Who Do Immigrants Marry? Race, Intermarriage, and Integration

• In Event: 494 - Regular Session. Interracial Marriage/Assortive Mating

Abstract

Our conceptual framework links intermarriage to the breakdown of intergroup boundaries and to the promotion of greater immigrant integration. The 2008-2012 American Community Survey are document the extent of U.S. intermarriage between U.S. immigrants and natives during a period of unprecedented growth in the size and diversity of America’s foreign-born population. Roughly 1 in 6 U.S. marriages today involve immigrants, and a large share of these include native-born U.S. partners. Ethnoracial background clearly shapes trajectories of immigrant social integration. White immigrants are far more likely to marry U.S-born natives, including whites. Black immigrants are much less likely to do so. Analyses show that intermarriage is linked with other well-known proxies of social integration and immigration – education, length of time in the country, and naturalization status. A narrow focus on broad pan-ethnic groups of immigrants (Asians and Hispanics) hides substantial diversity in the processes of marital assimilation and social integration across national origin groups. The growth or decline in immigrant intermarriage – and ultimately social integration or fragmentation – will depend on whether marriage brings diverse groups together or separates them from one another.

Authors

• Daniel T. Lichter, Cornell University

• Zhenchao Qian, The Ohio State University