Cano M, Perez Portillo AG, Figuereo V, Rahman A, Reyes-Martínez J, Rosales R, Ángel Cano M, Salas-Wright CP, Takeuchi DT. Experiences of Ethnic Discrimination Among US Hispanics: Intersections of Language, Heritage, and Discrimination Setting.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTERCULTURAL RELATIONS : IJIR 2021;
84:233-250. [PMID:
34840361 PMCID:
PMC8622792 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.08.006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Informed by Latino Critical Race Theory, the present study examined how intersections between English use/proficiency, Spanish use/proficiency, and heritage group shape the varying experiences of ethnic discrimination reported by US Hispanic adults.
METHODS
The study utilized data from 7,037 Hispanic adults from the 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Multivariable binomial logistic regression modeled language use/proficiency, heritage, and demographic characteristics as predictors of past-year self-reported perceived ethnic discrimination, overall and in six different settings.
RESULTS
Both English and Spanish use/proficiency were positively associated with increased adjusted odds of reporting ethnic discrimination overall, in public, or with respect to employment/education/ housing/courts/police; however, with respect to being called a racist name or receiving verbal/physical threats/assaults, a positive association was observed for English, yet not Spanish. Results also indicated a significant interaction between English use/proficiency and Spanish use/proficiency when predicting past-year ethnic discrimination overall or for any of the six types/settings examined, although the relationship between language use/proficiency and ethnic discrimination varied by Hispanic heritage group.
CONCLUSION
Study findings emphasize that experiencing some form of ethnic discrimination is relatively common among US Hispanic adults, yet the prevalence and types or settings of ethnic discrimination vary widely on the basis of demographics, immigrant generation, heritage, and the interplay between English and Spanish use/proficiency.
Collapse