Third Generation Disadvantage among Mexican Americans

• In Event: 593 - Section on Latino/a Sociology Paper Session. The Latino/a Middle Class

Abstract

This paper examines educational, occupation, and income outcomes among Mexican Americans and compares later generation Mexican Americans to Blacks and Whites. Prior research has shown that generational differences in education and economic outcomes among Mexican Americans do not fit with predictions of assimilation theory of a steady and significant improvement from the second to the third generation. Instead second and third generation Mexican Americans have lower than expected education and economic outcomes. Unfortunately there has been relatively little data with which to document and replicate this pattern. Using a nationally representative sample (NELS) that allows for more comparisons, we examine educational and economic outcomes of second–generation and third-generation Mexican Americans compared to Whites and Blacks. We find that third generation Mexican Americans have lower education and economic levels than whites and Blacks, even controlling for many key factors.

Authors

• Vilma Ortiz, University of California-Los Angeles

• Edward E. Telles, Princeton University