Is Diversity Enough? Exploring Intergroup Friendships in Italian Multiethnic Schools

Abstract

Italian schools are increasingly diverse spaces in which children of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, and cultural-linguistic practices interact daily. Thus, these spaces provide fertile ground for a continuum of relational experiences from positive intergroup relationships and friendships to tensions and experiences of discrimination and marginalization. Research has demonstrated that diverse spaces can be ideal for positive intergroup contact, intergroup dialogue and the formation of intergroup friendship, which have been associated with prejudice reduction and a decrease in intergroup anxiety. Employing a theoretical framework based on intergroup contact theory (Allport, 1954) and research on intergroup friendships, (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2000; 2008; Pettigrew, Tropp, Wagner, & Christ, 2011; Lease & Blake, 2005) this article adds to a nascent interest in sociology of education research on intergroup relations and friendships in Italian multiethnic schools. A large sample (n=1314) of middle school students attending multiethnic classrooms in Southern Italy were surveyed to understand the extent of their intergroup relationships, perspectives on intergroup relations, and intergroup cooperative as well as discriminatory behaviors. Findings reveal that the majority of the children in the sample report having intergroup friendships. Native Italian children report fewer intergroup friendships while non-Italian children report higher levels of intergroup friendships. Yet, native Italian children report getting along better with peers while non-Italian students report getting along less well with peers.

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Contini R. M., Pica-Smith C., Ives B. (2018) "Is Diversity Enough? Exploring Intergroup Friendships in Italian Multiethnic Schools " Italian Journal of Sociology of Education, 10(3), 140-164. DOI: 10.14658/PUPJ-IJSE-2018-3-7  
Year of Publication
2018
Journal
Italian Journal of Sociology of Education
Volume
10
Issue Number
3
Start Page
140
Last Page
164
Date Published
11/2018
ISSN Number
2035-4983
Serial Article Number
7
DOI
10.14658/PUPJ-IJSE-2018-3-7
Issue
Section
Special Section