Week 4 Social Divisions and Change SS-1065D

Last week
Sex biological differences anatomical, hormonal
Gender the social identity that has become

historically and culturally attached to being biologically male or female. Masculinity and femininity used to describe the social roles, expectations and behaviours linked to each gender. Glass ceiling gender, power and social divisions Feminist theories of why and how gender operates as a social division

This week.
What are race and ethnicity?
Migration to the UK Measuring and recording ethnicity

Ethnicity and employment, housing and health

How does ethnicity intersect with class and gender?

Explanations for differences in outcomes

(For essays - see also weeks on education, community, hate crime)

Ethnicity and Race

Race the social and cultural significance assigned

to a group of people who are recognised as sharing common physical characteristics and common lineage of descent (inherited characteristics) Ethnicity group or community that is assumed to share common cultural practices and history produced through social interaction. Religion, language and territory included here. Scientific racism 19th Century

Not fixed categories

Black celts (Bonnett 1998), how the Irish became

white (Ignatiev 1996) The fact that only certain physical characteristics are signified to define race in specific circumstances indicates that we are investigating not a given, natural division of the worlds population, but the application of historically and culturally specific meanings to the totality of human physiological variation (Miles 1993: 71) Racial identities are relational

Race, class and hierarchy

Racial divisions are bound up with hierarchy,

economic and power inequalities

19th century racial inequality didnt clearly

separate race and class. Language of race used to talk about colonial subjects as well as European working-class

Racism (Law 1996)

the signification of race characteristics to identify a collectivity, the attribution of such a group with negative biological or

cultural characteristics the designation of boundaries to specify inclusion and exclusion variation in form in that it may be a relatively coherent theory or a loose assembly of images and explanations its practical adequacy; in that it successfully 'makes sense' of the world for those who articulate it, its pleasures; an unearned easy feeling of superiority and the facile cementing of group identity on the fragile basis of arbitrary antipathy.

Measuring and recording ethnicity

1991 Census was the first time ethnicity used as

measure rather than country of birth. 2001 extended with more specific categories to sub-divide white and mixed groups 2011 - expanded from 2001, with separate categories for "Gypsy or Irish Traveller" and "Arab" Mixed race one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the UK. Between 1991-2001 (growth of 150%). Largest group Black Caribbean/White and fastest growing group Chinese/White

Census 2001
Ethnicity White Mixed Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Black Caribbean Black African Black Other Chinese Number 54,153,898 677,117 1,053,411 747,285 283,063 565,876 485,277 97,585 247,403 % 92.1 1.2 1.8 1.3 0.5 1.0 0.8 0.2 0.4

Minority ethnic groups in the UK

In 2001 minority ethnic populations made up 4.6 m

or approx 8% of the GB population Super-diversity (Vertovec 2006) Exactly half of the UKs ethnic minority population were born in UK (higher proportions among the Mixed, Caribbean and Pakistani populations). In 2001 nearly half of all Britains ethnic minority residents lived in London. 7% in Yorkshire.

Migration to the UK
16th century onwards Roma/Gypsies
19th century Irish, Jews 19th and early 20th century sailors (e.g. Yemen,

China) Post WW2 1950s-1970s Commonwealth countries (Caribbean, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh) Refugees (WW2, Cold War, larger numbers from 1980s + especially late 90s and early 2000s) European Union

Government policy
Two central aspects of

UK government policy in relation to ethnic minority groups: Immigration Policy Race Relations legislation (see handouts)

Essentialism and intersectionality

Essentialism
Treats groups as if they are homogenous. Exaggerates differences and reduces similarities

between groups. Understating of differences within groups

(Lewis and Phoenix 2004)

Intersectionality
We all have multiple aspects to our identities
These interact Different in different social contexts and times

Employment
Chinese and Indian populations -most likely to be in

higher professional and managerial jobs (though Mason (2006) says less so in top layer and some also present in lowest socio-economic strata) . Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are overrepresented in semi-routine and routine non-supervisory jobs
Children live in households where there are no adults in

work: Pakistani (31%), Indian (12%), White British (16%), Chinese (17%), Black Caribbean (30%), Black African (39%) Qualifications, birthplace, social networks, place
Source: Census 2001 in Simpson et al. (2006)

