Personal Networks and Ethnic Identifications

Abstract

This article investigates whether personal networks influenced ethnic self-identifications of migrants in Spain. During the years 2004-6, data were collected about personal networks of migrants in Spain (N = 294) through a questionnaire and a structured interview. The networks were classified into five network profiles on the basis of both variables about structure (e.g. density, betweenness and number of cohesive subgroups) and composition (e.g. country of origin and percentage of family members). Profiles were related to the different ways in which migrants identified themselves. Personal networks in which network members, mostly family and people from the country of origin, formed one dense cluster were associated with ethnic exclusive self-identifications, whereas more heterogeneous personal networks tended to exhibit more plural definitions of belonging. The results show that both individual and network characteristics contribute to an understanding of ethnic self-identification.

Community Frames of Migration: The Path from Seaca to Spain

“…The author shows that Gypsy migration from Bulgaria to Spain is convergent with the general trend of international mobility between the two countries but also emphasizes the importance of ethnic networks in perpetuating migration. Lubbers et al (2007) point to the fact that ethnic self-identification is characteristic of migrants whose social network comprises mostly family members and migrants from the same community of origin, while more heterogeneous networks, in which the ties between individuals are more varied and more integrated at the destination, are associated with general rather than ethnicity-related identification. This is to say that the effect of migrant networks should be grasped as dynamic from a temporal perspective.…”

Untitled

“…Markers of identity and belonging are related to nationality, citizenship, national spaces and, above all, language (Butcher, 2008;Cara, 2010), religion, and even participation in and membership of social networks (Lubbers, Molina & McCarty, 2007). The construction of identity and a sense of belonging are often connected to ideas and cultural experiences that are shared with others.…”

Pluralisierung oder Assimilation? / Pluralization or Assimilation?

“…Danach erfolgt eine Übernahme dann, wenn die folgende Bedingung erfüllt ist: Berry et al 2006: 218ff., 78f., 80f., 99f., 110f., Maya-Jariego/Armitage 2007, Lubbers et al 2007). …”