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Ethnic Identities, Language, and Economic Outcomes Among Dominicans in a New Destination *
Author(s) -
Jensen Leif,
Cohen Jeffrey H.,
Toribio Almeida Jacqueline,
De Jong Gordon F.,
Rodríguez Leila
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
social science quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.482
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1540-6237
pISSN - 0038-4941
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2006.00417.x
Subject(s) - ethnic group , socioeconomic status , immigration , population , identity (music) , context (archaeology) , geography , sociology , psychology , gender studies , demography , anthropology , archaeology , physics , acoustics
Objective. This study examines how racial/ethnic self‐identity interrelates with language ability, skin tone, and years in the United States and with indicators of socioeconomic attainment for Dominican immigrants in Reading, Pennsylvania, a new destination city that had a nearly 800 percent increase in the Dominican population between 1990–2000. Methods. In‐depth ethno‐surveys conducted with a sample of 65 Dominican‐origin adults are the basis for the descriptive analysis. Results. Based on open‐ended responses, nearly 43 percent of immigrants described themselves with a specific ethnic identifier (Dominican) and 41 percent use a more general panethnic identifier (Hispanic or Latino). Panethnic self‐identity is interrelated with stronger language ability, lighter skin tone, and more years in the United States, and with better indicators of socioeconomic status. Conclusion. Race/ethnic identity is an important component of Dominican immigrant assimilation in this new destination context.