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The Role of Ethnic Enclosure in Social Advancement and Leisure Behavior of Immigrant Groups The research project conducted by Dr. Monika Stodolska explored the relationships between leisure behavior, ethnic enclosure and social/economic advancement among immigrants from Korea, Mexico and Poland. The study was set in Pilsen and Little Village, Chicago's two largest Mexican communities, as well as in neighborhoods with large concentrations of Koreans and Poles in the greater Chicago area.
Background Sociological theories, such as the ethnic mobility trap theory, suggest that members of ethnic minorities who limit their social interactions, including those associated with leisure pursuits, to other members of their own ethnic group tend to experience reduced opportunities for advancement in the mainstream society. According to such theories, immersion within the mainstream society offers a greater range of opportunities to immigrants and is often a prerequisite for economic success. Leisure can be an important factor in this context as it helps immigrants to reduce social enclosure by providing opportunities for informal interactions with other Americans and facilitates learning about new ways of life and new customs. Conversely, according to the enclave economy hypothesis, ethnic enclosure may in fact facilitate the advancement of immigrants. Ethnically enclosed immigrants create conditions for their own mobility sidestepping difficult processes of initial establishment within the mainstream society. In this light, 'leisure enclosure' can serve as an asset in social and economic advancement of immigrants. Enclosure in the leisure sphere of life can strengthen solidarity within ethnic groups and may act as a stress-relieving mechanism for immigrants whose professional life is largely restricted to interactions with the mainstream. Furthermore, for individuals who are dependent on the enclave economy for employment, social enclosure can help improve the relationship with other members of the ethnic group, thus facilitating professional and social advancement within the community. Findings
The objective of the second part of the study was to examine whether
leisure-related enclosure among Korean immigrants acted as a drawback
to or a resource in their economic advancement in the United States. Theoretical
framework for this study provided Wiley’s (1967) ethnic mobility
trap theory and Portes’ and Bach’s (1985) and Wilson’s
and Portes’ (1980) enclave economy hypothesis. In the fall of 2002 and spring of 2003, self-administered, anonymous questionnaires were mailed to 458 first generation Korean immigrants residing in the greater Chicago area. A total of 204 properly completed questionnaires were returned, providing a response rate of 44.5%. Leisure enclosure was evaluated on the basis of four questions: language in which immigrants engaged in certain leisure pursuits, presence of non-Korean close friends, frequency of participation in leisure activities with people of non-Korean descent, and frequency of leisure interactions with non-Korean co-workers. Economic mobility was measured using the respondents’ annual, personal, gross income. The results of multiple regression analysis provide a confirmation for Wiley’s (1967) ethnic mobility trap theory. Korean immigrants’ level of leisure interaction with mainstream friends and co-workers and the presence of non-Korean friends have been found to be positively associated with their economic achievement.
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©Diversity Research Laboratory |
The
project included two phases - a qualitative phase consisting of a series
of 39 in-depth interviews followed by a quantitative phase with a conventional
questionnaire survey. 
Our
in-depth interviews confirmed the importance of leisure behavior in the
lives of recent immigrants to the United States as well as the significance
of leisure activities in their adjustment process and their prospects
for social and economic advancement. The observed differences in terms
of leisure patterns among the three ethnic groups were very pronounced.
However, regardless of the ethnic background, highly ethnically enclosed
immigrants tended to socialize almost exclusively within their respective
ethnic group and rely on their communities for the provision of services,
including those related to leisure and recreation. Commonly mentioned
explanations for the ethnic enclosure in leisure included comfort level,
similar experiences, common culture, lack of conversation topics with
mainstream Americans, lack of English language skills, discrimination
/ exclusion by the mainstream, and fear of the unknown. Limiting leisure
contacts to members of their own ethnic group provided psychological and
emotional comfort to immigrants as well as certain tangible economic benefits.
On the other hand, it delayed their assimilation process, acquisition
of English language skills, lead to difficulties in securing employment,
and hindered their advancement in the workplace.