33
that Cubans have maintained strong ethnic ties in order to wield
political power.
Other important variables within Gordon's assimilation model are
structural and behavioral assimilation. He distinguishes between the
two by indicating that behavioral assimilation occurs when the ethnic
group or individual takes on the behavioral characteristics and norms
of the host or core culture. Structural assimilation occurs when there
is socioeconomic equality between the migrants and members of the
majority culture. When structural and behavioral assimilation occur,
all other variables of assimilation follow (Gordon, 1964).
One of Gordon's major contributions to the theoretical construct
of assimilation is his work with social class as opposed to ethnic class
associations. Stratification based on ethnicity is intersected by
stratification based on social class and results in a group which he
terms "ethclass." Theoretically, ethnic groups could contain
the whole spectrum of socioeconomic classes. In reality, there is only
a partial distribution of socioeconomic subgroups in each specific
ethnic group. Gordon asserts at midcentury that social class similari
ties are more important than ethnic group differences. Social partici
pation in primary groups is confined to social class segments of one's
own ethnic group. With a person of the same social class, but different
ethnic group, one shares behavioral similarities but not a sense of
peoplehood. With those of the same ethnic group but of a different
social class, one shares a sense of peoplehood but not behavioral
similarities (Gordon, 1964).