Cultural Explanations of Ethnic Inequality

Question 1

How did Modood explain unemployement differences?

Answer 1

Some EMs may have language problems which negatively affect their ability to find work - 3/5 of Bangladeshi women and 1/2 of Pakistani women speak no or limited English along with 1/5 of B and P men

Question 2

What did Dahya find

Answer 2

1st generation Pakistani choose to live together in inner cities to preserve their culture - cultural choices may cause disadvantage

Question 3

Give an example of a cultural tradition damaging economic activity rates

Answer 3

Purdah- seclusion of women (asian)

Question 4

Which EM group has a ‘cultural predisposition towards selfemployment’?

Answer 4

East African Sikhs and Asian - called ‘entrepreneurial’

Question 5

Which group is seen as having limited entrepreneurship?

Answer 5

Africans - Cashmore says they are often treated with suspicion by their own communities for ‘selling out’

Question 6

What did Roberts say?

Answer 6

Cultural explanations for economic differences between EM groups are plausible

Question 7

What did Gilroy criticize cultural explanations for?

Answer 7

‘Ethnic absolutism’ - cultures are dynamic not static, they are not mutually exclusive or homogenous

Question 8

What is another criticism of cultural explanations?

Answer 8

‘Blaming the victim’ - removes blame from social factors eg racism in the workplace or lack of opportunities in the area