| Abstrakt: |
The project analyzes Mexican American voting patterns on California's 2003 gubernatorial race and the 2004 Presidential race. The quantitative results are elucidated with qualitative data that attributes such voting patterns to the concept that the political opinions of Mexican Americans are directly influenced by their choice of identity expression. Interviews with 127 respondents over two years and across two citizenship categories reveal that Mexican Americans are confronted by an identity interplay between nationalism and ethnicity when voting and contemplating political issues. Looking at Mexican American political behavior and expression reaffirms that the group's ethnic identity is fluid, situational, and above all, employed with agency. In addition, the data reveals the possibility of ethnic identity choices evolving over time. Perhaps most intriguing are the implications for racial and ethnic identity expressions in the Latino community. My work illustrates that through their political choices, Mexican Americans choose an identity that reflects not only a desire for Anglo acceptance but also an actual Anglo identity within the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
