Abstract
A survey of the ethnic consciousness of 246 Milwaukee Polish Americans found that the respondents could be divided into three general categories. The largest of these was composed of persons who, for all practical purposes, are assimilated. Among the others, two variations in Polish American ethnicity were identified. One was based on involvement in fraternal organizations while the other was founded in the maintenance of close contacts with Poland. Ethnically defined attitudes and behavior were strongest among members of this last group, who are familiar with the Polish language, usually born in Poland, and retain personal ties with that country. Ethnicity is strongly associated with older age, higher education and residence in heavily Polish neighborhoods in Milwaukee.
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