Temporal Factors in the Rise of Taiwanese Identity: Taiwan-Born Immigrants in the United States

Zhou Yu, University of Southern California

In the United States, a growing share of Taiwan-born immigrants identify themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese. This paper investigates the rise of Taiwanese identity between 1990 and 2000 through cohort analysis. We pay particular attention to the duration of U.S. residence and examine how different birth cohorts and immigrant cohorts have fared, while controlling for acculturation, education, socioeconomic status, and geography. We expect to find: Taiwanese identity is strongest in older cohorts and recent arrivals; the growing awareness is most evident among younger cohorts. While Taiwan-borns who have a higher level of education and socioeconomic status are more prone to Taiwanese identity, assimilation leads to a lower propensity. Large geographic variations exist. Taiwanese are not separated from other ethnic Chinese by their identity. For Taiwan-born immigrants, Taiwanese appears to be a “rebellious” identity and a symbolic expression of solidarity with their compatriots back home, powered by growing Taiwanese nationalism.