Latinx identification with whiteness: What drives it, and what effects does it have on political preferences?

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveWe seek to determine the antecedents of self‐categorization as white and white identity salience among Latinx people. We also investigate the effects of both on Latinx's political preferences.MethodsWe perform multivariate regression analyses using the 2012 American National Election Survey (ANES). The survey included 1005 Latinx U.S. citizens.ResultsWe find that Latinx citizens with a strong Latino consciousness and more educated Latinx are less likely to self‐categorize as white, while those with a higher income are more likely to do so. Furthermore, we find that white identity salience correlates positively with being a Republican and a conservative and with opposition to welfare. Still, it is not a significant predictor of anti‐immigrant policy preferences.ConclusionMany Latinx show a strong attachment to white identity, and these affective ties to whiteness correlate with conservative political orientations.