Ethnic Identity of Immigrant Offspring in Canada: Testing the Theory of Segmented Assimilation

Yujiro Sano, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Despite growing interest in “the new second generation,” quantitative analyses on identity attainment among the racial minority offspring are limited, especially in Canada. This study addresses this gap by assessing the impact of racial minority status among the children of immigrants on the establishment of ethnic identity, using a nationally representative survey, the 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey. The analysis with ordered logit model finds racially segmented patterns on ethnic identity attainment, suggesting that the children of European immigrants are less likely to attain strong ethnic identity than their racial minority counterparts. Additionally, the racial variations are also explained by factors explained in segmented assimilation theory, such as parental resources, family socialization, friendship, and racial distinctiveness. This article concludes by discussing implications for immigrant integration policies and future research regarding the children of immigrants.