Race at the Starting Gate: The Social and Economic Integration

of the New Second Generation

by Monica Boyd

What is the second generation?

Terminology

FB, arrived as children = 1.5 generationCB, with FB parent (s) = 2nd generationCB, with CB parents = 3rd-plus

generation

Why the Focus on the Second

Generation?

1) DemographicsNumbers, Proportions

2) Parental Difficulties

3) Historical Change

2001 Census: 13 % are foreign born arriving

after age 1221 % are the 1.5 or second generation66% are third-plus generation

2006 Census:One in five Canadians (19%) are

second generation

Why the Focus on Second Generation?

Long term integration of immigrants, over generations

How are immigrants doing shifts to how are their children doing

“New” second generation from recent waves of migrants

Three concerns:1) Economy has changed2) Parental generation is not

doing well3) Racial barriers

Canadian Exceptionalism: DoAmerican/European ModelsApply?

Countries have their own unique histories of immigration,immigration policies, and race

and ethnic relations Need to conduct research on

immigrant offspring in Canada

Data gaps dampened researchbetween 1971-1995

Censuses, 1971, 2001, 2006Surveys: GSS 2001, 1996; SLID etcFocused Surveys: EDS, case studies

Caveats: Cross-sectionalcomparisons; not descent groups

Immigrants to Canada are increasingly from Asia and the Middle East

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Before1961

1961-1970 1971-1980 1981-1990 1991-2001

U.S.A.

Europe

Asia & Middle East

Africa

Caribbean, South andCentral America

Oceania & Other

A defining feature of new second generation is their visible minority status and their origins from non-European source countries, as compared to the largely European-based flows of the past

Generational Status varies for Visible Minority/ Non-Visible Minority Populations

Chart 1: Generational Composition of the Not Visibile Minority and Visible Minority Populations, Age 15 and Older

10

69

4

1517

13

70

3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Not Visible Minority Visible Minority

FB, arrived 15+ 1.5 Generation 2cd Generation 3rd Plus Generation

Percent Living in CMAs, Age 15+

80

96

76

96

68

93

55

74

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Not Visible Minority Visible Minority

FB, arrived 15+ Fb,arrived 0-14 Second Generation

• Most immigrants and their offspring live in CMAs

• Visible minority immigrants and their offspring are most likely to live in CMAs

Percent 15-29, Population Age 15+

5

13

20

68

23

78

26

35

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Not Visible Minority Visible Minority

FB, arrived 15+ Fb,arrived 0-14 Second Generation Second Generation

• Most of the Visible minority population who are immigrant offspring are under age 30

How are the “new” immigrantoffspring doing; how will they do?

Answers from 2001 census. Asked persons age 15+ to indicate

birthplace of parents First time since 1971

Study: age 20-29 in 2001; living in cities

Educational Attainments

Percentage Graduating from High School, Second Generation by Visible Minority Status, Age 20-29, Living in CMAs, Canada 2001

8382 81

93

78

90

88

70

75

80

85

90

95

Not VisibleMinority

Arab & WestAsian

Black Chinese Filipino Latin America South Asian

- - - 3rd+gen Non vismin

Percentages with Bachelors or Higher Degrees, Second Generation by Visible Minority Status, Age 20-29, Living in CMAs, Canada 2001

24 24

40

22

11

32

15

0

10

20

30

40

50

Not VisibleMinority

Arab & WestAsian

Black Chinese Filipino LatinAmerica

South Asian- - - 3rd+gen Non vismin

% with University Degree Exceeding 3rd+ non-Vismin

Yes NoArab & W. Asian L. AmChinese BlackS. AsianFilipino

Transition Stages

All groups more likely than 3rd plus non-Vismin generation to be:

Attending schoolWorking part time

Percentages with High Skill Occupations, Second Generation by Visible Minority Status, Age 20-29, Living in CMAs, Canada 2001

2425

16

34

21

14

27

0

10

20

30

40

Not VisibleMinority

Arab & WestAsian

Black Chinese Filipino Latin America South Asian

- - - 3rd+gen Non vismin

Average weekly wage earnings for Women and Men, Second Generation by Visible Minority Status, Age 20-29 Living in CMAs,

Canada 2001

500

430

450

540

450

470

530

470

590

520

500

600

490

520

550

530

700 500 300 100 100 300 500 700

Not Visible Minority

Arab & West Asian

Black

Chinese

Filipino

Latin America

South Asian

Other Vismin

Women Men3rd+ Non-vismin 3rd+ Non-vismin

Percentage Deviations of Logged Weekly Earnings, Unadjusted and Adjusted for Other, Variables, by Sex, Generation, Visible Minority Status, Age 20-29, Living in CMAs,

and Working Two or more Weeks in 2000, Canada, 2001.

 

WOMEN

Not Visible Minority

Arab & West Asian Black Chinese Filipino

Latin America

South Asian

South East Asian

Second (ns) (ns) -5.9 5.4 (ns) (ns) (ns) ....

Third-plus (RG) .... (ns) …. .... .... .... ....

MEN                

Second (ns) (ns) -8.7 (ns) -5.8 (ns) (ns) ....

Third-plus (RG) .... (ns) .... .... .... .... ....

Summary

Considerable variation within Visible Minority population with respect to how second generation is doing

Chinese, South Asian vs Latin American and Black

Caveats

At the Starting Gate- quite literally

Considerable variation within visible minority groups – pan-label conceals origin variations

Caveats

Location matters

City context importantlocal labour markets

What factors help explain variations? Other studies

Parental CharacteristicsFamily StructureLanguage CompetenceEthnic Communities,

IdentitiesOther Factors

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Outcomes for “new” second generation optimistic for some, not for others

Appropriate policies, programs of support?

School age

School programs offering support; buddy mentoring programs

Promote wide range of ethnic identities

Community centered programs that increase support networks

Future research issues

High poverty among immigrantsChildren in SchoolsSchool to Work TransitionsRemove pan-VISMIN labelsLook at second generation groups

in same geographical space

The Future

Immigrants viewed as resources;

But their children also are; educational and economic success is important