Stronger together? The homophily trap in networks

TL;DR

This paper analytically explores how homophily, while fostering belonging, can create traps for minority groups in networks, especially when their size is below 25%, leading to reduced visibility and increased inequality.

Contribution

It identifies the critical minority size threshold where homophily shifts from beneficial to detrimental, revealing the structural costs of homophily in social networks.

Findings

Homophily traps occur when minority size is below 25%.

Increased homophily can reduce minority visibility.

Critical minority size is essential for beneficial homophily effects.

Abstract

While homophily -- the tendency to link with similar others -- may nurture a sense of belonging and shared values, it can also hinder diversity and widen inequalities. Here, we unravel this trade-off analytically, revealing homophily traps for minority groups: scenarios where increased homophilic interaction among minorities negatively affects their structural opportunities within a network. We demonstrate that homophily traps arise when minority size falls below 25% of a network, at which point homophily comes at the expense of lower structural visibility for the minority group. Our work reveals that social groups require a critical size to benefit from homophily without incurring structural costs, providing insights into core processes underlying the emergence of group inequality in networks.