Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb
While Latinos face high levels of segregation, there is scant research specifically addressing whites’ attitudes towards Latinos regarding their preferences. This study draws from 40 in-depth interviews with whites in Orange County California, an area with a large Latino and Asian population. I demo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-08-01
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| Series: | Societies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/6/3/25 |
| _version_ | 1818971673320226816 |
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| author | Celia Lacayo |
| author_facet | Celia Lacayo |
| author_sort | Celia Lacayo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | While Latinos face high levels of segregation, there is scant research specifically addressing whites’ attitudes towards Latinos regarding their preferences. This study draws from 40 in-depth interviews with whites in Orange County California, an area with a large Latino and Asian population. I demonstrate that white respondents choose to segregate themselves from Latinos. Most studies have used Blumer’s group position theory to explain white attitudes and neighborhood preference towards Blacks. My findings supports Blumer’s group position theory by revealing why white respondents feel threatened by an increase in the Latino population. Yet, the Asian population has also grown, but white respondents convey positive sentiments towards Asians, and express they feel comfortable living and interacting with them. I argue that white respondents’ preferences with regards to integration are not solely based on the size of a group, but rather whether they characterize the group as inferior. Integration has been touted as an American principle. Yet, as the country becomes more diverse, this case study illustrates that white respondents prefer to share space with those they feel similar to, and consequently contribute to Latino segregation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:56:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b2310f36eb604ebabeb90a12cbddcac5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4698 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T14:56:07Z |
| publishDate | 2016-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Societies |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2310f36eb604ebabeb90a12cbddcac52022-12-21T19:36:53ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982016-08-01632510.3390/soc6030025soc6030025Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic SuburbCelia Lacayo0Institute of American Cultures, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7244, USAWhile Latinos face high levels of segregation, there is scant research specifically addressing whites’ attitudes towards Latinos regarding their preferences. This study draws from 40 in-depth interviews with whites in Orange County California, an area with a large Latino and Asian population. I demonstrate that white respondents choose to segregate themselves from Latinos. Most studies have used Blumer’s group position theory to explain white attitudes and neighborhood preference towards Blacks. My findings supports Blumer’s group position theory by revealing why white respondents feel threatened by an increase in the Latino population. Yet, the Asian population has also grown, but white respondents convey positive sentiments towards Asians, and express they feel comfortable living and interacting with them. I argue that white respondents’ preferences with regards to integration are not solely based on the size of a group, but rather whether they characterize the group as inferior. Integration has been touted as an American principle. Yet, as the country becomes more diverse, this case study illustrates that white respondents prefer to share space with those they feel similar to, and consequently contribute to Latino segregation.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/6/3/25Latinossegregationrace and ethnicitygroup position theory |
| spellingShingle | Celia Lacayo Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb Societies Latinos segregation race and ethnicity group position theory |
| title | Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb |
| title_full | Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb |
| title_fullStr | Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb |
| title_full_unstemmed | Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb |
| title_short | Latinos Need to Stay in Their Place: Differential Segregation in a Multi-Ethnic Suburb |
| title_sort | latinos need to stay in their place differential segregation in a multi ethnic suburb |
| topic | Latinos segregation race and ethnicity group position theory |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/6/3/25 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT celialacayo latinosneedtostayintheirplacedifferentialsegregationinamultiethnicsuburb |