The Case of the Disappearing Latinos: The Consequences of (Non) Ethnic Identification for Understand
29 November 2013
29 November 2013
18:00-20:00
Birkbeck, Malet St, room 152
Free and open to all; no need to book.
This talk investigates the political consequences of non-identification with Latino ethnicity among individuals with Latin American ancestry. Research on Latino political behavior and opinion is largely based on surveys that begin with screener questions on race and ethnicity. Ethnic identity is typically established by voluntary identification with categories such as Latino, Hispanic, Mexican-American, or Chicano. Although scholars understand that racial-ethnic classifications are socially constructed, we rarely investigate the dynamic, generational element to such identifications. Recent work using CPS data (Duncan and Trejo 2011) finds economic attainment differences among individuals who do or do not identify as Mexican but have parents or grandparents from Mexico. Our paper extends this research by testing for differences in voter registration and turnout among such individuals. Our work indicates that individuals with Latino heritage who do not so identify (“objective Latinos”) are more likely than self-identified (“subjective”) Latinos to register to vote and to vote if registered. We explore the consequences of this dynamic for Latino political participation, the assimilation of Latino communities, and potential future trajectories for the broader understanding of race and ethnicity in America.Professor David Leal, University of Texas at Austin