Pauline V. Young

The Russian Molokan Community in Los Angeles

The Russian Molokan colony in Los Angeles evidences many of the effects of cultural assimilation in spite of the resistance of the older members of the group to culture fusion. Urbanization.-Changes in occupational level, geographic dispersion of the colony, education of the children in American public schools, activities of American social agencies, city missions, etc., are undermining the traditional control of the elders, the effectiveness of the family, of mutual aid mechanisms, and the influence of Molokanism as a system of belief. Cultural hybridism.-The younger generation, after twenty-five years of American experience, displays much of the restlessness, disorganization, and social confusion characteristic of immigrant groups in which traditional controls have been only partially displaced by American urban ideals and habits. Present indications point to ultimate complete assimilation with probably decreasing disorganization in the future.