Researching Ethnography - Personal Statement Example

Researching Personal Ethnography I am descended from people of several different geographic regions in Europe. I do not feature any specific physical trait from any of these regions, so I guess I look very much like your typical white American male. On the census form, I check the box that says white. I am descended from immigrants from four distinctive regions in Europe. On my mother’s side of the family we are Danes and Swedes. This is actually a bit odd because these two groups have been at odds throughout their histories, but about six generations ago the Danish and Swedish immigrants to the American Midwest began marrying one another. My father’s side of the family traces their ancestry to Hungary, Ireland and France. My ancestors came to the United States for a variety of reasons. My mother’s side of the family immigrated after converting to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their conversion to this new religion made them unwelcome in their own families and nations, so they immigrated first to Kirkland, Ohio moving to Nauvoo, Illinois and then later to the Salt Lake Valley in Utah. They came to be with other people of the same religion and to help establish what they believed would be a great new society. My father’s family arrived for very different reasons. Some came because they were people of Hungarian descent living as minorities in countries such as Poland and the Ukraine. Ethnic persecution caused them to immigrate to a place where safety was provided. America seemed to be the best choice. My French and Irish ancestors actually were quite well off compared to most other immigrants. They were skilled trades people that came to America because they saw it as an opportunity to increase their wealth. They had money coming to America and they made lots more after they arrived. One of the most direct connections to this ancestry is a connection through religious belief and shared Christian values. Most of this comes through the influence of my mother’s family. On the other side of the family, a work ethic and the willingness to take risks in an effort to make more money is very apparent. Money is an important indicator of success for this side of the family, and I guess it is for me as well. There is a real belief in the ability to improve your standing in society through dedication to a task and hard work. This belief in upward mobility is a value that affects many of the decision people in my ethnic group make. The belief that getting a good education or learning a trade or skill will really make a difference in your ability to lead a happy productive life. These are a few of the common traits that people in my ethnic group enjoy as a result of the traditions of our ancestors. Research In researching my ethnic group, I have found that there are three main factors that seem to set my ethnicity apart from others. In looking at the history of my people, one factor that stand out is religion, specifically, various forms of Protestant Christianity and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Ideals such as honesty, integrity and morality as expressed in this body of religious thought influence my ethnic group in our everyday lives. The need to be honest in academic studies and business transactions is especially stressed in my community. These values are shared in other ethnic groups, so I am not claiming that Christians have a monopoly on honesty and integrity, but I do recognize that these values are a binding force for my ethnic group. Many of the direct ancestors in my family, and ancestors of other families that share my ethnicity all seem to share a strong foundation in the principles of some variety of Christian faith. This makes my ethnic group distinctive when compared to many others. A second cultural element of my ethnic group appears to be an emphasis on wealth and the procurement of property. Economic factors drive immigration for many people around the world. What is distinctive about my ethnic group is the fact that many of them immigrated to the United States not because they had economic factors pushing them there, but because they had economic factors pulling them there. America is not a nation of penniless immigrants. This does happen, but many immigrants in my ethnic group came here because they had exhausted the available economic opportunities afforded them in Europe and they thought they could do better in America. The idea of the penniless immigrant is a great story for Americans to tell in an almost self-aggrandizing manner, but it is largely a myth. Most people in my ethnic group were somewhat comfortable in their conditions before coming to America but they came to America because they wanted even more. This desire by members of my ethnic group probably lead to an easier assimilation into American society for my ancestors than those coming from cultures that are less focused on procuring wealth. A final cultural element in my ethnic group is a desire for political and economic power. Plenty has been said about how white males of European descent are the greatest abusers and procurers of power today. Many others look down my ethnic group upon because we tend to be the heads of multi-national corporations, powerful governments and institutions of higher learning. This has led to accusations of racism, duplicity and a host of other sins. This is especially true for people of my ethnicity living in America. The procurement, abuse and use of power seem to be themes that are especially important to individuals of my ethnicity. Synthesis Combining my research and my own personal and family history has given me a new perspective on what it means to be a white guy living in America. It is an odd situation because being white seems to be worth celebrated and reviled. I am presented with opinions that tell me that my ethnic group is responsible for the majority of the ills in the world today. At the same time, members of my ethnic group are renowned for advances in the sciences, education and technology. Members of my ethnic group are accused of creating poverty by oppressing others, yet the innovation of members of my ethnic group provides economic opportunity for billions of people across the globe. For all of the good and bad that people of my ethnicity do, for me personally, the most important factor is staying true to the principles adopted by my ancestors in regards to the Christian religion. Living by these ideals should be a tempering and a guiding influence on the strong drive many in my ethnic group seem to have for amassing power and wealth. Adhering to these principles is what my ethnic groups needs so that our apparent proclivity for bullying our way to the top can result in benefits for people of all ethnicities. Read More