United as one? Outgroup discrimination matters but so does ingroup standing in shaping solidarity among Latinx and Asian Americans

Abstract

Past research suggests that experiences with discrimination motivate members of marginalized groups to work together to change their condition. In the current work, we test whether relations within a marginalized community also matter in motivating group members to work together to confront injustice enacted against their ingroup. Drawing from the experiences of Latinxs (S1/S2) and Asians (S2) in the United States, we examine how feedback from outside of the ethnic ingroup and relations within their ingroup each uniquely shape feelings of solidarity and willingness to engage in political action on behalf of the ingroup. Consistent with past work, perception of group discrimination was associated with a sense of solidarity with and willingness to act on behalf of the ingroup among both Latinxs and Asians. Importantly, findings show that individuals’ standing within the group also predicts solidarity among both Latinxs and Asians and also willingness to engage in political action on behalf of the ingroup, but only among Latinxs and not among Asians. Together, these findings suggest that ingroup solidarity and motivation to work on behalf of the group are shaped not only by influences enacted by outgroup members but also by relations within the group.