Some important factors affect the average socioeconomic status of the second-generation immigrant minorities including the socioeconomic status of their immigrant parents, different levels of ethnic/racial discrimination, political contexts of reception, and the level of their cultural assimilation. In the following paper, these factors will be addressed to identify the most influential of them. Overall, the evaluation of facts shows that the two most important factors among the above-mentioned ones are the socioeconomic status of the immigrant parents and the political contexts of reception.
First of all, the significance of the socioeconomic status of the first-generation immigrants for the average socioeconomic status of the second-generation immigrants is crucial. This is explained by the fact that wealthier parents can provide their children with better education and guarantee a better level of cultural assimilation for them. In addition, such parents have better connections with the local inhabitants, which is also of great meaning for the future of their children in the new country. To illustrate this, an example of Hispanic Americans can be mentioned, which shows that those immigrants of Hispanic origin, whose parents were more advantageous economically, were able to occupy their stable position in the middle class of the American society, and even occupy important positions in the sphere of American popular culture and entertainment. In particular, numerous Latin Americans can be regularly seen on television, in Hollywood, in music, and popular sports such as football, boxing, martial arts, and baseball.
Secondly, the political contexts of reception are also very important for the socioeconomic status of the second-generation immigrants, which is explained by the fact that having a legal status opens a variety of opportunities in the new country including an opportunity for education, official employment, for accommodation services, and for social assistance. To illustrate, the children of Asian immigrants, whose status is documented in the United States, are reported to have better socioeconomic performance than the second-generation immigrants. On the contrary, children from Asian families, having no legal status in the United States, have to start from poor neighborhoods, at low-paying jobs, and with fewer perspectives to see any improvements in their socioeconomic status.
Finally, the other two factors, different levels of ethnic/racial discrimination and the level of their cultural assimilation have a secondary meaning for the socioeconomic status of the second-generation immigrants. This is explained by the fact that discrimination may affect fewer immigrants in the second generation as they have good language skills, and are better adapted to the local culture. This can be illustrated by the example of Latino Americans who gradually managed to occupy better positions in American society despite racial discrimination, and bias. The Latino Americans also identified themselves as immigrant dwellers in the United States, who not only assimilated to the local culture but were also able to make their contribution to its further development.
As a final point, it should be stated that the socioeconomic status of second-generation immigrants is mostly affected by the socioeconomic status of their immigrant parents, and the political contexts of reception. This fact is supported by multiple examples of Hispanic and Asian second-generation immigrants, who managed to occupy their deserving positions in American business, and even in the music and film industry.