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Measuring Ethnicity with U.S. Census Data: Implications for Mexicans and Arabs

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  • Jen’nan Read

Abstract

U.S. racial and ethnic populations can be defined by a number of census questions—race/ethnicity, ancestry, place of birth, and/or language—but little is known about how using alternative definitions of identity affect the size and characteristics of different groups. This article examines this question using combined data from the 1 % and 5 % Public Use Microdata Samples in census 2000, using Mexicans and Arabs as case studies. The analysis uses the standard method of classifying these groups (Hispanic origin and Arab ancestry) as a baseline to explore differences across the range of possible permutations of ethnic identity. In the Arab case, persons captured using alternative definitions of identity (Arabic language at home and/or born in an Arab country) are lesser educated, more likely to be in poverty, and more likely to identify as non-white or multi-racial than the Arab population as a whole. In contrast, persons in the Mexican alternative definition group (Mexican ancestry and/or born in Mexico) are more highly educated, less likely to be in poverty, and more likely to identify as white than the Mexican population as a whole. The article concludes with research and policy implications of these findings. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Jen’nan Read, 2013. "Measuring Ethnicity with U.S. Census Data: Implications for Mexicans and Arabs," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 32(4), pages 611-631, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:poprpr:v:32:y:2013:i:4:p:611-631
    DOI: 10.1007/s11113-013-9286-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ann Morning, 2008. "Ethnic Classification in Global Perspective: A Cross-National Survey of the 2000 Census Round," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 27(2), pages 239-272, April.
    2. Charles Hirschman, 2004. "The Origins and Demise of the Concept of Race," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 30(3), pages 385-415, September.
    3. Anthony Daniel Perez & Charles Hirschman, 2009. "The Changing Racial and Ethnic Composition of the US Population: Emerging American Identities," Population and Development Review, The Population Council, Inc., vol. 35(1), pages 1-51, March.
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    1. Abdi M. Kusow & Kristine J. Ajrouch & Mamadi Corra, 2018. "Socioeconomic Achievement Among Arab Immigrants in the USA: The Influence of Region of Origin and Gender," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 111-127, February.
    2. Jen’nan Ghazal Read & Scott M. Lynch & Jessica S. West, 2021. "Disaggregating Heterogeneity among Non-Hispanic Whites: Evidence and Implications for U.S. Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(1), pages 9-31, February.
    3. Nadia N Abuelezam & Kristina L Greenwood & Sandro Galea & Raed Al-Naser, 2022. "Differential COVID-19 testing, admissions, and mortality for Arab Americans in Southern California," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(4), pages 1-10, April.

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