Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social Networks

Given the steady increase of ethnic diversity in the US, greater numbers of people develop the ability to negotiate ethnic boundaries and form multiple ethnic identifications. This paper explores the relationship between intra-ethnic and cross-ethnic relationships—defined in terms of social networks...

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Main Author: Rosalyn Negrón
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2014-05-01
Series:Societies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/4/2/222
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author Rosalyn Negrón
author_facet Rosalyn Negrón
author_sort Rosalyn Negrón
collection DOAJ
description Given the steady increase of ethnic diversity in the US, greater numbers of people develop the ability to negotiate ethnic boundaries and form multiple ethnic identifications. This paper explores the relationship between intra-ethnic and cross-ethnic relationships—defined in terms of social networks—and patterns of ethnic self-identification among New York City (NYC) Latinos. Drawing on theory and methods from the field of social network analysis, one hypothesis is that people with ethnically heterogeneous networks are more likely to have multiple ethnic identifications than people with ethnically homogeneous networks. The paper further explores the relationship between network ethnic diversity and the demographic and network characteristics of Latinos from four different Latino subgroups: Colombian, Dominican, Mexican, and Puerto Rican. A total of 97 NYC Latinos were administered ethnic self-identification and factorial surveys, and a social network questionnaire. Blau’s diversity index was used to compute the level of ethnic diversity present in participants’ networks. Results provided modest support for the hypothesis that multiple ethnic identifications would be associated with network ethnic diversity. There were important differences between the four groups in terms of network diversity, network ethnic composition, and ethnic self-identification. Results provide some support for the notion that weak ties introduce diversity to social networks.
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spelling doaj.art-da7d24c8de7543a39f74ee8a5795740f2022-12-22T00:49:54ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982014-05-014222223910.3390/soc4020222soc4020222Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social NetworksRosalyn Negrón0Department of Anthropology, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USAGiven the steady increase of ethnic diversity in the US, greater numbers of people develop the ability to negotiate ethnic boundaries and form multiple ethnic identifications. This paper explores the relationship between intra-ethnic and cross-ethnic relationships—defined in terms of social networks—and patterns of ethnic self-identification among New York City (NYC) Latinos. Drawing on theory and methods from the field of social network analysis, one hypothesis is that people with ethnically heterogeneous networks are more likely to have multiple ethnic identifications than people with ethnically homogeneous networks. The paper further explores the relationship between network ethnic diversity and the demographic and network characteristics of Latinos from four different Latino subgroups: Colombian, Dominican, Mexican, and Puerto Rican. A total of 97 NYC Latinos were administered ethnic self-identification and factorial surveys, and a social network questionnaire. Blau’s diversity index was used to compute the level of ethnic diversity present in participants’ networks. Results provided modest support for the hypothesis that multiple ethnic identifications would be associated with network ethnic diversity. There were important differences between the four groups in terms of network diversity, network ethnic composition, and ethnic self-identification. Results provide some support for the notion that weak ties introduce diversity to social networks.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/4/2/222LatinosNew York Cityethnicityethnic identificationsocial networksdiversitymultiethnicitysocial network diversity
spellingShingle Rosalyn Negrón
Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social Networks
Societies
Latinos
New York City
ethnicity
ethnic identification
social networks
diversity
multiethnicity
social network diversity
title Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social Networks
title_full Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social Networks
title_fullStr Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social Networks
title_full_unstemmed Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social Networks
title_short Diversity, Multiethnicity, and Latino Social Networks
title_sort diversity multiethnicity and latino social networks
topic Latinos
New York City
ethnicity
ethnic identification
social networks
diversity
multiethnicity
social network diversity
url http://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/4/2/222
work_keys_str_mv AT rosalynnegron diversitymultiethnicityandlatinosocialnetworks