Ethnicity Flashcards
2021 census data
Amongst the ethnic minority population in the UK there is a higher proportionate religiosity
- BRIERLY, in London half of all churchgoers are from black minority ethnic groups
- yet the proportion of Black ethnicities in London is less than 20%
Which group are less likely to be religious?
Chinese
Which groups are more likely to be religious?
Pakistani and Bangladeshhi
Economic
Religion as a supernatural compensator
- more exposed to a cost of living crisis
- twice as likely to experience deep poverty
Identity
DAVIE- ‘strength through difference’
- Asians (especially Muslims) ranked religion and family equally as ‘markers of identity’
- AC/BC ranked religion as the third most important factor in their lives
- originate from countries where religion is entrenched in their culture
Family pressure
BIRD- maintaining cultural identity and tradition
- new immigrant bring their religious faith, maintain connections with their country of origin
- Religious socialisation, children under pressure from their parents
- South Asian communities
Coping strategy
BRUCE- cultural defence and cultural transition
- cope with experiences of prejudice, discrimination etc
- ease common issues new immigrants face
What does BRUCE believe?
A secularisation theorist
- there is a strong religious commitment amongst ethnic minority groups due to the social functions religion performs rather than deep religious belief
What does Bruce mean by cultural defence?
Immigrant communities or other minorities use religion to defend themselves from the hostility of the majority population.
- to build a safe community away from racism
What does Bruce mean by cultural transition?
The idea that minority ethnic groups could use religion and religious institutions to assist the process of immigration, reduce the shock of the transition
How does recent immigration support cultural transition?
Areas which saw high levels of Polish immigration have seen an increase in the congregation in their Catholic churches
What 3 main paths did Chryssides identify in 1st generation immigrants?
1- Apostasy
2- Accommodation
3- Renewed Vigor
What is Apostasy?
Where a particular set of beliefs are abandoned in a hostile environment
What is Accommodation?
Where religious practises are adapted to take account of the changed situation
What is Renewed Vigor?
Where ethnic minorities reassert their religion more strongly as a response to either an actual or perceived hostility
Who studied 2nd generation immigrants?
Modood
- conducted a social survey in the mid 1990s looking at 1st and 2nd generation immigrants from different cultures and religious beliefs
What did Modood find?
Trends since then suggest findings are not outdated and if anything the differences are more apparent today
- supports cultural defence and transition
Found that for the 1st generation immigrants religion provided an essential source of identity and acted as a coping strategy
How are Black Caribbean Christians an example of Apostasy?
Under half saw themselves as religious
- majority did not attend church or participate in religious activities
How is Hindu an example of accommodation?
Wore more Western clothing but modesty in dress was observed never dressed promiscuously
- yes to food restrictions, no to alcohol restriction
How is Muslim and example of Renewed Vigor?
Very strict observation of diet and alcohol
- felt parental pressure
‘practise out of fear rather than faith’
all said religion was important or very important - felt very much the same ass 1st generation Muslims
What does JOHAL say?
Young Asians have adopted ‘code-switching’
- hyper ethnicity
- adopt both ‘Britishness’ and ‘Asianess’ at the appropriate situations
What does BUTLER say?
Family ethnic identity is passed through generations e.g. Islam
- 30 semi-structured interviews
- W, more independent, aware of their rights, challenge restrictions religion has placed on them
- seek new roles
- give them more independence and choice but also strengthen and support their commitment to Islam
Who is in support of :
YES religion is a form of cultural defence
Bruce- cultural defence
Davie- important source of identity ‘strength through difference’
Chryssides- Renewed vigor in the face of perceived or actual hostility
Modood- 1st gen immigrants faced greater hostility, more religious
Who is in support of :
NOT a cultural defence or not just a cultural defence
Bruce- cultural transition, supported by Bird
Other factors- economic
Accommodation of apostasy?
2nd gen immigrants became less religious
- not Muslims but maybe NOT cultural defence but family pressure
Conclusion?
Really important to see that religiosity is multi-factoral
- not ethnicity alone that determines it
