Self, Ethnicity, and Social Group Memberships in Two Generations of Italian Canadians

Abstract

Ethnic identity in the context of social category memberships was examined in two generations of Italian Canadians. Ratings based on perceived value similarity between a number of categories (self Canadians, Italians, immigrants, religion, family, friends, social class, age, and Americans) were made by 57 second-generation Italian Canadians and one parent of each. Multidimensional scaling analyses revealed a general distinction between Old World and New World values. First-generation self-identity was manifested in a distinct cluster including family, friends, and immigrants. The configuration for the second generation suggested a bicultural orientation, congruent with additional data on Italian language use across situations. The cross-generational transformation of ethnicity within a system of social categorizations is discussed.