Self-Identification and Preferences

The ethnic identification skills and ethnic preferences of white and Mexican-American first- and third-grade males and females were investigated. Subjects were asked a series of identification questions and responded to each item by selecting a photograph of a male or female white, Mexican-American, or black child. Preferences for ethnic groups were indicated by the selection of a classmate in response to each of a series of preference questions. Both white and Mexican-American subjects made accurate self-identifications. All subjects were able to identify other persons along an ethnic dimension. All white subjects indicated strong preferences for white classmates. With one exception, preferences of Mexican-American groups for white versus Mexican-American classmates did not significantly differ from chance.