Gender, ethnicity and employment

Economic activity (i.e. employment) rates or ages 25+ MEN: - national average (86%), White British (87%), Indian (86%), Other White (84%), Chinese (83%), Caribbean (81%), Irish (80%), Pakistani (77%), Bangladeshi (75%),
WOMEN: national average 72%, Caribbean (75%)

White British (73%), Irish (70%), Other White (68%), Chinese (66%), Indian (66%), Pakistani (27%)Bangladeshi (19 %)
Source: Census 2001 in Simpson et al. (2006)

Housing
the proportion of minority ethnic people living in deprived neighbourhoods across England is about twice as high as those living elsewhere. (Barnard et al. 2011)
Housing conditions House ownership, private rent, social housing different patterns across different ethnic groups Spatial concentration choice and constraints

Health
Mental Health: minorities are over-represented in the mental health system (Nazroo 2001). Variations within ethnic groups tend to be greater than between groups (Nazroo 1997) Although differences between ethnic groups in standard mortality rates persist even after taking social class into account. (Payne 2006: 341) Evidence suggests that the poorer socioeconomic position of BME groups is the main factor driving ethnic health inequalities. Class, gender, age, ethnicity

Asylum seekers and refugees

Asylum seeker - A person who has made an

application for asylum under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. A decision has not yet been made about their application. Refugee Someone who has been granted asylum. Under the 1951 UN Convention everybody has the right to claim asylum. No such thing as an illegal asylum seeker.

Asylum seekers
Separate welfare system Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

dispersal process Allocation of housing no choice basis. Often very poor conditions. Financial support 35 a week No right to work (2002 Nationality & Immigration Act) Limited access to education Failed asylum seekers destitution, no financial support, detention

Disadvantage and/or discrimination?

Direct discrimination explicit direct discrimination

on basis of ethnicity. Treating people differently. Indirect discrimination selective criteria applied equally to everyone but disproportionately affect people from some ethnic groups. Structural discrimination (disadvantage) disadvantage in an aspect of material conditions that impacts on choice and opportunity. E.g. lack of information, resources, low income barrier to accessing housing

Institutional racism
the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people (The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 1999)

"Race is no longer a significant disadvantage in the UK"

http://www.runnymedetrust.org/resources/video.html

To what extent is race/ethnicity a significant

disadvantage in the UK? Is racism an adequate explanation for inequality between ethnic groups in the UK? Are there other explanations can you think of? What policies and practices might help to increase equality?

Formative essay
500 words answer question on class, ethnicity OR

gender If you want to do this then complete it during Reading Week (week 5) Give to me on Tues 1ST NOVEMBER Optional non-assessed piece of coursework WHY?
Check your understanding and progress on module so

far Practice writing and get feedback before doing the assessed essay.

Next class
Remember no lecture next week

(Week 5). Reading Weekread! Week 6 Poverty (Payne book Ch. 12)

References
Barnard, H. et al. (2011) Poverty and Ethnicity: a

review of evidence, York: JRF Bonnett, A. How the British Working Class Became White: The Symbolic (Re)formation of Racialized Capitalism, Journal of Historical Sociology, 11(3): 316-340. Ignatiev, N. (1996) How the Irish Became White, London: Routledge. Law, I. (1996) Racism, Ethnicity and Social Policy, New York: Prentice Hall.

References
Lewis, G. & Phoenix, A. (2004) Race, Ethnicity and

Identity. In Questioning Idenitity: gender, class, ethnicity, London: Routledge. Miles, R. (1993) Racism, London: Routledge. Nazroo, J. (2001) Ethnicity, class and health. London : Policy Studies Institute. Nazroo, J. (1997) Health and health services. In Modood, T. et al. Ethnic Minorities In Britain. London: Policy Studies Institute. Simpson, L. et al. (2006) Ethnic minority populations and the labour market: an analysis of the 1991 and 2001 Census, Research Report 333, London: DWP.