Jamie Mason
Contact: WBSP@iup.edu
724-766-1168
Discovering Ethnic Identity In America
Abstract: Objective: This research was done to discover the role in which religion plays
in determining my ethnic identity as a Greek –American woman. Method: I am a 19 year
olds Greek-American Woman. I present both scholarly-refereed articles as well as
personal experiences as my research. Results: Religion plays a very distinct role in
identifying my ethnic identity through the involvement in various customs and traditions
practiced both in and outside the church. Conclusion: The church provides Greek
Americans a place to celebrate their heritage and feel closer to their roots. Key Words:
Ethnicity, Identity, Greek Orthodoxy, Greek culture, Greek-Americans.
Key Quotes
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“This new definition was articulated by social scientists who believed that ethnicity
based upon nationality and language was gradually being replaced by religion in the
lives of all Americans” (Scourby,45).
The church not only houses religious customs and traditions, but the activities are a
continuing education of Greek customs and traditions as well as a place for fellowship.
The times of celebration, such as Easter, I feel closer to discovering my true ethnic
identity through the customs and traditions practiced.
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Drawing from both Kolm and Smedley, the core of ethnic identity is the idea of
involvement in family and community, despite your biological traits or the percentage of
hereditary heritage.
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In conclusion, there is no doubt that the church plays a significant role in my life. The
church is not just a place of worship, but a place where my family, fellow parishioners,
and I go to celebrate our heritage and culture as well.
Ethnicity & Ethnic Groups: Research Needs By Richard Kolm
Richard Kolm, the author of the article discusses the various reasons and approaches for ethnic studies. In
the beginning of the article he focuses on the whole idea of ethnic research and how broad of a topic is.
Also, Kolm discusses the areas in need of research, the implications and finally, the common ideas that
could be suggested. Finally, Kolm suggest a definition of what ethnicity is as, “As defined by this writer,
ethnicity becomes the basic element of all human relations & life.
Freedom and Power: The Debate Over the Position of Greek Women By Janine Mills
I wanted to include this article in my research because it defines the role of a traditional Greek woman in
both ancient and present day Greece. I felt that a lot of this information was pertinent because my thesis
statement is: How does religion affect my ethnic identity as Greek American WOMAN. I need to be aware
and familiar with the role in which women play in Greek society and culture. In the article, Janine Mills
discusses interviews with Greek woman and their opinions of their role in their society and culture. A
great example Mills provides is “ She claims that the majority of men in Kokkari do not allow their wives to
work outside the family, as they would violate the “ideal” family of the housewife and the income-earning
man” (11).
Race and the Construction of Human Identity By Audrey Smedley
This article covers the topics of race, ethnicity, and culture. The abstract of the article written by Audrey
Smedley says, “ This paper briefly explores how race became part of our culture and consciousness and
argues that we disconnect cultural features of identity from biological traits and study how “race” eroded
and superseded older forms of human identity. I feel that this information in the article will help me
because I feel that even though my biological traits/features (dark hair, or tan skin) do not fit the typical
Greek stereotype, it is the constant study and observation of my Greek friends, family, customs and
traditions that make me Greek.
Contested Masculine Spaces in Greek Orthodoxy By Eleni Sotiriu
Eleni Sotiriu writes about the ideas and controversies of the role women play in modern day Greek
Orthodoxy (499). She writes about how the church sometimes shapes/forms a lot of prejudices/biases in
the roles of women in Greek society. Some examples of prejudices discussed in the paper are “ It
examines women’s exclusion from the ministerial and sacramental orders of the Church. Women however
are excluded not only from the altar—the focal point of ordinations, but another sacred space occupying
a central place in the Greek religious landscape, Mount Athos. This article will help me connect on the
ways religion affects my identity as a Greek-American WOMEN, like journal number 7.
Three Generations of Greek Americans: A Study in Ethnicity By Alice Scourby
The article, Three Generations of Greek Americans: A Study in Ethnicity was written by Alice Scourby of
Long Island University. The article discusses the topic of ethnic identity in three generations of Greek
Americans. The article was written for the international immigration review. Scourby discusses the
various answers of specific survey questions pertaining to Greek-Americans and the differences in
answers between first, second, and third Greek Americans. Some of the following quotes contain some
statistics worth reading.
“The respondents were asked to identify themselves as either 1) Greek; 2) American; 3) Greek Orthodox;
4) Greek American. The second and third generations tended to identify as either Greek American or
Greek Orthodox, but a trend was discerned for third generation to identify as American. The first
generation indentified as Greek or Greek Orthodox. A further inquiry was made as to whether there was a
difference between being Greek and being Greek Orthodox. Fifty-eight percent of the first generation, 55
percent of the second and 64 percent of the third generation feel there is a distinction. As for a merging
of all Eastern Orthodox Churches: the first generation is opposed, the second generation is divided and
the third generation is strongly opposed to a merger.” (49)
“The findings of this study show that both U.S. born and foreign born Greek Americans have retained a
relatively strong attachment to their ethnic background. It also indicates that the attainment of higher
occupational status among the second generation did not result, as might expected, in a denial of ethnic
identity or an abandonment of the Greek community.” (49)
“Respondents were asked if they attend church: 1) Every Sunday; 2) Every other Sunday; 3) Several times
a year. Thirty-eight percent of the first generation, 61 percent of the second and 65 percent of the third
generation go to Church at least every other Sunday. The second generation is inclined to go to Church
more often than the first generation. When education is kept constant, those in the first and second
generations seem to attend Church less frequently.” (48)
“The first generation college graduates tended to be more critical of the Church than their second
generation counterparts. They were opposed, however to the use of English in the Church, did not
support American Orthodoxy, and chose friends of similar ethnic background. Sixty-one percent indicated
their friends were Greek compared to 25.3 percent of the second generation and 14 of the third
generation.” (49)
Scourby touches on a very important idea: “This new definition was articulated by social scientists who
believed that ethnicity based upon nationality and language was gradually being replaced by religion in
the lives of all Americans” (45).