Latino Racial Identity and What It Means for Political Behavior

• In Event: Poster Session: Racial and Ethnic Politics & Security and MENA Politics
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Racial and Ethnic Politics

Abstract

Existing research largely analyzes Latinos as a racial group, thus ignoring Latinos’ racial identification when exploring their political attitudes and behavior. Latinos, however, constitute an ethnicity, according to federal policy, which means that individuals can ethnically be Latinos and racially of any race. Henceforth, the U.S. Census forces Latinos to select at least one of the racial categories available, even if they do not necessarily feel identified with them. Building on Social Identity Theory and Latin American racial conceptualizations, I argue that for Latinos, racial self-identification as white serves as a measure of a Latino’s perceived or real belonging to the white race (white assimilation) and a desire to become white and enjoy the privileges it represents. Thus, since race is a crucial factor in shaping the life chances and social positions of individuals in the United States, Latino racial self-identification as either white or some other race influences Latino political attitudes and behavior. Using data from the 2020 American National Election Studies survey, this study explores how the patterns of Latino racial identity are tied to political positions. My analysis shows that race have profound implications for Latinos’ political attitudes and behavior. The political views of Latinos who racially self-identify as white are closer to the political attitudes of whites.

Author

• Giovanni Castro, University of California, Los Angeles