Who Am I? Italian and Foreign Youth in Search of Their National Identity

This paper aims to investigate foreign youths’ integration within the host society paying particular attention to a neglected issue in Italian sociological literature: the construction of national identity. In order to explore this topic, data collected in a survey conducted in the province of Bologna in the school year 2006/07 are examined. More than 3,000 teenagers enrolled in upper secondary schools were interviewed via a questionnaire, which among other things collected information regarding their national identity and parents’ origin. Hence, it has been possible to distinguish among Italians, foreigners and children of mixed couples. Comparisons among these three categories reveal interesting differences in terms of national identities. In particular, and predictably, almost all Italians identify themselves as plain Italian; children of mixed couples are quite in the middle, since the majority chooses a plain Italian identity, but this proportion is not comparable to Italians; whereas foreigners are more likely to express a belonging to their country of origin. Nonetheless, the country of origin does not represent foreign youths’ exclusive identity, as they also describe themselves with a “hyphenated” Italian identity (such as Italian-Moroccan) or within a pan-national category (such as African), whereas only a few describe themselves as plain Italian. Length of stay in Italy, language spoken at home and – partially – geographic area of origin seem to play a crucial role in defining foreigners’ national identity. Further analysis shows that friends may play a strategic role as well, since they are able to accelerate foreigners’ integration in the receiving society.