The Role of Skin Color in Latino Social Networks: Color Homophily in Sending and Receiving Societies.

ABSTRACT: How does skin color shape the social networks and integration pathways of phenotypically diverse immigrant groups? Focusing on Dominicans and Puerto Ricans, groups with considerable diversity across the Black-White color line, we explore whether migrants to the United States have greater color homophily in their primary social networks than non-migrants in the sending societies. We analyze egocentric network data, including unique skin color measures for both 114 respondents and 1,702 alters. We test hypotheses derived from ethnic unifier theory and color line racialization theory. The data show evidence of color homophily among Dominicans, but suggest that these patterns may be imported from the sending society rather than fostered by the U.S. context. Further, we find that migrants' skin

SUBMITTER: Roth WD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8341391 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature