The role of the ethnic community and the workplace in the integration of immigrants: A case study of Dominicans in New York City
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between workplace location relative to the ethnic community and several dimensions of assimilation among Dominican immigrants in Washington Heights/Inwood. The central argument is that residence in particular types of ethnic community shapes patterns of social interaction among residents and outsiders. Thus, assimilation is contingent on the nature of the settlement process and different modes of community formation. To explore this, we examine whether there are differences on several dimensions of integration among people who work inside and outside of the ethnic community. Data from a survey of 167 Dominican immigrants residing in Washington Heights/Inwood gathered in 1987 were used to examine this proposition. Overall, little support was found for the hypothesis that Dominicans who work outside the ethnic community are more integrated than those working inside the community. This finding is related to the characteristics of workplaces inside and outside of the community. While people working outside the community are more likely to work in the manufacturing industry, to have non-Latino bosses, and to speak English at the workplace, a large percentage of this group report working alongside Hispanics and a substantial proportion report speaking Spanish at the workplace. Thus, our results suggest that many of the characteristics of ethnic businesses in Washington Heights/Inwood are being reproduced outside of the community. No differences were found on the measures of integration for those working inside and outside of the community. Relatively few Dominicans in the sample were involved in neighborhood associations, and a small percentage of the sample were involved in local politics. Participation in the Catholic Church is widespread, however, no significant differences were found in religious identification or participation by workplace location.
Subject Area
Demographics|Minority & ethnic groups|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Goris-Rosario, Anneris Altagracia, "The role of the ethnic community and the workplace in the integration of immigrants: A case study of Dominicans in New York City" (1994). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI9425196.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9425196
