Partner Choice Patterns Among the Descendants of Turkish Immigrants in Europe

Abstract

We examine the partner choice patterns of second-generation Turks in 13 European cities in seven countries. We not only compare intermarriage versus endogamous marriage, but also explicitly include the choice of a second-generation partner of the same origin and of a partner of other migrant origin as important alternatives. In Europe, populations are made up increasingly of migrants and their descendants resulting in new alternative partner options not open before. Findings suggest that second-generation Turks who choose a second-generation partner seem to be located between the partner choice of a first-generation and native partner in terms of family values and contact to non-coethnic peers. The choice of a partner of other migrant origin hardly differs in these characteristics from the choice of a native partner. Context variables such as group size and type of integration policies seem to play a role for the likelihood of having a first-generation versus a second-generation partner of Turkish origin but not for the likelihood of exogamous partner choice. A second-generation partner is the most popular choice in Germany but represents a minor option in the other countries. Furthermore, a partner of other migrant origin is more common among men but is in some countries more popular than a native partner among Turkish second-generation men and women.

Acculturation style, transnational behaviour, and return-migration intentions of the Turkish second generation: Exploring linkages

“…Goodness of fit to both types of datasets contributes to generalizability of the structure of the model, while country-specific configurations of the model are still feasible. However, only a few studies are available for deriving clues for hypotheses about such country-specific configurations, such as the studies of Snel, Engbersen, and Leerkes (2006); Groenewold, de Valk, and Van Ginneken (2014);and Huschek, de Valk, and Liefbroer (2012). For instance, access to welfare state entitlements and citizenship was found to differ between countries, ranging from very restrictive (Austria, Switzerland) to liberal (Sweden).…”

“…Turkish young adults mainly adhere to Islam and are generally more religious than Christian European majority populations, who are generally less religious (e.g., Gallup International 2012;Pew Research Center 2005). This adherence to Islam may lead to different behaviour in certain life domains, such as in family formation and intermarriage, and (female) labour force participation and career expectations (Harris 1994;Huschek, de Valk, and Liefbroer 2012;Idema and Phalet 2007). On the other hand, cultural distance can be viewed from the perspective of the majority population in terms of acts of discrimination, social exclusion, and negative stereotyping.…”

Partnership dynamics across generations of immigration in France: Structural vs. cultural factors

“…A huge amount of research has been conducted on immigrants' partner choices (Lievens 1999; Kalmijn and van Tubergen 2006;Huschek, Liefbroer, and de Valk 2012;Safi 2008; see Adserà and Ferrer 2014 for an overview). In particular, intermarriage has been considered a sign that newcomers have perfectly integrated (Gordon 1964;Kalminj 1998).…”

Demographic Issues of Intra-European Migration: Destinations, Family and Settlement

“…Second, studies on migrants' family dynamics find that socialization factors and cultural background play an important role in explaining native-immigrant differentials in union formation and dissolution Huschek et al 2012). Again, these studies focus largely on migrants from outside the EU (Hannemann et al 2014).…”