Rejection-(dis)identification and ethnic political engagement among first-generation Latino immigrants to the United States

Bibliographic Data

ID8095885
AuthorsShaun Wiley (0000-0003-1182-4710, College of New Jersey, corresponding author), Delysha Lawrence, Jessica Figueroa, Rosanna Percontino
Year2013
Volume19
Issue3
Pages310-319
Publication date2013-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1099-9809 • E-ISSN: 1939-0106
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1037/a0031093
PMID23875855
OpenAlexW2159608298
LanguageEN
Citations received21
References cited49

Immigrants to the United States face rejection from other Americans on the basis of their ethnic group membership. Among members of ethnic minority groups who were born in the United States, rejection is tied to higher ethnic identification and less positive attitudes toward the national majority. Relatively little research has examined this relationship among first-generation immigrants (i.e., people who were born in another country but who migrated to the United States) or has considered political engagement on behalf of one's ethnic group as an outcome. In this study we examined the relationship among ethnic-based rejection, ethnic and national identification, and ethnic political engagement among first-generation Latino immigrants in the northeastern United States. We found that first-generation Latino immigrants who perceived ethnic-based rejection were less likely to identify with Americans and less likely to report willingness to engage politically on behalf of their ethnic group in the United States. Perceived rejection was not significantly associated with ethnic identification, which was not related to ethnic political engagement. The study demonstrates that ethnic-based rejection has unique implications for identification and ethnic political engagement among first-generation Latino immigrants

Ethnic group · Immigration · Minority group · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology