This study examines two alternative explanations for French and British Catholic fertility differentials in four Canadian provinces. The structural assimilationist hypothesis suggests that incomplete assimilation of French Catholics into the dominant social structure accounts for their fertility being higher than that of British Catholics. The social ecology model posits that structural discrimination and ethnic unity lead to ethnic mobilization and behavioral manifestation of ethnic group membership. One way ethnic group membership is indicated is through high fertility levels. Differential fertility among Canadian Catholics is determined by the greater degree of societal discrimination experienced by the French as compared to the British. Using 1971 Canadian Census data, multiple regression equations are run to test these competing hypotheses on current and cumulative fertility of French and British Catholics. Results indicate that controls for socioeconomic stratification do not eliminate the relationship between structural discrimination and ethnic fertility. French Catholics are found to demonstrate a higher fertility level than British Catholics. Societal competition and ethnic unity are found to influence ethnic fertility levels. Findings support a social ecology model in which the effects of structural discrimination increase the importance of ethnic identity as an organization symbol for resource competition. Fertility is one behavioral manifestation of ethnic group membership / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_23097 |
| Date | January 1983 |
| Contributors | Mccurley, Donna Anne (Author) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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