unit 1A - topic 8 - ethnicity

Question 1

define ethnicity

Answer 1

socially constructed way you see yourself and others see you based on your association with a distinct cultural group based on CHiReG (Common descent, History, Religion, Geographical area)

Question 2

what % of UK population is an ethnic minority?

Answer 2

15%

Question 3

Alexander 1996

Answer 3

The Art 🖼 of Being Black
Black youths in London: SYMBOLLIC MARKERS of being black
- distinctive walk 🚶🏾
- dress 👖
- music 🎶
- slang 🗣

Many different ways of being black, constructing black identity needs work + effort.

Question 4

Poole on representation of ethnic minorities in media

Answer 4

Qualitative content analysis of news 📰 articles abt Muslim people.
NEARLY ALL WERE NEGATIVE, related to words like ‘racialisation’ and ‘terrorism’

Question 5

Roger Hewitt 1996

Answer 5

Young whites feel oppressed, inhabiting an INVISIBLE 🫥 CULTURE. Deprived working class area of London. EVERY CULTURE CELEBRATED EXCEPT WHITE CULTURE. Union Jack 🇬🇧 etc regarded w suspicion, association with far right groups. We should allow white people to be proud of cultural traditional.

Question 6

How are ethnic identities changing?

Answer 6

Fastest growing ethnic group is MIXED ETHNICITY.
Reflects growth in HYBRID IDENTITIES.

Question 7

Les Back

Answer 7

Hybrid identities, youth in London council estate fused norms (e.g. British Asian people listening to reggae)
see topic 4, culture

Question 8

Johal 1998

Answer 8

Hybrid identities - exist, but not that easy to achieve 😕
Focused on 2nd/3rd British Asians (critical of term, not specific enough for Asia)
—> DUAL IDENTITY: inherited Asian identity, adopted British identity
—> WHITE MASK to interact w peers at school, but emphasising cultural difference when necessary
—> careful navigation of ethnic identity between ASSIMILATION and EMPOWERMENT THROUGH DIFFERENCE

Question 9

Modood et al (1994)

Answer 9

ASSIMILATION - ethnic groups gradually abandon old traditions.
African Caribbeans 🧑🏿 in Birmingham:
—> 2nd/3rd gen LESS RELIGIOUS than 1st gen
—> less use of cultural dialects and language
—> considered themselves BLACK rather than WEST INDIAN

Question 10

define hyper ethnicity

Answer 10

REJECTION 🛑 OF ASSIMILATION
Ethnic differences EMPHASISED
Traditional heritage norms REASSERTED
—> stems from need for a STRONG ETHNIC IDENTITY and REJECTION OF RACISM

Question 11

Giddens

Answer 11

POSTMODERN world 🌎 so challenging 😰 and bewildering that people TURN BACK to TRADITION.
To explain life more simply, reduce the difficult, staggering level of choice 😌

Question 12

Zempi

Answer 12

Racism hasn’t changed 😐
Experienced EXTREME RACISM when trying to wear burqa in participant observation.
Islamaphobia experienced on daily basis by the women she spoke to. Racism 📈

Question 13

Postmodernism on ethnicity

Answer 13

Ethnic boundaries are BREAKING DOWN. Individuals PLAY w ethnicity, emphasising or de-emphasising it, using fluid 🌊 style to represent ethnicity

Question 14

Discuss the relative importance of ethnic identity

Answer 14

For some groups (often majority), unimportant.
For minorities, often important
shown by
Johal
Back
Burchill
Ghuman
Zempi
Poole
Watson
Sewell