In other words, many second generation Mexican-Americans in California consider themselves to be “typical Americans” and they are “typical” for the area and state in which they live. HOWEVER, CA is a majority-minority state with heavy Hispanic influence. Many of these second-generation individuals are in environments where there are large Mexican (and other Hispanic ethnic group) populations who are also second, third, fourth, and so on generations. There is a predominance of ethnic markers such as restaurants, fashion, store signs in both english and spanish, food routinely stocked in “regular” stores, so what is “typical” where they are located can be very specific to where they are located.

California is particularly problematic for looking at assimilation and making conclusion regarding second plus generations being “just like everyone else” because it contains at least a third of all Asian and Hispanics located in the US in that one state. Consequently for those of us living there, the establishment of ethnic enclaves where culture is being constantly reinforced by new immigrants and then the mixing of various cultures means that “typical” Americans living in California (of all races) have experiences that are vastly different from “typical” Americans living in the midwest or east coast. Furthermore, there are more and more signs that some cross assimilation has been taking place between various Asian and Hispanic cultures as well due to the close proximity and cultural mixing going on.

As someone who often goes other places, I find a lack of what I consider to be markers of cultural diversity even in places like NYC because signs aren’t in 3 languages, stores don’t stock BOTH asian and hispanic preferred food stuffs, etc. etc.

Anyways, just pointing out that what is a “typical” American varies by location.

And you are absolutely correct, appending “immigrant” to second generation is a misnomer and can be highly problematic.

I also find the term “Second-generation immigrant” to inaccurate and a little offensive regardless of which generation it’s referring to. My parents were immigrants and I was born in the US. I am not an immigrant and my kids will not be immigrants. I fully acknowledge my status as a child of immigrants and see how it may be a relevant factor in understanding certain aspects of my life experience, but I reject the term “second-generation immigrant” since I am not any kind of immigrant.