased the probability that IrishAmericans of the younger generations would marry within the same ethnicgroup or the same religion. 111). Because of high rates of intermarriage with other whiteethnics, Irish American families have essentially assimilated intomainstream culture. . Few nations in Europeinspired their sons and daughters to fight their bloody battles morefiercely or to praise their native land more strongly" (Diner, 1983, p. These factors contribute to a heightened sense of ethnic self-identity. Help for new immigrants. Alcoholism hasintergenerational elements. This significantly increased thenumber of legal Irish immigrants. There wassome disagreement among my respondents" (Waters, 199 , p. Therefore, any suggested public policy aimed at helpingIrish American families would merely be that which would help families ofany ethnic background. 423). (February 24, 1995). Saint Patrick's Day is an Irish holidayassociated with excessive drunkenness. One prominent feature, however, is theirtendency toward political involvement. Mostparents made it very clear to their children that they were not to marry anon-white" (Waters, 199 , p. Many sociologists point toIrish immigration as a role model for other ethnic groups. Manytook part in religious activities in their communities. The Church contributes to ethnic self-identity.VI. Their strong affinity with their homeland invites comparison betweenIrish Americans and Jewish Americans. 111). . Most families areunderstandably reluctant to discuss such issues. Asignificant number of Irish Americans who are Catholic have definitefeelings about their ethnic identification with American Irish Protestants;these Irish Catholics deny that a link exists at all. Few Irish Americans can identify their "Irish" traits. B. The stereotype of alcoholism is based on fact. A. In the words of onesociologist, "I asked people who gave their ancestry as Irish whether theythought people from Northern Ireland should be considered Irish. Quinn, P. 73). The price ofassimilation and respectability was amnesia" (Hayden, 1998, p. New immigrants concentrate in northern cities.VII. 4). This has contributed to ethnic insularityand has encouraged a strong sense of ethnic self-identity among IrishAmericans: "If the question of Irish acceptance were simply a passage fromone color to another, the Christian, English-speaking, white Irish shouldhave rapidly blended into America's Anglo-Saxon woodwork. The Catholic church has played a major role in the Irish American community. 33 ). Devout Irish Americans attend religiouselementary schools and colleges. Most Irish Americanssimply consider themselves "American" yet strong nationalist and religiousaffiliations contribute to a persistent sense of ethnic self-identity amongthis group. Because of persistent ties to their homeland, some Irish Americanscling to the ethnic prejudices that plague Ireland. With the passage of time, most Irish Americans are nowremoved by as many as five generations from their Irish roots albeit Irishimmigration to America continues at a steady pace. The parishpriest often intervened in behalf of families who were starving or couldnot pay the rent. The existence of suchstereotypes and the need to defend against them sometimes brings an ethnicgroup closer together. 2 (4). B. The number of illegal immigrants is greaterthan the number of legal immigrants. Thegoal of most Irish-Americans was to shed their "Irishness," in an effort toshed as well the gross stereotypes with which the Irish were labelled. A. 14(5). (1994). Even to this day, scarred survivorsremember their mother saying 'Go down to Malloy's (or Murphy's) and getyour father'" (Godfrey, 1995, p. . Will it play in New York? But he has notdone that in a while" (Waters, 199 , p. (March 16, 1996). 62). In a sense, Irish American families have succeeded in becoming a partof mainstream America. Both groups have been accused of anti-patriotismbecause of this deep concern: "The widespread distrust of the Irish asintractable foreigners, unable or unwilling to give their full loyalties toAmerica, remained strong a very long time. NewYork: Oxford University Press. (November 1, 1997). 44. 86). 62). 62. Unlike other European ethnic groups, however, the story of Irishimmigration is still being written. The struggle for independence in Ireland stimulates strong feelingsfrom some Irish Americans. 