Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United States
Race and ethnicity are fluid self-identities in the United States, particularly among immigrants, who often redefine their racial and ethnic self-identification as they navigate assimilation and cultural integration. This study uses repeated cross-sectional data from the 2000–2021 American Community...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sociology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1445287/full |
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| author | Ina Chen Jui-Chung Allen Li |
| author_facet | Ina Chen Jui-Chung Allen Li |
| author_sort | Ina Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Race and ethnicity are fluid self-identities in the United States, particularly among immigrants, who often redefine their racial and ethnic self-identification as they navigate assimilation and cultural integration. This study uses repeated cross-sectional data from the 2000–2021 American Community Surveys to examine the specific racial and ethnic groups among U.S. immigrants that experienced substantial increases in self-identification. Given that fixed immigration cohorts typically decline in size over time due to emigration and mortality, any observed increase within a cohort indicates individuals reclassifying their reported identity. By controlling for the year of entry into the United States, this analysis employs ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions to estimate annual changes in size and percentage across 46 racial and ethnic categories. The analysis reveals significant increases in identification with multiracial whites and single-race or multiracial “Write-In” groups—categories not printed in the survey questionnaire. These findings underscore the fluidity and complexity of ethnic identities and highlight a shift from broad racial classifications to more specific identities that reflect heritage more accurately. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of identity dynamics and a growing diversity and inclusivity within the U.S. racial and ethnic landscape. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa16568369c447d4a3df74e7ae82bda0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa16568369c447d4a3df74e7ae82bda02025-08-20T02:16:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752025-05-011010.3389/fsoc.2025.14452871445287Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United StatesIna Chen0Jui-Chung Allen Li1Taipei American School, Taipei, TaiwanQuanthon Corporation, Taipei, TaiwanRace and ethnicity are fluid self-identities in the United States, particularly among immigrants, who often redefine their racial and ethnic self-identification as they navigate assimilation and cultural integration. This study uses repeated cross-sectional data from the 2000–2021 American Community Surveys to examine the specific racial and ethnic groups among U.S. immigrants that experienced substantial increases in self-identification. Given that fixed immigration cohorts typically decline in size over time due to emigration and mortality, any observed increase within a cohort indicates individuals reclassifying their reported identity. By controlling for the year of entry into the United States, this analysis employs ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions to estimate annual changes in size and percentage across 46 racial and ethnic categories. The analysis reveals significant increases in identification with multiracial whites and single-race or multiracial “Write-In” groups—categories not printed in the survey questionnaire. These findings underscore the fluidity and complexity of ethnic identities and highlight a shift from broad racial classifications to more specific identities that reflect heritage more accurately. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of identity dynamics and a growing diversity and inclusivity within the U.S. racial and ethnic landscape.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1445287/fullimmigrationrace and ethnicityself-identitymulti-racialAmerican Community Surveyracial fluidity |
| spellingShingle | Ina Chen Jui-Chung Allen Li Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United States Frontiers in Sociology immigration race and ethnicity self-identity multi-racial American Community Survey racial fluidity |
| title | Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United States |
| title_full | Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United States |
| title_fullStr | Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United States |
| title_short | Changing self-identification among immigrants in the United States |
| title_sort | changing self identification among immigrants in the united states |
| topic | immigration race and ethnicity self-identity multi-racial American Community Survey racial fluidity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1445287/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT inachen changingselfidentificationamongimmigrantsintheunitedstates AT juichungallenli changingselfidentificationamongimmigrantsintheunitedstates |