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

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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.

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