Life Choices and Life Chances: Intersections of Life Choices and Life Chances: Intersections of Acculturation and Stratification Among Acculturation and Stratification Among

Mexicans in Union CountyMexicans in Union County

Nancy Horak RandallNancy Horak Randall

AndAnd

Seth AllenSeth Allen

Wingate University Department of SociologyWingate University Department of Sociology

BackgroundBackground

Union County, NC is not only the 24Union County, NC is not only the 24thth fastest fastest growing county in the nation, but is experiencing growing county in the nation, but is experiencing a surge in Spanish-speaking residents.a surge in Spanish-speaking residents.

Union County’s 2003 population is estimated at Union County’s 2003 population is estimated at 145,986.145,986.

The Census Bureau estimates that 6.2% of these The Census Bureau estimates that 6.2% of these residents are “persons of Hispanic or Latino residents are “persons of Hispanic or Latino origin.” origin.”

The Census Bureau estimates that 77% of Latinos The Census Bureau estimates that 77% of Latinos in Union County are Mexican (6970 persons). in Union County are Mexican (6970 persons).

Research QuestionsResearch Questions Why have Mexicans moved to Union County?Why have Mexicans moved to Union County? Do Mexican immigrants intend or plan to Do Mexican immigrants intend or plan to

acculturate?acculturate? What choices are Mexican residents making What choices are Mexican residents making

which would improve their chances of socio-which would improve their chances of socio-economic stability in Union County?economic stability in Union County?

Are structural barriers to success, such as a lack Are structural barriers to success, such as a lack of transportation or an inflated housing market or of transportation or an inflated housing market or the Immigration Reform and Control Act, the Immigration Reform and Control Act, perceived by Mexican residents?perceived by Mexican residents?

Do Mexicans perceive discrimination in Union Do Mexicans perceive discrimination in Union County?County?

Source of DataSource of Data

Personal interviews of Mexican Personal interviews of Mexican residents were conducted in the residents were conducted in the summer of 2004 by Allen and summer of 2004 by Allen and Randall. Twenty-nine interviews were Randall. Twenty-nine interviews were completed. Seven persons declined completed. Seven persons declined to be interviewed. All respondents to be interviewed. All respondents provided informed consent.provided informed consent.

Life Chances and Life Choices: Life Chances and Life Choices: Intersections of Acculturation and Intersections of Acculturation and Stratification among Union County Stratification among Union County

MexicansMexicans Acculturation-cultural integration into the Acculturation-cultural integration into the

larger society (e.g. learning English, larger society (e.g. learning English, watching TV in English)watching TV in English)

Stratification-structured social inequality Stratification-structured social inequality (e.g. laws and customs that rank people (e.g. laws and customs that rank people on social characterstics such as language, on social characterstics such as language, ethnicity that influence persons’ life ethnicity that influence persons’ life chances)chances)

InterviewsInterviews

Questions focused on choices made or Questions focused on choices made or knowledge of services/opportunities knowledge of services/opportunities leading to acculturation (e.g. English leading to acculturation (e.g. English classes) or socioeconomic stability (e.g. classes) or socioeconomic stability (e.g. buying a home, opening a bank account)buying a home, opening a bank account)

Consisted of 27 questions concerning Consisted of 27 questions concerning education, work, goals, form of education, work, goals, form of transportation, use of social services, transportation, use of social services, perception of discrimination, reasons for perception of discrimination, reasons for moving to Monroe, etc.moving to Monroe, etc.

