Woking’s Italian community Essay Example

leaving Woking and pursuing employment opportunities elsewhere. The Italian community has prospered as economic immigrants.

According to Putnam's idea of 'social capital', we have achieved economic success by nurturing extensive social networks that are built on trust and a strong sense of belonging, referred to as "la familigia". This progression towards economic prosperity is evident with the introduction of our first deli, Trovato and Son, in 1962. The establishment's success resulted in the opening of other Italian-focused businesses such as bars, ice-cream vendors, restaurants, and barbers. For locals seeking an authentic Italian experience, these establishments provided a taste of foreign travel, which was still a luxury limited to the wealthier classes at that time. Countless families have managed to improve their circumstances and overcome their humble beginnings to attain financial stability and social standing.

Many immigrants have returned to their homeland as affluent individuals, allowing their descendants to inherit their businesses. Unlike them, the descendants have the opportunity to pursue non-traditional occupations and higher education. The language barrier and religious views are factors to consider.

A small percentage of first-generation Italians are fluent in English, while the majority of the second and third generations are. My grandparents question why they should learn English when everyone they know speaks Italian. Interestingly, Italians in Italy are encouraged to learn English for better opportunities.

Personally, I do not adhere to any religious beliefs, which disappoints some members of my family and community. I do not follow traditions like not eating meat on Fridays or attending church every Sunday.

Once we reached adulthood, we were granted the freedom that our parents had previously controlled. However, this freedom quickly transformed when we witnessed the Catholic

Church being demolished. Although two-thirds of the parish opposed the construction of flats, the Bishop encouraged the congregation to let go of their emotional attachments. Despite three years passing since then, the flats remain flat.

My main point is that when something important happens, we come together irrespective of whether we follow norms or traditions. The concept of community can be understood geographically, with Italy being the core and common factor. While I may feel like an outsider in the broader community, I embrace my Sicilian identity when surrounded by family. My strong connection lies in the burial place of my grandfathers. Many first-generation Sicilian-Italians feel a sense of belonging to both their "home" village and Woking, as evidenced by their ownership of houses in both places. They desire to maintain a connection to their homeland and be buried there in the end. According to Anthony Cohen (1982; 1985), communities should be approached as communities of meaning.

The and their contents state that symbols and symptoms are used by a people to establish and express their identity through a feeling of belonging and ownership (Crow and Allan 1994). Cohen suggests that the true essence of a community resides in how its members perceive the vibrancy of its culture (Cohen 1985). When asked to select my ethnicity, I reveal my self-identification. This leads to a conflict between my birthplace and upbringing versus my cultural background.

When there is cause for celebration there is a visible sense of pride to be part of all things Italian.

1. Winning the 2006 World Cup.
2. Villa Gino’ a family who periodically hang the flag from their purpose built Roman home.

Organisations: drop

in centre’ for Italian exiles.

1. Italian Association. Gli Azzuri’ youth football team.

Nearly all Italians have Italian TV. For all these reasons listed, I never consider myself fully British, given the numerous Italian influences around me. This connects well with the idea of interest or elective communities. People can also be linked together by factors such as religious belief, sexual orientation, occupation or ethnic origin. Many ‘outsiders’ choose to marry into the Italian community and adopt many of our customs and social mores – conversion to Catholicism for example.

This sociological perspective is a departure from the conventional notion of community as a cohesive group based on geographical proximity. Instead, it defines community based on the human characteristics and behavior of its members (Hoggett 1997:7). It involves fostering political and social unity and promoting collective action. In policy and media circles, the term is used to describe the processes believed to be essential for cultivating communities that share values at both local and national levels. Neighborhood groups collaborate across different ethnic communities to educate, foster relationships, and facilitate integration. This includes bringing together minority communities.

Organizations established for neglected residents by authorities and service providers aim to promote self-sufficiency. These groups are encouraged to develop a political voice to represent their common interests. In the context of local politics in Woking, the Italian community is not actively involved in such activities. In contrast, the Muslim population has elected their first British Asian Pakistani councillor in 1996, followed by four more in 2008. Education and communityMy dedication to learning the Italian language and culture was strengthened by my secondary school experience. Currently, "intercultural understanding" is a mandatory part

of the National Curriculum and is incorporated within Modern Foreign Languages and Citizenship disciplines.

These promote the following ideals in children.

1. Tolerance: openness to others; curiosity; respect, a willingness to listen and learn (Walzer 1997: 11).
2. Reciprocity: quid pro quo If I help you now you will help me later (Putnam 2000)
3. Trust: the confident expectation that people, institutions and things will act in consistent, honest and appropriate way trustworthiness reliability (Putnam 1993; Coleman 1990).

Conclusion

I have friends from all over the world. I choose to breakdown stereotypes, as I see them as individuals rather than members of ethnic and religious groups. This goes hand in hand with globalisation, as the world is getting smaller and businesses are becoming international, and as a consequence, so has communication.

This reflection has made me realize that foreign travel and social media have significantly contributed to increased inter-cultural contact. As a second-generation Italian, I find myself in a distinctive situation where I am physically distant from my homeland due to birth, yet not fully assimilated into the country of my birth. Although government policies aim to tackle these challenges, they often overlook the obstacles we encounter in our daily lives. In my research, I have observed a scarcity of written records and available resources concerning Anglo-Italian history, despite the existence of a local history center and recently renovated library.

It is surprising that there is no specific place or platform available for the younger generation of Brit-Italians to engage, hindering integration unless one has Italian friends. Consequently, we tend to stay within our own community. Nevertheless, life, experiences, and job opportunities compel us to form social networks outside of our community and

beyond the neighborhood. Family, or "la famiglia," serves as the strongest connection to my cultural heritage, unlike previous generations whose relationships were strengthened by the need for economic support.

If given the choice, it is certain that they would both opt for the same option. I am currently striving to enhance my research in order to ascertain the crucial gateway required for the success of the British-Italian community.