Immigration and Perceptions of Economic Deprivation among Working-Class Mexican American Men

In: Social science quarterly, Band 65, Heft 2, S. 455-464

Abstract

Dissatisfaction with economic circumstances is commonly thought to increase with temporal or cultural distance from Mexico, if, over time, immigrants or their offspring fail to experience substantial mobility within the US. However, interview data from Wc M heads of household in Ariz, Calif, Colo, & Tex (N = 48, 77, 60, & 119, respectively) do not support this argument. Immigrants & the less acculturated & assimilated do not perceive themselves as less deprived than other Mexican Americans. Actual income was found to be the primary factor influencing levels of reported economic well-being. 4 Tables, 13 References. Modified HA.