pace and patterns of its homeland setting.” (Pozetta, 1981) In accordance with many immigrant groups, Italians were concentrated in tenements housing large families in small spaces. These inner street ghettos provided on-lookers with many reasons to discriminate against Italians. Although economic conditions and little housing availability facilitated the unsanitary living conditions, many Italians and other immigrant groups were stereotyped as lazy and unsanitary. Employment opportunities were much the same for Italian immigrants was as they were for most immigrant groups. Most took jobs in textile factories or other assembly factories, working in hazardous conditions for low wages. Italian women joined the workforce much more readily than Jewish women, often times taking on “home work” in order to work extra hours outside of the ten hour workday. In contrast to Jewish families pushing for the education of the children, Italian families preferred that their children contribute to the income of the household. It was common for Italian children in their native lands to attend school through the elementary level and upon its completion, join the workforce. In fact, in most cases this was expected. In America, however, laws were created to insure that children attended school at least until the age of fourteen and were strongly urged to continue education after that age. It was a major adjustment for Italian adolescents who were accustomed to essentially becoming adults after elementary school to all of a sudden become part of a distinct group of people that were no longer children, but had not Italian families had a difficult time adjusting to the ways of American life, especially in terms of their children. Many disagreed with policies ensuring that children stayed in school as it took away opportunities for added income. In addition, many immigrant families were wary of the education their children were...
