Ethnicity and Participation: A Study of Mexican-Americans, Blacks, and Whites

Drawing on the findings of Orum (1966) and Olsen (1970), this study hypothesizes that, because of a process of "compensation" or "ethnic identification," members of disadvantaged ethnic groups have higher levels of social and political participation than persons of the same social class who are members of the dominant social group. Data taken from a community survey only partially support the hypothesis with regard to 11 participation variables. When social class is controlled, black levels of participation generally exceed or equal those of whites; however, levels of participation among Mexican-Americans tend to be lower than those of whites. Several explanations which might account for these discrepant findings are discussed.