Ruth’s Sociology Resources Blog

Key ideas/points you should be able to write about for ethnic identities:

• What do we mean by ethnicity?
• Is ethnicity a simple or complex idea?
• What is ethnicity based upon?
• How are ethnic identities formed?
• You need to look at socialisation processes and which institutions are involved in that – family, education, peer groups, religion, media …
• The role of racism and social exclusion in the formation and strengthening of ethnic identities.
• What are the different sociological viewpoints on ethnic identities and their formation?
• Review the studies and viewpoints we have looked at in class
• How are ethnic identities changing?
• In what ways are ethnic identities different today compared to 20 or 30 years ago?
• How have changes in society had an impact upon ethnic identities?
• Changes in occupational structure
• Growth of postmodernism
• Changes in technology
• Changes to the family and other social institutions
• Globalisation
• In what ways have ethnic identities stayed the same?

The Formation of Ethnic Identities

There are a range of different factors which affect the formation of ethnic identities, click here for more information and a PowerPoint show.

Changing Ethnic Identities

• Patterson (1965) – expectation that assimilation of ethnic minorities would eventually occur.
• Study of West Indian immigrants
• Immigrant-Host model

• BUT evidence that, while ethnic minorities have to some extent changed behaviours, they have not vanished.

Growth of multi-cultural society

• Modood et al (1997) – study for the Policy Studies Institute, looked at changing ethnic identities
• Asian identities –
• changes for 2nd generation – religion, marriage
• Identification in specific ethnic/religious terms
• Black Identities
• No single black identity
• Influence of Caribbean cultural traditions
• Change in importance of religious faith
• Use of Patois
• Range of descriptions but not “British”

Resistance

• Gilroy (1997), Hebdige (1979) – use of ethnic identity as resistance to racism & dominant ideologies
• Mercer (1995) – style as a political tool – hairstyles & dress

Mixing Identities

• Tension between identities? – Ballard (1994) – idea is exaggerated – young Asians switch “codes” – cultural navigation
• Shifting cultures & identities
• Creation of hybrid identities
• Back (1996) – council estates in South London, evidence of cultural “borrowing”
• Back (1994) – global musical styles
• Robins (1997) – role of globalisation in bringing the local to the global
• BUT – Morley (1994) – interconnectedness of global cultures not new – legacy of colonialism
• Hall (1992) – postmodern - fragmenting of ethnic identity – personal creation & choice