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perspective is the belief that increased contact with the mainstream
culture and greater social and economic mobility will lead to a les
sening of discrimination toward immigrants and a more favorable assess
ment of U.S. society. Portes et al. (I960) suggest that the assimilation
perspective also incorporates the notion of bountiful economic opportu
nities and reward in accord with individual effortmyths that promote
social control.
The conflict perspective finds that immigrants have not necessarily
come to the U.S. in search for a better life, . their movement was
often deliberately induced to fulfill labor needs in an expanding economy"
(Portas et al., 1980, p. 203). Many imnigrants have difficulty moving
from the peripheral labor force into the mainstream and thus their ex
pectations may be in conflict with reality. More education, familiarity
with the language, and mainstream culture do not necessarily enable or
encourage the immigrant to become more integrated into mainstream society.
Increased education and ability to speak the language sometimes provide
immigrants with negative experiences and confirm the realities of discrimi
nation, according to Portes et al. (1980). The difficulties of discrimi
nation arise from several causes: the majority of recent immigrants come
from Third World countries instead of Northern European countries as did
previous cohorts of immigrants who were able to assimilate more readily
than recent immigrants. The plentifulness of jobs requiring effort but
little technical skill has changed; the labor market is demanding more
skilled workers for all but the most menial tasks. Studying Cuban ac
culturation, Portes et al. (1980) conclude that as immigrants become
familiar with the host language and endorse its cultural values, they
become more skeptical regarding their place within the economic and
social order. The socialization process does not lead to integration