Ethnic Stratification and Status Exchange: Exploring Immigration and Interethnic Marriage Patterns in Hong Kong

Rachael Keyi Chen , The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Yuying Tong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Interethnic marriage is a key indicator of social integration. While status exchange theory has been extensively examined in majority-minority contexts, limited studies have explored its relevance in post-colonial, multiethnic societies beyond dichotomized ethnic frameworks. This study examines how status exchange operates across diverse ethnic dyads in Hong Kong, a city characterized by colonial legacies, ethnic hierarchies, and rapidly changing migration profiles. Using a 5% sample of the 2021 Hong Kong Population Census, we analyze 7,812 heterosexual married couples aged 21-34. Two series of log-linear models are employed to assess patterns of educational and ethnic homogamy, as well as the presence of status exchange, where educational attainment is traded for majority status and ethnic status in interethnic marriages. We also apply the Exchange Index to quantify asymmetric exchanges across pairings. Preliminary findings showed that Hong Kong-born Chinese and South Asian immigrants were the most endogamous, while White immigrants, multiethnic individuals, and HK-born minorities show higher intermarriage rates. Gendered patterns indicated that women from Southeast Asia and Mainland China without permanent residency were more likely to intermarry. Educational disparities were aligned with ethnic hierarchies. Hong Kong-born Chinese and White immigrants had the highest educational attainments, while South Asians and some Mainland Chinese were concentrated at lower levels. These preliminary findings suggest a layered ethnic stratification system in Hong Kong’s marriage market. This study aims to extend status exchange theory into a post-colonial context in East Asia, contributing to broader debates on migration assimilation, social mobility, and ethnic stratification in multiethnic cities.

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 Presented in Session 114. Mixed Families and Migrant Populations