Working Paper No. 200
August 01, 1997
Second Generations
Past, Present, Future
This paper takes a doubting, though friendly, look at the hypotheses of “second
generation deciine” and “segmented assimiiation” that have framed the emerging research
agenda on the new second generation. Research Associate Roger Waldinger, of the University of California at Los Angeles, and
Senior Scholar Joel Perlmann begin with a review of the basic approach,
outlining the logic of argument, and specifying the central contentions. They then head
toward the past, in search of material that will illuminate both the parallels and points of
distinction between the immigrant children who grew up in the first half of the 20th
century and those who will move into adulthood during the century to come. Last, they
return to the present, inquiring both into the characteristics of those children of
immigrants who might find themselves at risk, and the precise source of any such peril.
generation deciine” and “segmented assimiiation” that have framed the emerging research
agenda on the new second generation. Research Associate Roger Waldinger, of the University of California at Los Angeles, and
Senior Scholar Joel Perlmann begin with a review of the basic approach,
outlining the logic of argument, and specifying the central contentions. They then head
toward the past, in search of material that will illuminate both the parallels and points of
distinction between the immigrant children who grew up in the first half of the 20th
century and those who will move into adulthood during the century to come. Last, they
return to the present, inquiring both into the characteristics of those children of
immigrants who might find themselves at risk, and the precise source of any such peril.