Ethnicity and Identity 1

Ethnicity and Identity 1

1. Ghuman 1999 - Asian Families (CS)

   • Found that tradition, religion & family values played an important part in the upbringing of second-generation Asians in the UK.
   • Asian children are more likely to be socialised into the extended family. They have an emphasis on duty, loyalty, honor and religious commitment.

2. Gilroy 1993 - "Black Atlantic"

   • Looked at identity of young black people and used the term "black atlantic" to describe that identity wasn't specifically routed in the UK or in the country of origin. It seemed to be shared with young black people in the US.
   • Argued that shared experience of racism and powerlessness can go beyond differences in background and history to create a 'black identity'.

3. Spencer et al 2007 - Eastern Europeans (CS)

   • Eastern European migrants spend little time socialising with British people.
   • In research a Ukranian woman said "the British people do not let you into their circles." This shows that British people aren't very accepting of people from other countries.

4. Cashmore and Troyna 1990 - "inwards" (CS)

   • Argue that there will be a tendency for ethnic minorities to 'turn inwards'. This means that they like to seek support from people within their own ethnic community as a response to the racism they receive.
   • From this they say that religion and culture may be strengthened as they become key sources of identity and support.

5. Modood 1997 - Intracultural diversity and 2nd generation Asians

   • Found lots of generational differences over the issue of identity. Second generation ethnic minorities from African - Caribbean & Asian backgrounds felt more British than their parents but still saw their ethnic origin as a key part of ethnic identity.
   • A03 - Postmodernists argue that in a media-saturated society such as contemporary UK, identity is all about choice.
     • Everyone can create their own identity.
     • Ethnicity is becoming less significant in today's society.
     • Some would say that ethnicity/race are sources of discrimination and hugely affects identity.

6. Francis & Archer 2005 - Chinese Families (CS)

   • They considered the challenges of growing up within a minority ethnic group in the UK and the influences it may have on an individuals identity.
   • Chinese pupils in British schools are constantly confronted with racism, either verbal abuse or racially motivated attacks and discrimination.
   • Stereotyped as extremely hardworking, diligent, quiet, passive and naturally clever.

7. Winston James 1993 - Skin colour and colonialism

   • Suggested that the experience of racism brought together the culture and identity of African-Caribbeans in the UK.
   • Black people from the Caribbean had cultural difference based on where they originally came from.
     • Divided based on colour of their skin, a hierarchy of colour imposed by colonialism ( policy requiring full or partial political control over another country).
   • In the UK, experience of racism tended to draw African-Caribbeans together. Shared oppositional culture grew, organised around the label 'black' as a resistance to racism.