Marital Instability among Mexican Americans: Following the Patterns of Blacks?

Abstract

While existing literature repeatedly states that rates of marital instability are low among Mexican Americans, data from the 1960 Census suggest otherwise. Furthermore, a comparison of subgroups defined by generation and place of residence indicates a trend toward rapidly increasing rates of marital instability for this population. Third-generation Mexican Americans living in California, the most rapidly growing segment of the minority, have a level of marital instability closely resembling that of blacks. As among blacks, the inability of many Mexican American males to adequately provide for their families at the level they deem necessary, due to low wages and widespread unemployment, appears to be an important source of marital strain. While increasing marital instability may be viewed as an adaptation to their currently deprived circumstances, it is also possible that this may hinder the group's future economic advancement.

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