This three and a half year longitudinal study focused upon the social and cultural identities of four Italian women. In understanding and interpreting their identities, ethnographic data was analyzed through discourse and narrative analysis and presented in ways that recognized the importance of caring for their lives (Brandt, 2013), staying close to their stories (Taylor, 2011), and not over interpreting their words (Eco, 1992). The four Italian women--Pasqualina Ruggiero, Matilde Mauro, Assunta Rufrano, and Filomena Lamberti--were born between 1928-1936 in Southern Italy, and emigrated to the United States after World War II. Because of their life experiences, and shared and individual identities, I choose not to lump these women into categories. In this dissertation I will argue that in this time of "crises," these women's silenced voices are of importance and significant to pedagogy. If we trace their narratives and identities and learn from their individual and collective stories, we might consider a new way to think about the way we live and imagine the future through storytelling and writing. Through storytelling, writing the narrative becomes a vehicle. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]