Full Citation

Title: Expanding Boundaries of Whiteness? A Look at the Marital Patterns of Part-White Multiracial Groups

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2015

ISBN:

ISSN:

DOI:

NSFID:

PMCID:

PMID:

Abstract: Using a boundary perspective (Alba and Nee 2003), I examine the marital behavior of three self-identified multiracial groups: black/whites, American Indian/whites, Asian/whites. With a focus on marriage with whites, I assess whether the boundaries of whiteness are expanding to include these part-white multiracial groups. Marrying whites at a large scale may signify that part-white multiracial Americans are in the process of being accepted as white. At the same time, due to differences in the racial identity experiences of multiracial groups, marital patterns may differ by racial combination. Based on analysis of 20082012 American Community Survey data, I find that the majority of all three groups are married to whites, suggesting that most members in these groups are on the path to whiteness. On the other hand, multinomial logistic regression analysis demonstrates that American Indian/whites and Asian/whites are more likely than black/whites to have a white spouse, relative to spouses of another race/ethnicity. Moreover, separate regression analyses by multiracial group reveal gender differences in their likelihood of marrying whites for black/whites and Asian/whites. These results indicate racial stratification in the marriage market among part-white multiracial Americans, with further stratification by gender for some groups.

Url: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/socf.12205/full

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Miyawaki, Michael H.

Periodical (Full): Sociological Forum

Issue: 4

Volume: 30

Pages: 995-1016

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Family and Marriage, Race and Ethnicity

Countries: