Ethnicity and Ethnic Identity: A Comparative Study of Greek-, Italian-, and Anglo-Australian Adolescents

Abstract

The present study explores the nature of ethnic identity in a sample of Greek-, Italian-, and Anglo-Australian adolescents. A questionnaire designed to elicit dimensions of ethnic identity was administered to 622 subjects in Years 9 and 11 of high school. For a sub-sample of adolescents, an interview probed for perceived similarities and differences between ethnic groups. The multidimensional nature of ethnic identity was evident from both measures. Similar dimensions emerged for the two ethnic minority groups but perceptions of ethnicity differed. For Greek-Australians, associated with recognition of their cultural separateness was a positive sense of valuing their ethnic origins. For Italian-Australians. cultural separateness was associated with a positive attitude to assimilation.