The objective of this study was to explore the acculturation strategies present in the ethnic groups in the internal migration process in Peru, from the self-perception of social well-being and psychological acculturation, as conflict prevention factors. The study methodology was non-experimental and cross-sectional, comprising a non-probabilistic sample of 214 migrants of Quechua ethnic origin residing in Lima and Callao. The results indicated that just over half of the participants perceive themselves as integrated or assimilated to the host society. The results of the research show the prevalence of acculturation strategies linked to social welfare, where internal immigrants of Quechua origin and language seek integration into the environment that enables the performance of roles in the public and private spheres that facilitate adaptation processes and minimization of conflicts.
TopIntroduction
Internal migratory processes in Latin American countries constitute an integral part of historical processes subsequent to independence. The prevalent in these processes is migration directionality is associated with asymmetries between rural areas and urban areas, related to situations of armed conflict (Castiblanco, 2020). Particularly in the case of Peru, rural migration to the cities based on economic and conflict reasons, it is mainstreamed by cultural and ethnic factors (Medina & López, 2011). Peru internal migrants since the middle of the 20th century moved from rural areas to urban areas, as as a strategy to access canals of vertical social mobility, and fleeing the perverse effect of internal conflicts (Gómez & Medrano, 2020; Sánchez, 2015; Matos, 2014).
The wars’ stages of low intensity and search of access to better work and educational conditions have constituted principal incentives of migration, especially among young people less than 29 years in the last three decades (INEI, 2017). These incentives have prevailed in time, still when conflict with the Shining Path guerrilla has finished in the early 21st century. The areas of confliction associated to narcotraffic, human trafficking and illegal mining exploitation, are still inducing migratory cashflows toward peace areas and with better quality of life (Henríquez, 2013).
According to INEI figures (2021) the internal migration to the year 2017 reached 5 961 295 of people. Respecting the data of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) (2015), shows that the distribution of internal migrants in escolar age increased at 64.4%. Distributed by genre, there was 29% male genre per year, while the lower female genre was 34.4%. This is associated with the migration of families, which does not indicate in the concomitant way the migration occurs independently by adolescents.
The impact of internal migration constitutes a cultural shock, as long as their peers do not recognize them as equal, reproducing labels and stereotypes connected to the language, place of birth, skin color and ethnic origin. Respect to this, young people experience alienation processes during to adapt at the new environment, aggravated by linguistic diversity of the country that comprises 47 languages, only 38 of it has official alphabets: “Quechua, Matsigenka, Harakbut, Ese Eja, Shipibo, Ashaninka, Aimara, Vine, Kakataibo, Kandozi-chapra, Awajún, Jagaru, Shawi, Yanesha, Nomatsigenga, Cashinahua, Wampis, Sharanahua, Achuar, Murui-muinani, Kakinte, Matsés, Ikitu, Shiwilu, Madija, Kukama Kukamiria, Maijiki, Secoya, Bora, Yagua, Kapanawa,Urarina, Amahuaca, Yaminahua, Ocaina, Nanti, Arabela and Ticuna” (MINEDU. 2017).
In this way, Peruvian society is characterized by cultural and ethnic diversity, that is associated with migratory processes, shows identity crisis potentially a generator of conflicts in situations where governance is in crisis (Muñoz & Guibert, 2016; Henríquez, 2013). The processes of internal migration in Peru during the last four decades are registered in INEI data, described in Table 1.