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The new census question about ancestry: what did it tell us?
1Population Studies Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48104-2590.
Demography
|August 1, 1991
Summary
The 1990 census ancestry question offers limited insight into ethnic identity for most groups. It primarily characterizes European descendants, but responses are inconsistent due to intermarriage and generational distance, suggesting an era of "optional ethnicity".
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Ethnic Studies
Background:
- The 1980 and 1990 U.S. censuses introduced an open-ended ancestry question, replacing the previous question on parents' place of birth.
- This shift aimed to capture more nuanced information about the ethnic composition of the population.
- Previous census inquiries focused on race and Spanish origin, providing limited data on broader ethnic self-identification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of the new census ancestry question for measuring ethnicity.
- To analyze the information gained about various demographic groups, particularly European descendants.
- To assess the consistency and validity of self-reported ancestry in the context of modern American society.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of responses to the open-ended ancestry question from the 1980 and 1990 U.S. censuses.
- Comparison of ancestry data with information from other census inquiries (race, Spanish origin).
- Qualitative assessment of factors influencing ancestry reporting, such as intermarriage and generational distance.
Main Results:
- The ancestry question provided minimal additional data on Hispanics, racial minorities, and recent immigrants, who are identifiable through other means.
- The question was more effective in characterizing descendants of European immigrants.
- Responses regarding European ancestry were found to be inconsistent, influenced by intermarriage, generational distance, and varying levels of ethnic identification.
Conclusions:
- The census ancestry question has limitations in capturing the complexity of ethnic identity, especially for non-European groups.
- For European descendants, the data suggests a trend towards 'optional ethnicity,' where identification with specific ancestries may be symbolic or inconsistent.
- Future census methodologies may need to account for the evolving nature of ethnic identity and reporting in diverse, multi-generational populations.