Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Multiple Meanings Of San Diego's Little Italy: A Study Of The Impact Of Real And Symbolic Space And Boundaries On The Ethnic Identities Of Eight Italian Americans, Thomas Joseph Cesarini

Dissertations

The literature suggests that identifying with a particular place can promote a sense of ethnic identity. This study focused on eight Italian American community members’ perceptions of San Diego’s Little Italy as both a container and creator of ethnic identity. The study addressed a) how the participants define and convey their Italian American ethnic identity and b) how the participants perceive the role of San Diego’s Little Italy pre-redevelopment and post-redevelopment in creating and shaping their sense of being Italian American.

The study employed a case-study design. Ethnohistoric accounts of life experiences were gathered from participants selected through convenience and …