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Title: The Portuguese of the U.S. from 1880 to 1990: Distinctiveness in Work Patterns across Gender, Nativity and Place

Citation Type: Dissertation/Thesis

Publication Year: 2003

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Abstract: This dissertation examines the labor force participation, self-employment and occupational structure the Portuguese in the U.S. from 1880 to 1990 using U.S. Census data (IPUMS). It compares the Portuguese to other European-Americans in general, and to Italians in particular, in order to ascertain if their trajectory is characterized by similar or distinctive patterns. The study also investigates how the work patterns of the Portuguese vary across gender and nativity and are influenced by human capital, family characteristics and place of residence. The study draws on various theoretical frameworks, including assimilation and forms of capital theory. The methodology used includes logistic regression analysis as well as descriptive statistics and graphs. The historical work patterns of the Portuguese tended to follow the same general, secular trends exhibited by European-Americans, including Italians, but differ in the following ways: (1) The Portuguese participate in the labor force at higher levels than Italians and other European-Americans with similar background characteristics. This was true across gender and nativity subgroups, but ethnic differences were especially evident for immigrant women who live in the Northeast Region of the U.S. (2) The Portuguese show higher levels of occupational concentration and a much lower rate of change over time. The majority has been and continues to be blue-collar workers, especially factory workers. For those born in the U.S., the concentration in blue-collar occupations is the result of lower stocks of human capital, but in the case of immigrants it cannot be explained by background variables. Living in the Newark/New York area decreases the odds of blue-collar work. Conversely, the Portuguese have much lower percentages than other European-Americans, including Italians, in professional occupations, although significant gains have been made since 1980, especially among U.S.-born women. (3) The Portuguese had slightly higher levels of self-employment than Italians until 1940, but since then have experienced a relative decline. Self-employment varies with place of residence, being lowest in places with relatively large numbers of Portuguese, like Fall River, Mass., and highest in California and Newark, N.J. These patterns appear to be related to social capital associated with places of origin and settlement.

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Authors: Mulcahy, Maria Gloria

Institution: Brown University

Department: Department of Sociology

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Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Publisher Location: Providence, RI

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Data Collections: IPUMS USA, IPUMS CPS

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Migration and Immigration, Poverty and Welfare

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