Parental Nativity and Intermarriage among Second-generation Mexican Americans

• In Event: 136 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 06. Immigrant Identity, Aspirations and Integration

Abstract

Social scientists have long regarded intermarriage as an important indicator of the extent of incorporation between immigrant and native groups. This study examines how nativity among Mexican-origin parents affects second-generation intermarriage with non-Hispanic whites in Los Angeles. It provides new precision on immigrant generation through use of data from the Immigration and Intergenerational Mobility in Metropolitan Los Angeles (IIMMLA) survey, which links immigrant parents to second-generation adult children. This research shows that second-generation Mexican-origin children whose parents are of mixed-nativity are more likely to participate in intermarriage with non-Hispanic whites compared with those whose parents are foreign-born. This research also shows that second-generation daughters whose mothers are foreign-born and fathers are native-born demonstrate the highest likelihood of intermarriage participation with the non-Hispanic white majority group compared with those whose parents are foreign-born. Arguably, foreign-born mothers married to native-born fathers are possibly more inclined towards incorporation and as important socializing agents may be socializing their daughters towards nontraditional roles and higher educational goals, which may lead to higher intermarriage incorporation among their daughters. Overall the results indicate that the Mexican-origin population is incorporating in U.S. society. Parental nativity, gender, and parent’s gender affect intermarriage incorporation among second-generation Mexican Americans.

Author

• Rosalio Cedillo, Loyola Marymount University