Partner Choices of the Second Generation of Turkish and Former Yugoslav Origin in Switzerland: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

This paper explores the partner choices (exogamy, local endogamy, and transnational endogamy) of the children of Turkish and former Yugoslav immigrants, who share a comparable migration history in Switzerland, based on the Swiss TIES (The Integration of the European Second Generation) survey. The comparison of these groups puts Turkish youths’ partner choice (low exogamy and relatively high transnational endogamy) into a wider perspective. Moreover, the comparison allows to disentangle ethnic and religious affiliations in order to test hypotheses on the role of ethnicity and religion in partner choices. While ethnic endogamy prevails in the two groups under study, religious boundaries are not stronger than ethnic ones. The second generations’ desire for religious and educational homogamy appears to be a reason for transnational endogamy.