ABSTRACT
Fischer (1986) observes that ethnicity is a phenomenon reinvented and rediscovered in each generation rather than something passed on from generation to generation. He further elaborates the point: “to be Chinese-American is not the same thing as being Chinese in America. In this sense there is no role model for becoming Chinese-American” (p. 196). This sentiment echoes one put forth by Barth (1969:30-38) concerning the dynamics of culture change and ethnic boundaries. According to Barth, periods of culture change call for innovations in ethnic identity as previous categories prove inconsistent with present experience, and thus become inadequate modes of expression of and organization for behavior. These innovations, he notes however, neither occur spontaneously, nor do they evolve on their own accord; instead they are usually brought about through sociopolitical forces or the specific actions of particular individuals which seek to organize and direct such experience. Implicit in Barth’s formulation is the fact that the innovators themselves possess few role models for their efforts. Lacking role models and specific scripts to follow, innovators search for appropriate symbols to exemplify new identities, sometimes inventing new ones, and sometimes reinventing the meanings imputed to old ones.
