Sense of Origins: A Study of New York's Young Italian Americans

Description

In Sense of Origins, Rosemary Serra explores the lives of a significant group of self-identified young Italian Americans residing in New York City and its surrounding areas. The book presents and examines the results of a survey she conducted of their values, family relationships, prejudices and stereotypes, affiliations, attitudes and behaviors, and future perspectives of Italian American culture. The core of the study focuses on self-identification with Italian cultural heritage and analyzes it according to five aspects--physical, personality, cultural, psychological, and emotional/affective. The data provides insights into today's young Italian Americans and the ways their perception of reality in everyday interactions is affected by their heritage, while shedding light on the value and symbolic references that come with an Italian heritage. Through her rendering of relevant facets that emerge from the study, Serra constructs interpretative models useful for outlining the physiognomy and characterization of second, third, fourth, and fifth generations of Italian Americans. In the current climate, questions of ethnicity and migrant identity around the world make Sense of Origins useful not only to the Italian American community but also to the descendants of the innumerable present-day migrants who find themselves living in countries different from those of their ancestors. The book will resonate in future explorations of ethnic identity in the United States. Contents Foreword References Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Field research Chapter One Theoretical Structure, Methodological Path, Description of the Sample The Research Target Population The Sample Cognitive Objectives The Questionnaire Sociographic Data Gender, Marital Status, Place of Birth and of Residence Education Level, Occupation, Social Class Familial Situation Chapter Two Values, Family, and Primary Socialization Values The Italian American Family: Some Reflections from the Research Profile of the Mothers Profile of the Fathers Socialization in Family and Peer Groups Chapter Three Ethnic Identification Ethnicity of the Respondents Ethnicity of the Partner Ethnicity: Ways of Interpreting It Pathways of Ethnic Identification Immigration and the Memory Thereof The Italian American Identification The Transmission of Ethnic Identity The Importance of Ethnic Identification Reasons for the Significance of Ethnic Identification The Emotional Component of Ethnic Identification Internal Conflict Stemming from the Ethnic Background Chapter Four Different Identity Models of Young Italian Americans: The Significance of Being Italian American Today Interpretations of Italian American identity in the 1970s and 1980s More Recent Interpretations Areas of Meaning on Being Italian American Today The Plurality of Italian American Identities Chapter Five The Image of Italian Americans The Identifying Characteristics of Italian Americans The Image of the Typical Individual: Comparing the Italian American and the Italian The Differences and Resemblances among the Italian Americans, the Italians, and the Other Americans The Image of the Group Structure Organization Integration Dimensions of the Image of Italian Americans Chapter Six Italy and the Italians Origin Myths “La bella Italia” Knowledge of Italian Culture Personal Relationship with Italy Use of the Italian Language and Various Dialects Some Considerations Regarding the Use and the Future of the Italian Language and Its dialects The Dimensions of the Image of Italy and the Italians Chapter Seven The Stereotypical Images of Italian Americans The Stereotype Prejudice Ethnic Prejudice Stereotypes about and Prejudices against Italians Prejudices, Stereotypes, and Representations of Italian Americans Racial Discrimination against Italians in America and the Privileges of Being White The Interviewed Young People’s Portrayal of Stereotypes and Prejudices Regarding Italian Americans Stereotypes of Italian Americans in the Media The “Guido” Subculture Guido Subculture and Youth Chapter Eight Attitudes and Affiliations Religiosity in America Religious Faith of Young Italian Americans Italian Americans and Politics Political Preferences and Concerns of the Interviewees Food Sense of Territorial Attachment Italian American Associations Formation of Associations and Italian American Youth Reasons for the Lack of Participation in Associations Level of satisfaction/dissatisfaction regarding the activities promised by the associations, and reasons for this judgment Activities That Ought to Be Promoted by the Associations Use of the Media Chapter Nine The Future Prospects According to Scholars Transmission of Italian American Heritage through the Family and the Community The Transmission of Italian American Heritage through Institutions Thoughts of the Young People Interviewed on the Future of Italian American Culture Chapter Ten Knowledge of and Attachment to the Italian and Italian American Cultures The Level of Knowledge of Italian and Italian American Culture Attachment and Emotional Connection to the Italian and Italian American Cultures Part II: Identity Profiles Chapter Eleven The American Identity in Generational Flux Premise Construction of the Italian American Identity The First Generation of Immigrants and Its Impact on American Society The Second Generation Third Generation Youth and the Chosen Identity The New Second Generation Characteristics of the Interviewees According to Their Generation of Immigration Second Generation Structural Data Socialization and Values Ethnic Self-identification The Image of Italian Americans Image of Italy and Italians Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination Affiliations and Memberships The Future Third Generation Structural Data Socialization and Values Ethnic Self-identification Image of Italian Americans Image of Italy and Italians Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination Affiliations and Memberships The Future The Fourth and Fifth Generations Structural Data Socialization and Values Ethnic Self-identification Image of Italian Americans Image of Italy and Italians Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination Affiliations and Memberships The Future In Summary Chapter Twelve Profiles of Young Italian Americans: Sketches in Chiaroscuro Four Ways to Interpret the Italian Ethnic Legacy Sketch of the Four Groups The Contemporaries Sociographic Data Socialization and Values Ethnic Self-identification Image of Italy and Italians Image of Italian Americans Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination Affiliations and Memberships The Future The Integrated Sociographic Data Socialization and Values Ethnic Self-identification Image of Italy and Italians Image of Italian Americans Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination Affiliations and Memberships The Future The Disinherited Sociographic Data Socialization and Values Ethnic Self-identification Image of Italy and Italians Image of Italian Americans Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination Affiliations and Memberships The Future The Traditionals Sociographic Data Socialization and Values Ethnic Self-identification Image of Italy and Italians Image of Italian Americans Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Discrimination Affiliations and Memberships The Future Characteristics of the Four Profiles Concluding Reflections Various Ways of Being Italian American The Italian American Identity: Attributions of Meaning Different Identity Models The Values The Misrepresentation of the Image of Italian Americans The Recognition and Sense of Belonging to the Italian American Community Participation in Associations Connection/Reconnection with Italy In Conclusion: The Movement toward Change Has Already Begun Notes Bibliography Index