Documenting the Evolution of Educational and Occupational Expectations among Immigrant Youth

• In Event: 242 - Section on International Migration Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on International Migration Roundtables (one-hour). Table 01. Assimilation of U.S. Immigrants 1

Abstract

Tests of segmented assimilation theory have produced mixed findings with respect to outcomes of immigrant youth. However, these studies focus exclusively on completed education or labor market outcomes when in fact the theory describes a process of orientation away from schooling and dominant culture for some immigrant youth. As such, I revisit this theory by documenting attitudes toward schooling and work as they evolve during adolescence. Studying both educational and occupational expectations best captures the ideational change that is central to segmented assimilation theory. I employ the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 to assess whether schooling and occupational expectations diverge by generation or ethnicity over time – as predicted by segmented assimilation – or if these are already distinct by adolescence. If there is evidence for heterogeneous expectations, I ask when this occurs and determine the implications for later human capital attainment. In order to fruitfully address socioeconomic inequality, we must gain a better understanding of immigrant youth and their goals.

Author

• Christina Diaz, University of Wisconsin-Madison