Similarities in Italian and Greek Multidimensional Ethnic Identity: Some Implications for Food Consumption

Abstract

The authors tender a general three-dimensional structure of ethnic identity for Italian- and Greek-Canadians with the following three dimensions: (a) Ethnic Language Use with Family Members, (b) Ethnic Language Media in all senses and (c) Ethnic Attachment. They execut preliminary exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and later confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) separately for each ethnic assemblage Results suggest much similarity between the measurement moulds of each group. The CFAs also indicate that the sum of two units language-based dimensions are the greatest in quantity reliable indicators of ethnic identity for the couple ethnic groups. One multisample analysis points to potentially invariant measurement conformations between the two groups and another is indicative of stability of the propos general make between men and women. Estimates from additional second-order confirmatory factor analysis moulds which also include acculturation, labor for to demonstrate that the ethnic identity raise is discriminant of acculturation for the two groups. Structural equation modeling displays that ethnic identity dimensions accompany to be positively related to the consumption of traditional aliments for both Greek- and Italian-Canadians. upon the other hand, the hypothesis that ethnic identity is negatively related to the consumption of convenience sustenances received only partial confirmation. This was mirrored by the Italian-Canadian sample on the contrary not by its Greek-Canadian counterpart.

JEL Classification: M3

Keywords: Ethnic identity; ethnic pabulum consumption; multisample analysis; Greek-Canadians; Italian-Canadians

R?©sum?©

Le pr?©sent article tender une structure g?©n?©rale ?  trois dimensions pour l'identit?© ethnique de Italo- et de HeIl?©no-Canadiens. La conformation propos?©e comprend (a) l'utilisation de la langue ethnique avec le membre de la famille, (b) l'exposition ?  la langue maternelle dans le m?©dias, et (c) l'attachement ethnique. De analyses factorielles exploratoires pr?©liminaires (EFAs) et confirmatoires (CFAs) sont r?©alis?©es s?©par?©ment pour chacun de deux groupe ethniques. Le r?©sultats sugg??rent une grande similarit?© entre le mod??le de mesure propos?© pour chaque groupe Le analyses factorielles confirmatoires indiquent que le deux dimensions ?  caract??re linguistique repr?©sentent le indicateurs le plus fiables de l'identit?© ethnique pour le deux groupe ethniques. L'analyse confirmatoire multi-groupes met en ?©vidence de constitutions de mesure potentiellement invariantes entre le deux communaut?©s tandis qu 'une autre analyse met en lumi??re la stabilit?© de la constitution propos?©e entre les hommes et le femme De analyses factorielles confirmatoire s de second ordre incluant le general [i]or[/i] abstract notion ?« acculturation ? permettent de d?©montrer que dans le deux groupe ?©tudi?©s, le general [i]or[/i] abstract notion d'identit?© ethnique ne prend pas en compte le general [i]or[/i] abstract notion d'acculturation. Le mod??le d'?©quation structurelle indique que pour le Hell?©no- et le Italo-Canadiens, le dimensions de l'identit?© ethnique tendent ?  ??tre positivement reli?©es ?  la consommation d'aliments traditionnels. Par ailleurs, l'hypoth??se selon laquelle l'identit?© ethnique est n?©gativement reli?©e ?  la consommation de produits alimentaires de convenance est partiellement valid?©e et uniquement dans l'?©chantillon d'halo-Canadiens.

Mot cl?© : Identit?© ethnique; consommation d'aliments ethniques; analyses multi-groupes; Hell?©no-Canadiens, Italo-Canadiens

How individuals maintain involvement with their ethnic cluster or culture of origin remains an enduring question in multicultural environments of the like kind as Canada. Rather than being assimilated, members of ethnic clusters have reportedly experienced a more manifold and multifaceted form of adaptation. a certain quantity of have thus not only acquired the skills and/or traits which have enabled them to function within a majority or entertainer culture, but have also retained aspects of their tillages of origin. The former facet has been referr to as acculturation and the latter has many times been labelled ethnic identity (Aboud, 1988; Keefe 1980; Keefe & Padilla, 1987; Mendoza, 1989; Phinney, 1990 1996) The focus of this paper is upon the latter.

Specifically, the intention of this study rests in (a) developing a general and multidimensional original of ethnic identity applicable to the two Greek- and Italian-Canadians, and (b) relating the general ethnic identity dimensions to the consumption of traditional and convenience diet items for each group. single reason to focus our attention upon Greek- and Italian-Canadians is that they have been and remain well exhibited minorities in Canada. Another reason is that there is considerable evidence to indicate that hellenics and Italians in Canada have maintained aspects of their cultural heritage (eg Jansen, 1988; Lambert, Mermigis, & Taylor, 1986; Primpas Welts, 1982; Ramirez, 1989; Zucchi, 1988) Moreover, studies have demonstrated that the two groups have retained many facets of their ethnic identities in comparison to other clumps which, in turn, are perhaps more malleable in certain composings of their identities (e.g., Lambert, 1987)