Social Groups- Ethnicity

Question 1

Solidarity AO1

Answer 1

Davie- higher levels of religiosity help to maintain tradition, group cohesion and community solidarity
-art, marriage, cooking, diet, dress and language
Mosque and Sikh temples are community centres as well as places of worship and provide a focus for social life
Aswell as means for protecting and promoting cultural values and traditions
Helped to cope with worries perhaps arising from hostility and discrimination from racism

Question 2

Solidarity AO3

Answer 2

Outdated in postmodern society ethnicity is not a barrier
People may choose to use religion for solidarity but there are many options
Its possible for EMs to feel solidarity with other EMs and white people

Question 3

Social deprivation and marginality AO1

Answer 3

EMs likely to feel marginalised and status frustration
Turn to religion for a secure and solid source of identity, status and community
Older asian women feel marginalised as they have a poor grasp of English
Pakistani and Bangladeshi households- 63% living in poverty 2005-6
African Caribbeans face higher levels of unemployment
Marx- ‘opium of the people’ comforting diversion from attacking the causes of poverty and racism
Theodicy of disprivilege- Weber

Question 4

Social deprivation and marginality AO3

Answer 4

EM religiosity may be more to do with class than ethnicity
Many EMs who are more religious tend to be lower class
Chinese tend to be more MC- less religious

Question 5

Religious socialisation AO1

Answer 5

Family structures are much tighter knit in Asian communities with strong extended families
Combined with generally closer knit communities may result in pressure to conform to religious values and behaviour

Question 6

Religious socialisation AO3

Answer 6

Perhaps EM religiosity is a cultural expectation than purely religious
Belonging without believing - Davie

Question 7

Cultural transition AO1

Answer 7

Bruce
Easing transition to a new culture by providing support and community
History of immigration to UK- religion provided a focal point for Irish, African Caribbean, Muslim, Hindu and others

Question 8

Cultural transition AO3

Answer 8

However
Once a group such as Irish Catholics has made the transition into the wider society religion may lose its role and decline in importance

Question 9

Cultural defence AO1

Answer 9

Bruce
Religion offers support and a sense of cultural identity in an uncertain and hostile environment
Bird- religion among minorities can be a basis for community solidarity, preserving ones culture and language and coping with oppression
Black Afr or Carribean Christians found white churches in UK did not welcome them

Question 10

Cultural defence AO3

Answer 10

Postmodernists -
Little need for cultural defence in postmodern UK society
Much evidence of integration and interfaith links