A Study of Association, Assimilation and Adaptation Among Second-Generation Indian American Youth

This paper is an exploration of the ideas of assimilation, identity and cultural adaptations among second generation Indian-American youth. There is a growing community of Indians in the U.S. who have migrated in many waves, as laborers, traders, students, etc and have not only made it their home, but have significantly contributed to the American society, culture, polity and economy. The second-generation youth are of central interest to this study. By incorporating perceptions, attitudes and reflections of second-generation youth through a survey instrument, this paper delves into the processes of association and negotiation that youth of migrant communities undergo in their everyday life which defines their dual-identities. The findings reveal a dynamic relationship that these youths share with their ethnic identity and their American one.