Cultural assimilation from "summary" of On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Cultural assimilation is a process of erasure, of making things disappear. It is a violence that demands the surrender of one’s history, language, and stories in exchange for acceptance. It is a negotiation where parts of oneself are sacrificed at the altar of belonging. Assimilation is a form of survival, a means of navigating a world that demands conformity in order to be seen. The pressure to assimilate can be suffocating, like a weight pressing down on the chest, squeezing out the air until one can hardly breathe. It is a constant battle between holding on to one’s roots and letting them go in order to fit in. Assimilation requires a constant vigilance, a monitoring of one’s behavior, speech, and appearance in order to conform to the dominant culture. Assimilation is a double-edged sword, offering the promise of inclusion while exacting a heavy toll on one’s sense of self....
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