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The Rise of Mixed Parentage: A Sociological and Demographic Phenomenon to Be Reckoned With

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  • Richard Alba
  • Brenden Beck
  • Duygu Basaran Sahin

Abstract

Ethno-racially mixed parentage is rising in frequency, creating a strong challenge to both census classification schemes and, indeed, to common conceptions of ethnicity and race. Majority (white) and minority (nonwhite or Hispanic) parentage predominates among individuals with mixed-family backgrounds. Yet in public presentations of census data and population projections, individuals with mixed backgrounds are generally classified as nonwhite. We analyze 2013 American Community Survey data and summarize the results of important studies to argue that individuals from mixed majority-minority backgrounds resemble whites more than they do minorities in terms of some key social characteristics and experiences, such as where they grow up and their social affiliations as adults. Those with a black parent are an important exception. An implication of this analysis is that census classification practices for mixed individuals risk distorting conceptions of the current population, especially its youthful portion, and promoting misunderstandings of ethno-racial change.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Alba & Brenden Beck & Duygu Basaran Sahin, 2018. "The Rise of Mixed Parentage: A Sociological and Demographic Phenomenon to Be Reckoned With," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 26-38, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:677:y:2018:i:1:p:26-38
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716218757656
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carolyn A. Liebler, 2018. "Counting America’s First Peoples," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 180-190, May.
    2. Dowell Myers & Morris Levy, 2018. "Racial Population Projections and Reactions to Alternative News Accounts of Growing Diversity," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 215-228, May.
    3. Wendy D. Roth, 2018. "Establishing the Denominator: The Challenges of Measuring Multiracial, Hispanic, and Native American Populations," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 48-56, May.
    4. Brian Duncan & Stephen J. Trejo, 2007. "Ethnic Identification, Intermarriage, and Unmeasured Progress by Mexican Americans," NBER Chapters, in: Mexican Immigration to the United States, pages 229-268, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Carolyn A. Liebler & Sonya R. Porter & Leticia E. Fernandez & James M. Noon & Sharon R. Ennis, 2017. "America’s Churning Races: Race and Ethnicity Response Changes Between Census 2000 and the 2010 Census," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 54(1), pages 259-284, February.
    6. George J. Borjas, 2007. "Mexican Immigration to the United States," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number borj06-1.
    7. Ann Morning & Aliya Saperstein, 2018. "The Generational Locus of Multiraciality and Its Implications for Racial Self-Identification," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 57-68, May.
    8. Brian Duncan & Stephen J. Trejo, 2018. "Identifying the Later-Generation Descendants of U.S. Immigrants: Issues Arising from Selective Ethnic Attrition," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 131-138, May.
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    1. Dowell Myers & Morris Levy, 2018. "Racial Population Projections and Reactions to Alternative News Accounts of Growing Diversity," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 215-228, May.
    2. Edward Telles, 2018. "Latinos, Race, and the U.S. Census," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 677(1), pages 153-164, May.

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