Discovering Ethnic Identity in AmericaBy: Jamie Mason

AbstractAbstract: 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.

Background Mom is 2nd generation Greek (100%)

My Mom’s dad came to America at the age of 16

My Dad is Hungarian and English

Baptized into the Greek Orthodox Church

Attended Sunday School for 12 years

Involved in the GOYA (Greek Orthodox Youth Association) from the time I was a freshman in High School till I graduated.

Attended Greek School

Part of Church Dance Group

Hypothesis In the article Three Generations of Greek Americans: A Study in Ethnicity, Alice

Scourby explains, “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).

As a result, how does religion affect my ethnic identity as a Greek-American woman?

My hypothesis I believed that religion plays a significant role in defining my ethnic identity as a Greek-American women.

Resources Research material gathered was from a

wide variety of sources.

Used Refereed Journals from both EBSCO host and JSTOR.

Books like the Orthodox Study Bible and A Guide to Greek Traditions and Customs in America by Marilyn Rouvelas.

The research material was not only book and journal information, but my own personal accounts and experiences as well.

LiteratureMy information I organized into four main aspects:

1. Greek Orthodoxy

a. Three Generations of Greek Americans: A Study in Ethnicity (By Alice Scourby)

b. The Greek Orthodox Church in the United States and Assimilation (By Theodore Saloutos)

c. Orthodox (Eastern Churches) in the United States at the Beginning of a New Millennium: Questions of Nature Identity and Mission (By Alexei D. Krindatch)

2. Customs and Traditions

d. The Guide to Greek Customs and Traditions (by Marilyn Rouvelas)

3. Ethnicity/Ethnic Identity

e. Race and the Construction of Human Identity (by Audrey Smedley)

f. Ethnicity &Ethnic Groups: Research Needs (Richard Kolm)

4. Gender Issues

g. Freedom and Power: The Debate Over the Position of Greek Women (By Janine Mills)

h. Contested Masculine Spaces in Greek Orthodoxy (By Eleni Sotiriu)

Methodology I presented my research in as

an anthropological auto ethnography

I use a combination of references from refereed journals , books, and articles and apply it to my own known information about each topic

I also make it a point to prove to the reader that I am an expert this field

Greek Orthodoxy The Greek Orthodox Church houses the majority of anything Greek or Greek Orthodox related in

either the church itself or extra curricular activities

Some activities that have help keep my tied to my ethnicity and form my ethnic identity and celebrate my culture go as follows : GOYA, Sunday School, Church Retreats, Camp Nazareth, Greek School , Church Festivals, Greek Dancing “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. Greek Orthodox Youth Association (GOYA) was a group in which I made many lifetime friends. GOYA is the church youth group that focuses on the idea of fellowship and highlights church morals. GOYA members range between thirteen and eighteen years old. In GOYA, I not only made lifelong friends, but also participated in many service activities both in the church and outside the community. GOYA plays a role in my ethnic identity because various activities are aimed at fellowship between members of the church and the Orthodox community. These activities such as Basketball Tournaments exposed me to a small community of Greek-American youth, not only from my church, but churches around Western-Pennsylvania and Ohio. For example, at tournaments I had be exposed to not only Greek Dancing but also popular, modern Greek music. These activities and events brought me closer not only to my culture but to the church as well.”

Customs and Traditions Majority of all customs and traditions are observed during feast days

The idea of fasting as mentioned above is not to “give something up”, but rather to resist the urges and temptations and to focus on spiritual rejuvenation. Fasting is a personal choice. Typically, I have done the regular fast, eating no meat on Wednesday’s and Friday’s and eating no meat during all of Holy Week. However, one year I chose to fast traditionally by eating no meat for forty days and nothing from an animal on Holy Week. It was a difficult task and it really wore on my body. Fasting is a personal choice. It is important to keep in mind that fasting is supposed to cleanse the body and soul, but staying healthy is vital.

Attending church and participating in its sacraments regularly such as communion and confession are an important element when preparing for Easter. Lent in the Orthodox Church is seen as a time for the parishioners to reconcile and rekindle their relationship with God. Attending church regularly and taking confession is the first step towards preparing for Easter.

Finally, lent as mentioned before is a time of preparation. The church looks down upon events and activities that distance one from Easter. This is even evident today in America. During Holy Week I do not watch t.v., listen to the radio or go to the movies. My friend Athena had to miss her junior prom for it occurred during Lent.

Holy Week services that lead up to the events of Christ’s death and resurrection

Holy Week is a time where parishioners and family all celebrate the resurrection of Christ

Ethnic Identity “Commitment to the cultural group, loyalty, solidarity,

social responsibility are the main concern of ethnicity as the cultural bond. Transmission of these values to oncoming generations through the socialization process in family and community is the main function of ethnicity” (Kolm, 66).

Understanding what ethnicity is and how it is defined is the first step of discovering the role it plays in defining “ethnic-identity”

Smedley writes, “…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” (Smedley, 690).

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.

Gender Issues The role in which women play in both church and

community life is very distinct

The Greek Orthodox Church women are not able to be priests, deacons, altar servers

Times have changed because of the modernization and industrialization of Greece improve the status of women in Greek society (Mills, 5).

The modern day American culture has help to evolve these older generation after generation from prejudices.

Conclusion 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

Further research can still be done however

Possibly a of Greek-American male perspective, or even a study of religion and how it effects a different kind of ethnicity, for example Judaism.

There is much more is left to be explored in this area of ethnic identity