141). B. As Fallows (1979) puts it, "In most importantrespects, it would appear, the Irish family has become simply an Americanfamily" (p. I might give an Irishman theedge" (Waters, 199 , p. Natives andstrangers: Blacks, Indians, and immigrants in America, 2nd edition. Even today, middle-aged Irish Americans recall their parentsmaking distinctions about which ethnic group was preferable for marriage.In general, it was permissible to marry a person from another Europeanethnic group but marrying outside one's race was, and is, still consideredlargely taboo: "Race was universally an issue, and marriage across racialbarriers was not the subject of subtle clues or indirect messages. Since most people areloathe to consider themselves prejudiced, those involved in ethnic disputesseek out and maximize distinct, identifiable differences such as familysize, degree of aggressiveness, crime or other factors that distinguish"us" from "them." In other words, it is not enough for an Irishman tomerely say that he dislikes an Irish Protestant simply because he isProtestant, that would be considered prejudice. Most stay within European ethnic groups for marriage. Kennedy aspresident. TheNation, p. Notes of an Irish-American son. 19). Surnames serve to perpetuatethe "us" versus "them" syndrome in American as well. Irish immigration continues. This is considered a "common sense"approach: "Marrying within your religion was not seen as stemming fromprejudice, but from a sound weighing of all of the things that could gowrong in a marriage" (Waters, 199 , p. The stereotypical Irishman was one who drank heavily, had a fiercetemper, and was wayward by nature. . The most prevalent marker for ethnic identity among the Irish remainsthe surname. Such markers areused extensively in Ireland: "Indeed, with at least as much accuracy, theconflict [between British and Irish] could be described as one of surnamesrather than religions" (Connor, 1994, p. The Irish American family has undergone significant changes in thepast century. Although Irish Americans routinely marry outside their ethnic group,a significant number feel constrained to stay within their Catholicreligion when choosing a mate. Commonweal, p. 62). Diner, H. An affinity for people from the same ethnic group is apparent in therate of Irish American intermarriage. Stereotypes of Irish Americans still persist. This partially accounts for the relativelyhigh degree of intermarriage of this ethnic group although modern parentscontinue to counsel against out-marriage: "To judge from the fact that themajority of Irish marriages are taking place with those of other ethnicbackgrounds, it would seem that many younger people are willing todisregard the ethnic, if not the social class, implications of such advice"(Fallows, 1979, p. The Catholic religious institution includes not only churches andsocial services but also schools. Boston: Allyn andBacon. Fund-raising efforts wereonce confined to homes and bars, and occasional raffles and dances.Support for Irish resistance has now become sophisticated and mainstream.Sinn Fein, the political arm of the IRA, now focuses its American fund-raising on expensive cocktail parties and exclusive dinners: "Americanshave given [Sinn Fein] nearly $2.5 million in the last three years as[Gerry] Adams and the other Sinn Fein leaders turned from street politicsto high level diplomacy" (Zarembo, 1998, p. As one Irish American responded in a survey, "I am afirm believer that you take care of your own . Irish Americans have strong religious affinities and ties to theirhomeland. Golway, T. Because of the privatenature of alcoholism and family abuse there is little sociological evidenceto back up the claim that these problems are more prevalent in modern IrishAmerican families than in the general population. Names like O'Connor, Moynihan, and Quinn are distinctivemanifestations of who is and is not considered Irish. The incident generated vehement response from both Catholicand Irish American advocates and the band was suspended from performing forthe next three football games as punishment. So prevalent is the drawing out of fundamentaldifferences in ethnic identity that many people in Northern Ireland do noteven consider themselves Irish: "A survey, conducted in 1968 byrepresentatives of the University of Strathclyde, indicates that . 62). (1983). Substance abuse assistance for Irish American families.CONCLUSION: Although the Irish have effectively assimilated into mainstream society, they remain a distinct group because of their intense pride in their heritage.----------------------- 1 As Dinnerstein,Nichols, and Reimer (199 ) put it, "The heavy emphasis in American societyduring the 196 s and 197 s on helping members of the more noticeableminority groups 'uplift' themselves and develop pride in their heritagesalso stimulated the descendants of European and Asian immigrants to demandequal attention to their own pasts" (p. The result is an increasedawareness of Irish and Irish American history as witnessed by such recentbooks as Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization (1995) and NoelIgnatiev's How the Irish Became White (1996). Life in the 9 s: Reflections onpolitical correctness and insensitivity toward ethnic groups. AsSenator Tom Hayden recalls, "I was raised in an Irish-American home inDetroit where assimilation was the uppermost priority. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.

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