Ethnic classification among secondary school teachers and students in Hungary

Abstract

This study focuses on ethnic classification among secondary school teachers and Roma and non-Roma Hungarian secondary school students. It is expected that students living in better socio-economic circumstances are less likely to be classified as Roma by their classmates and teachers than students with a poorer socio-economic background. It is also assumed that students with more Roma friends are more likely to be classified as Roma than students with fewer Roma friends. First-wave data from a Hungarian panel study were analyzed. To test the hypotheses, cross-sectional logistic and fractional regression analyses were conducted for 17 classes (N=559). Results suggest that, consistent with the hypotheses, students from low-status families and students with more incoming friendship nominations from Roma classmates are more likely to be classified as Roma by their teachers and peers than high-status students and students with fewer Roma friends, even after controlling for the students’ ethnic self-identification.