A WAY to CHINESE IMMIGRANTS' AMERICAN DREAM B
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ABSTRACT SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION AND INTERNAL MIGRATION AMONG CHINESE ETHNOBURBS -A WAY TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS’ AMERICAN DREAM by Wan Yu This paper aims to analyze the spatial transformation of Chinese American’s “ethnoburbs” and the migration trends among them. With well-established Chinese Americans moving out of the old “ethnoburbs” to the new ones and new immigrants filling into the old “ethnoburbs”, the population of both old and new “ethnoburbs” is increasing, but the internal migration flows reflect the spatial transformation of the Chinese suburban communities. Using a comparative analysis of community landscape, spatial patterns, socioeconomic status of residents, and public services between the old “suburban Chinatown” Monterey Park and the newly thriving Chinese “ethnoburb” Rowland Heights in suburban Los Angeles, this paper examines the disparities and connections between old and new Chinese “ethnoburbs”. The transformation of Chinese “ethnoburbs” and internal migration flows among them reflect a way to achieve Chinese immigrants’ American Dream. SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION AND INTERNAL MIGRATION AMONG CHINESE ETHNOBURBS -A WAY TO CHINESE IMMIGRANTS’ AMERICAN DREAM A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Miami University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts Department of Geography by Wan Yu Miami University Oxford, Ohio 2010 Advisor: James M. Rubenstein Reader: Stanley W. Toops Reader: David L. Prytherch Table of Contents Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………ii List of Tables………………………………………………………………………………...v List of Figures……………………………………………………………………………….vi List of Charts………………………………………………………………………………...vii List of Maps…………………………………………………………………………………viii Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………..ix Chapter 1 Introduction……………………………………………………………………1 Chapter 2 Literature Review……………………………………………………………...7 2.1 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………...7 2.2 Ethnic segregation and assimilation..............................................................................8 2.2.1 Factor and causes of segregation…………………..............................................8 2.2.2 Values of segregation..........................................................................................11 2.2.3 Consequences of segregation..............................................................................11 2.3 Chinese Americans and Chinese communities in the U.S...........................................13 2.3.1 Chinese Americans and Chinese immigrants..................................................13 2.3.2 Chinese communities in the U.S.....................................................................14 2.3.2.1 Chinatowns and inner-city enclaves........................................................14 2.3.2.2 The Chinese suburbia..............................................................................16 2.3.2.3 The Chinese ethnoburb...........................................................................20 2.4. Conclusion..................................................................................................................22 Chapter 3 Research Methodology…………………........................................................24 3.1 Research Background..................................................................................................24 3.2 Research Methods.......................................................................................................24 3.3 Data Source.................................................................................................................25 3.3.1 Statistical Data...................................................................................................25 3.3.2 Semi-structural Interviews.................................................................................25 3.3.2.1 Data Collection........................................................................................25 3.3.2.2 Interview Questions.................................................................................26 ii 3.3.2.3 Data Sample.............................................................................................26 3.3.3. Participant Observation....................................................................................26 3.4 Conclusion.................................................................................................................27 Chapter 4 Spatial Disparities between Monterey Park and Rowland Heights.............28 4.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................28 4.2 Urban Patterns of Chinese neighborhoods at City of Monterey Park.......................28 4.2.1 History of Chinese settlement at Monterey Park..................................................28 4.2.2 Residential patterns of Chinese settlements at Monterey Park............................29 4.2.3 Commercial patterns of Chinese settlements at Monterey Park...........................32 4.2.4 Public space and community services..................................................................37 4.2.4.1 Parks and recreations.....................................................................................37 4.2.4.2 Libraries.........................................................................................................38 4.2.4.3 Health care.....................................................................................................39 4.2.4.4 Other community services.............................................................................40 4.3 Urban Patterns of Chinese settlements at Rowland Heights.....................................40 4.3.1 History of Chinese settlements at Rowland Heights.............................................40 4.3.2 Residential patterns of Chinese settlements at Rowland Heights.........................41 4.3.3. Commercial patterns of Chinese settlements at Rowland Heights………..........44 4.3.4. Public space and community services..................................................................45 4.3.4.1 Community libraries......................................................................................46 4.2.4.2 Health care.....................................................................................................46 4.4 Disparities on Spatial Patterns of Chinese between two ethnoburbs........................47 4.5 Conclusion.................................................................................................................47 Chapter 5 Demographic Disparities Between Monterey Park and Rowland Heights.................................................................................................................................49 5.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................49 5.2 Chinese at Monterey Park.........................................................................................49 5.2.1 Demographics of Chinese at Monterey Park.......................................................49 iii 5.2.2 Socio-economic status/lives of Chinese at Monterey Park..................................51 5.2.3. Subgroups of Chinese at Monterey Park..............................................................52 5.3 Chinese at Rowland Heights.....................................................................................53 5.3.1. Demographics of Chinese at Rowland Heights...................................................53 5.3.2. Socio-economic status/lives of Chinese at Rowland Heights.............................55 5.3.3. Subgroups of Chinese at Rowland Heights.........................................................56 5.4 Disparities on demographic characteristics of Chinese between two ethnoburbs ..............................................................................................................................................58 5.5 Conclusion.................................................................................................................60 Chapter 6 From Monterey Park to Rowland Heights... Migration Flows among Chinese Ethnoburbs...........................................................................................................62 6.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................62 6.2 Migration flows among Chinese ethnoburbs............................................................62 6.2.1. First migration flow- Chinese professionals.........................................................64 6.2.2. Second migration flow- Chinese entrepreneurs...................................................67 6.2.3. Third migration flow- working class Chinese......................................................68 6.2.4. Elderly Chinese-not involved into migration flows.............................................70 6.3. Dynamic process of Chinese ethnoburbs..................................................................72 6.4. Conclusion.................................................................................................................74 Chapter 7 Conclusion and Discussion..............................................................................75 7.1 Concluding Remarks.................................................................................................75 7.2 Discussion.................................................................................................................78