Description
Book SynopsisThe scope of this research focuses on a sample of undergraduate university students who attended the Westchester campuses of Pace University in New York to determine the relative significance of ethnicity in the educational and professional options perceived by Italian-American vs. non-Italian-American respondents. Their family traditions were examined, and patterns of behavior impacting choices of pre-professional vs. non pre-professional employment were identified. The result of this research underscores the need for specialized counseling and mentoring strategies to enable more traditional Italian-American students to fully develop their potential both academically and professionally.
Trade ReviewLike all ethnic groups, Italians are torn between the past and the future. Between preserving traditional solidarities of family, community, and culture, on the one hand, and pursuing mobility and integration in our increasingly hybrid society, on the other. In this book, Joseph Franco explores the interior tug-of-war among students at a small university in metropolitan New York. -- Stephen Steinberg, Distinguished Professor of Urban Studies, Queens College & Graduate Center, CUNY, and author of The Ethnic Myth and Race Relations: A Critique
This is a book that dares to examine the question of traditional immigrant ethnic values in America. The question of enculturation of ethnic groups remains a lively subject to which Dr. Franco provides important insights. There are several compelling aspects in this book. By far, the most interesting insights are found in the chapter of case studies. The cases presented here give substance to the efforts of students who strive, through meritocracy, to achieve professional middle-class status in the United States. Above all, this book makes clear that further work in this field is needed as a follow-up to this study. The evolution of immigrants in our country is best studied in the combination of qualitative and quantitative examinations such as this. -- Rostyslaw Robak, Rostyslaw Robak, Professor/Chair, Psychology/Mental Health Counseling, Pace University
How relevant is ethnicity and the “weight of tradition” for the careers of college students? The author explores that question through the story of Italian-American educational and social mobility. The findings are sociologically rich in qualitative and quantitative detail. -- William Kornblum, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Graduate Center, CUNY
Table of ContentsCited Tables Abstract Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Statement of the Problem Chapter 2: Case Studies Chapter 3: Literature Review Chapter 4: Research Methods and Statistical Analysis Chapter 5: Ethnicity and Employment Chapter 6: Ethnicity and Education Chapter 7: US Generation and Social Class in Relation to Ethnic Traditionalism Chapter 8: A Pre-Professional Perspective Chapter 9: Significance of Research and Conclusions Appendix I: Questionnaire Appendix II: Commentary on Questionnaire Appendix III: Additional Survey Questions, Results, and Analysis References Index