How interviews were obtainedHow interviews were obtained

Dr. Randall and I began by finding contacts in Dr. Randall and I began by finding contacts in area churches, schools, and the Union County area churches, schools, and the Union County Public LibraryPublic Library

In these cases, we agreed to meet with In these cases, we agreed to meet with individuals in a public setting or conduct the individuals in a public setting or conduct the interview via telephoneinterview via telephone

The most common source of interviews were The most common source of interviews were our frequent trips to local Mexican stores and our frequent trips to local Mexican stores and restaurantsrestaurants

In most cases, we explained our intent clearly In most cases, we explained our intent clearly and asked informants if they would and asked informants if they would participate, almost all didparticipate, almost all did

State of Origin of RespondentsState of Origin of Respondents GuerreroGuerrero

38%38% Mexico City Mexico City

21%21% MichoacanMichoacan

10%10% TamaulipasTamaulipas

7%7% PueblaPuebla

7%7% Vera CruzVera Cruz

3%3% GuanajautoGuanajauto

3%3% Guadalajara3Guadalajara3

%% ZacatecasZacatecas

3%3% Morelos 3%Morelos 3%

General ObservationsGeneral Observations 86% claimed to be Catholic86% claimed to be Catholic Only 1/3 sent remittances monthly, the majority Only 1/3 sent remittances monthly, the majority

remitted less often or not at allremitted less often or not at all 3/4ths owned cars3/4ths owned cars Vast majority consider themselves Mexicans; Vast majority consider themselves Mexicans;

however, 14% were uncertain of their nationalityhowever, 14% were uncertain of their nationality Several participants used percentages when Several participants used percentages when

describing aptitude in English, even when not describing aptitude in English, even when not promptedprompted

Almost all spoke optimistically about the Almost all spoke optimistically about the opportunities in the U.S. and the ability to “salir opportunities in the U.S. and the ability to “salir adelante,” or move up in American societyadelante,” or move up in American society

Why they come?Why they come?

62% migrated to Union County primarily 62% migrated to Union County primarily because of family, 1/5 came because of because of family, 1/5 came because of friendsfriends

1/3 lived in other parts of the U.S. (mainly 1/3 lived in other parts of the U.S. (mainly Chicago and Los Angeles) before moving Chicago and Los Angeles) before moving to Union Countyto Union County

1/5 cited “tranquility” of semi-rural Union 1/5 cited “tranquility” of semi-rural Union County as reason for living hereCounty as reason for living here

Only 1/3 moved to this area primarily for Only 1/3 moved to this area primarily for workwork

One respondent met her boyfriend online!One respondent met her boyfriend online!

Perception of DiscriminationPerception of Discrimination Contrary to popular belief, few perceived or Contrary to popular belief, few perceived or

were victims of discriminationwere victims of discrimination Some respondents were denied jobs or Some respondents were denied jobs or

housing for lack of documentation and limited housing for lack of documentation and limited English proficiencyEnglish proficiency

Others noted impatience when dealing with Others noted impatience when dealing with Anglos, rude expressions, and refusal of host Anglos, rude expressions, and refusal of host society to embrace Hispanics when society to embrace Hispanics when opportunities did existopportunities did exist

Respondents who had lived in the United Respondents who had lived in the United States for several years noticed increased States for several years noticed increased tolerance and respect for Latinos tolerance and respect for Latinos

Myth Vs. Reality: Union County Myth Vs. Reality: Union County LatinosLatinos

Over 3/4ths intended to learn English at some Over 3/4ths intended to learn English at some point, nearly 20% spoke it at least proficiently point, nearly 20% spoke it at least proficiently

Roughly 60% had 12 years of education or moreRoughly 60% had 12 years of education or more 35% own homes35% own homes Over half came from middle class families in Over half came from middle class families in

Mexico*Mexico* A substantial majority enjoyed English language A substantial majority enjoyed English language

media as much as they did Spanish radio and media as much as they did Spanish radio and televisiontelevision

Over 90% had plans for the next year (e.g. buying Over 90% had plans for the next year (e.g. buying home, starting a business, learning English, etc.)home, starting a business, learning English, etc.)

ConclusionsConclusions

Contrary to popular belief, Mexican Contrary to popular belief, Mexican immigrants are making a conscious immigrants are making a conscious effort to adapt to North American effort to adapt to North American culture. These immigrants are culture. These immigrants are maximizing their socio-economic maximizing their socio-economic well-being and subsequent success well-being and subsequent success through employment and financial through employment and financial planning, e.g. opening bank planning, e.g. opening bank accounts, buying homes.accounts, buying homes.