4. Ethnic Differences in Family Patterns

Question 1

1. Immigration

Answer 1

• 1950s: Immigration into Britain helped create greater ethnic diversity
• 2011 Census: 86% of UK population were white.
• Main groups were Asian and Asian British (7.5%)
• Black and Black British (3.3%), Mixed (2.2%)

Question 2

2. Black Families

Answer 2

• Have a higher proportion of lone-parent households.
• 2012: over half of families with dependent children headed by a black person were lone parent families (compared with only 1/9 Asian families)
• High rate of female-headed, lone-parent black families has been seen as evidence of family disorganisation that can be traced back to slavery.
• Under slavery, when couples were sold separately, children stayed with the mother. It is argued that this established a pattern of family life that persists
• Also argued male unemployment means black men are less able to provide for family
• Mirza: higher rate of lone-parent families among blacks is not result of disorganisation, but reflects high value black women place on independence

Question 3

3. Asian Families

Answer 3

• Bangladeshi (4.4), Pakistani (4.3) and Indian (3) households tend to be larger than those of other ethnic groups (numbers represent persons per household.
• White British and Black Caribbean: 2.4 persons per household
• Such households sometimes contain 3 generations but most are nuclear rather than extended.
• Ballard: extended family ties provided an important source of support among Asian migrants during the 50s and 60s.

Question 4

Summary

Answer 4

1. Immigration
2. Black Families
3. Asian Families