ethnic identity Flashcards
AO1 - What is ethnicity and how does it relate to identity?
Ethnicity relates to culture and includes factors like religion, language, location, ethnic origin, and skin colour. These cultural characteristics shape who we are and how we see ourselves.
AO1 - What does Gilroy mean by the ‘Black Atlantic’ identity?
Gilroy (1993) argues that young black people in the UK and the US share a common identity based on the experience of racism and powerlessness, rather than being rooted in a specific country.
AO1 - What did Winston James argue about the unification of African and Caribbean identities?
James (1993) suggests that racism in the UK unified African and Caribbean identities, creating a shared oppositional culture as a form of resistance.
AO1 - How does Jacobson explain the rise of Islamic identity among young Pakistanis?
Jacobson (1997) found that young British Pakistanis adopt a strong Islamic identity as a response to social exclusion, using religion as a source of stability, security, and resistance to marginalisation.
AO1 - How do ethnic minorities respond to racism according to Cashmore and Troyna?
Cashmore and Troyna (1990) argue that ethnic minorities ‘turn inwards’ by seeking support from their communities, strengthening their cultural and religious identity in response to discrimination.
AO1 - How do Eastern European migrants experience ethnicity in the UK?
Spencer et al. (2007) found that Eastern European migrants often struggle to integrate, with some British people not letting them into their social circles, leading to isolation and discrimination.
AO1 - How has British white identity been studied?
Hewitt (2005) explored the white working-class backlash against multiculturalism, where some felt policies promoting equality were unfair to them, leading to resentment and a need to defend their identity.
AO3 - How does hybridity affect ethnic identity?
Hybridity refers to the mixing of cultures. Globalisation and mass media have encouraged hybrid identities, allowing people to adopt elements from multiple cultures regardless of location.
AO3 - What did Butler find about British Muslim women’s identity?
Butler found that British Muslim women adopted hybrid identities, balancing Western values on education and work with traditional religious beliefs about gender roles.
AO3 - What is cultural code-switching according to Avtar Brah?
Brah (1996) argues that young British Asians are skilled cultural code-switchers, rather than simply blending two cultures. She challenges the idea of a cultural clash and suggests that identity is fluid and adaptable.
AO3 - What is the ‘White mask’ theory by Johal and Bains?
Johal and Bains found that British Asians adopt ‘dual identities,’ behaving differently with friends, family, and school. They may adopt a ‘White mask’ to fit in with British culture. young ppl very skilful ‘code switchers’
AO3 - What is assimilation according to Patterson?
Patterson argued that ethnic minorities eventually assimilate into the host culture, gradually forgetting their original ethnic identity and fully adopting the culture of their new country.
AO3 - what does Back say about ‘neighbourhood nationalism’ ?
study of 2 council estates, kids pick up a hybrid identity. white youths were attracted to aspects of black culture and youths developed a shared identity.
A03 - functionalist/ parsons view on ethnic identity
migrants must assimilate (forget their ethnic identity) , and become immersed in the culture of their host country.
