Title: Language networks and social status among Mexican Americans.

POPLINE Document Number: 199070

Author(s):

Mirowsky J
Ross CE

Source citation:

Social Science Quarterly, 1984 Jun;65(2):551-64.

Abstract:

This study explores the impact of interlocking cultural and socioeconomic networks on status attainment and assimilation among Mexican Americans in El Paso, Texas. To move into the middle classes in the US, it helps to speak English and to be embedded in an English speaking network; a Mexican American with a predominance of English speaking associates is likely to have more aspirations, beliefs, habits, and tastes that help socioeconomic advancement in the US, than a Mexican American with more Spanish speaking associates. Social status is determined not only by wealth, power, and prestige, but also by acquaintances, friends, and neighbors. Using 3 types of variables: 1) those relating to Mexican culture and heritage; 2) those indicating past and present socioeconomic status; and 3) a demographic factor of age, results reveal that being in a Spanish speaking network has a negative effect on current socioeconomic status. There is much evidence of assimilation among Mexican Americans; successive generations are better educated, more likely to be bilingual or speak only English, more likely to have half or most of their friends and acquaintances nonMexican, know more about Anglo culture and less about Mexican culture, and live more within the traditions, institutions, and ways of Anglo culture than within the Mexican culture. Participation in Spanish speaking networks has a standardized effect of -.258 on current socioeconomic status, which has a reciprocal effect of participation in Spanish speaking networks of -.266. The economic and political situation of Mexican Americans in El Paso suggests that the negative effect of participation in Spanish speaking networks on expected socioeconomic status is a consequence of structural discrimination.

Keywords:

Hispanics
Ethnic Groups
Minority Groups
Language
Communication
United States
Acculturation
Social Change
Friends and Relatives
Knowledge Sources
Socioeconomic Status
Models, Theoretical
Developing Countries
Cultural Background
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Family and Household
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Research Methodology