ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the degree to which level of Americanization is associated with Latino political behavior and policy preferences. It traces the extent to which level of Americanization predicts policy preferences measured in the 2006 Latino National Survey, holding all else constant. Higher levels of Americanization predict a markedly lower likelihood of an anti-gay response and a substantially higher level of predicted support for the most pro-gay response. As Americanization level increases, holding all else constant, Latino respondents increasingly resemble the mainstream’s higher levels of support for same-sex marriage. The chapter argues that as national origin differences in political behavior and policy preferences decline between the 1990 Latino National Political Survey and 2006 Latino National Survey, level of Americanization should, on average, better predict these outcomes. Separate analyses by national origin show that while increasing levels of Americanization predict sharp decreases in the likelihood of being satisfied among Mexicans and Other Latinos, there is no such association among Puerto Ricans.
