Considering the Tower of Babel: Correlates of Assimilation and Multiculturalism among Ethnic Minority and Majority Groups in the United States

• Published in: Social justice research Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 277 - 306
• Main Authors: Wolsko, Christopher, Park, Bernadette, Judd, Charles M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Nature B.V 01.09.2006
• Subjects: Assimilation; Attitudes; Cultural Pluralism; Endorsements; Ethnic differences; Ethnic Groups; Ethnicity; Minorities; Minority & ethnic groups; Multiculturalism; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Public Policy; Race; Racial Differences; Social assimilation; Social justice; Social policy; Social psychology; Studies; Voting Behavior; Voting behaviour
• ISSN: 0885-7466; 1573-6725
• DOI: 10.1007/s11211-006-0014-8

Survey data collected from multiethnic samples of geographically dispersed college students & a national probability sample of US adults were utilized to examine the correlates of support for multiculturalism & assimilation -- two competing interethnic ideologies, or ideals for how an ethnically diverse society should optimally function. Endorsement of multiculturalism & assimilation was related to perceived ethnic group differences, intergroup bias, & voting behavior on a number of public policies, but in opposite directions. Relative to white participants, ethnic minority participants endorsed multiculturalism to a greater extent, reported higher levels of group identification, & were more likely to support pro-diversity public policies. Discussion focuses on explanations for the variety of observed differences between ethnic minority & majority respondents, on the meaning of assimilation & multiculturalism, & on the argument that harmony between ethnic groups & dissimilarity between ethnic groups need not be thought of as mutually exclusive. Tables, Appendixes, References. Adapted from the source document.