Assimilation and Rising Taiwanese Identity: Taiwan-born Immigrants in the United States, 1990-2000

同化與台灣認同的提升：1990年至2000年間美國台灣出生的移民之研究

宇宙(Zhou Yu) ； 姜蘭虹(Lan-Hung Nora Chiang)

《人口學刊》 38期 (2009/06) Pp. 115-160

https://doi.org/10.6191/jps.2009.4

摘要

本文探討1990年至2000年間美國的人口普查中，為何有越來越高比率移居美國的台灣出生移民認為自己是台灣人而不是華裔(ethnic Chinese)。此一趨勢似乎不符合同化理論(assimilation theory)，其主張當族裔群體在美國的時間越長，會使其更加脫離原本的族群政治和身份認同。本研究所採用的雙世代法(double cohort method)使我們能夠將時代效應(period effect)從期間效應(duration effect)中分開出來討論，而時代效應在分析變化上較具有鑑別性。本研究結果發現其中有很明顯的時間差異和地區變異。臺灣出生移民之中，老一輩的、初到美國的、以及住在洛杉磯地區的移民，較傾向於認為自己是台灣人而非華裔。相反地，台灣出生移民之中，具有較佳之英語能力、較低教育程度，以及與來自中國大陸的華裔人士比鄰而居者，則較不傾向於此身份認同。
此外，移入時的年紀是身份認同之形塑與轉變的重要關鍵，在年輕時就移入美國的移民，認同自我身份為台灣人的傾向最低。隨著時間的推移，台灣出生移民的涵化程度確實加深了。在1970年代以前抵達美國的年輕移民，最不可能在1990年至2000年間普查填表時從華裔轉換成台灣人。然而，涵化作用並不會阻止移民在填寫的普查表格上展現其對台灣身份的認同。對於這些台灣出生的移民來說，在普查表格上表示其台灣認同，似乎是一種「反叛」或「覺醒」的行動，象徵著自己對台灣同胞的支持，而此種行動深受台灣人意識抬頭的影響。全球化可能會使移民和其原居地保持前所未有的密切連繫，特別是在危機時期。

關鍵字

台灣認同 ； 台灣出生的移民 ； 華裔 ； 同化理論 ； 雙世代法

並列摘要

This study examines why a growing percentage of Taiwan-born immigrants in the U.S. have identified themselves as Taiwanese rather than ethnic Chinese in the U.S. decennial censuses between 1990 and 2000. The trend appears inconsistent with the assimilation theory, which postulates that ethnic groups will become more detached from ethnic politics and identity the longer they stay in the United States. The application of a double cohort method enables us to separate the period effect from the duration effect, which is critical to analyzing the changes. Results show sharp temporal differentiation and large geographical variation. The older generation of Taiwanese immigrants and recent arrivals to the United States, as well as those who live in Los Angeles, are the most likely to regard themselves as Taiwanese rather than ethnic Chinese. In contrast, Taiwanborn immigrants who have greater English proficiency, who have less education, and who have [mainland] Chinese as their neighbors are less likely to do so.
Moreover, age-at-arrival is a key determinant in identity formation and change. Those who came to the U.S. when they were young are least likely to regard themselves as Taiwanese. Over time, Taiwan-born immigrants have indeed become more acculturated. Young Taiwan-born immigrants who came to the U.S. before the 1970s are least likely to make a switch to Taiwanese during the period. However, acculturation alone does not prevent one from claiming Taiwanese identity on the census form. For Taiwan-born immigrants, writing in Taiwanese on the census form appears to be a ”rebellious” or ”awakening” act and a symbolic expression of solidarity with their compatriots in Taiwan, empowered by a growing sense of Taiwanese consciousness. Globalizationmay now have allowed immigrants to maintain a closer tie with their country of origin than before, especially in times of crisis.

並列關鍵字

Taiwanese identity ； Taiwan-born immigrants ； ethnic Chinese ； assimilation theory ； double-cohort method

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