This paper will offer a comparison between African American families and Italian American immigrant families, by exploring family cohesion and identity. What are the ways that the black American family is written about in sociological literature, and how does this differ from the perspective or orientation which shapes discussion of the Italian-American family. How do gender roles impact family structure, and how do families who face discrimination cope, in varied ways, with hostilities external to the family or larger cultural group?Historically, African Americans first came to the U.S. primarily as slaves. Following the cessation of slavery at the end of the Civil War, Black-Americans endured and survived through a century of segregation before beginning the concerted, organized fight for full equality characterized in the late 1950s-1960s Civil Rights movement. This equality still remains elusive, depending on factors such as class position. Italian Americans came to North America from the 19th century onward, as skilled and unskilled migrant labourers; often the men came first and sent remittance monies home. Later, the husbands or fathers might have helped bring other members of their families or members of their local communities to America. Italians Americans are part of a larger Italian world Diaspora, as black people in America may also consider themselves as living in the Diaspora, with Africa a homeland, distant in time and to large degree in the contemporary cultural imaginary (Pozzetta and Ramirez, 1992; McWhorter, 2006)
[...] Willie writes, ‘`Billingsley tells us that a high level of egalitarian relations exists among African-American families, that black women are prominent in the provider role and make great contributions to the economic viability of their families, that less than 10 percent of African-American families consisting of a husband and wife are supported by the earnings from the wife's employment only, that marriage and family life are important characteristics of the African-American community, that homeownership continues to be the primary way in which African-American families accumulate wealth, that childrearing and companionship are, in the opinion of African Americans, the most important functions of family life and that teaching offspring how to cope effectively and overcome a world of racial prejudice and discrimination continues to be a goal that receives high priority in the socialization of African-American children. [...]
[...] Using a conflict approach, as well as detailing family dynamics and history through a feminist lens that explores gender as a social construction, this paper will discuss how Italian American families and Afro-American families define themselves, and how they are seen by outsiders. How has historically embedded systematic institutional racism and ethnic prejudice continued to impact individual families, and how have struggles to overcome race prejudice impacted upon or contributed to changing roles in the family? There is no single black family form, just as there is no single Italian American family. [...]
[...] Inculcation with more North American values, including the impact of feminism in general on women in society has altered the position of Italian women in North America, just as women in the black family today explore their autonomy and independence as well as centrality to the family's survival in empowering ways. In conclusion, this paper has explored different ways that Italian American immigrant families, and black American families are discussed in the sociological literature. It is difficult to avoid making generalizations, but it is important to do so the family is not a fixed or set institution, but one that assumes diverse forms even with communities described as cohesive. [...]
[...] "Lingua/lenga'/language: language question” in the life and work of an Italian American Woman.” Frontiers - a Journal of Women's Studies, Vol no June 2006, pp 87-102. Colantonio, Frank, From the Ground Up: An Italian Immigrant's Story, Between the Lines Press, Toronto Fiorito, Joe, The Closer We Are to Dying, M & S Press, Toronto Giampapa, Frances. "Hyphenated identities: Italian-Canadian youth and the negotiation of ethnic identities in Toronto.” International Journal of Bilingualism, Vol no September 2001, pp 279-307 Harry, Beth, Janette K. [...]
[...] (Barone: 21) Another Italian American woman author, Louise Ermelino, Barone writes, has written a trilogy of novels in which the chronological progression is one from male-centered family and patriarchal structure to female centered possibilities that depend upon escape from the claustrophobia of the neighbourhood of origin. (Barone: 22) Offering reasons for what is a very recent development of what Barone calls an Italian American women's literary tradition, Barone writes “First, like their male counterparts, early women immigrants had to devote all their energies to survival. [...]
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