Ethnic Identity

Ethnic identity in sociology

It might be helpful to first break down the term 'identity'.

Identity

We can understand our identity in relation to those of other people - whether we're similar or different to them, and in what ways. Sociologists see identity as being made up of three dimensions.

• The inner self
• The personal identity
• The social identity

Ethnicity is an example of social identity.

Ethnic identity examples

Ethnic identity refers to a commitment to particular ethnic groups. It's important to note that different people show different levels and ways of committing to their ethnic group.

Their commitment to an ethnic group can change over time, in different internal and external contexts. In this sense, ethnic identities are negotiable.

The various aspects that form an ethnic identity include (but are not limited to):

• cultural traditions and customs
• religious beliefs and traditions
• shared geographic location
• shared histories

Ethnic identity and difference

Fig. 1 - Many socio-political movements have stemmed from identity politics surrounding ethnicity

Angela Byers-Winston (2005) argued that people develop ethnic identities when they see themselves as being different from others. So, just like other markers of identity like age or social class, it can be said that ethnicity is often used as a marker of difference.

Furthermore, in his influential essay on cultural identity, Stuart Hall (1996) pointed out that our ethnic identity is sourced from the cultural, economic and political contexts where we have lived in the past and presently.

However, he was careful to point out that ethnic identity is less a process of 'being', and more a process of 'becoming'. It is subject to constant transformation as culture and power dynamics shift in the world around us.

There are many different groups whose identity is marked by differences in society, particularly ethnic minorities (other examples include wheelchair users or transgender people).

They are subject to maltreatment and discrimination from powerful groups who see and treat them as inferior. In the case of ethnicity, this discrimination is referred to as racism.

Defensive ethnic boundaries

Discrimination against ethnic minorities can be cultural (operating at the individual level) and/or systemic (entrenched in society's systems, such as education and healthcare).

These can reinforce negative stereotypes, and perpetuate the ethnic boundaries which subject ethnic minorities to being identified as the other by dominant groups.

Positive ethnic boundaries

However, not all ethnic boundaries are negative. The factors that form an ethnic identity allow its members to establish their distinguishing features from other groups, creating a sense of solidarity, belonging, and connection within their own definable cultural group.

This is done through customs and celebrations, like festivals and religious gatherings, as well as through particular cultural artefacts, like a style of dress.

In sum, ethnic boundaries can be:

• defensive or negative, in the sense of fighting discrimination or using ethnicity to mark people as 'different' in an oppressive way, or
• positive, in the sense of creating a defined cultural group to which one feels a sense of belonging.

Importance of ethnic identity: changes in contemporary society

Some sociologists theorise that ethnic boundaries will gradually fade in the UK.

Second or third-generation migrants will adopt the mainstream British culture instead. While this has been the case to a limited extent (for example, many Sikh youths no longer wear a turban), many minority ethnic cultures persist today.

Let's take a look at how ethnic identity has changed in contemporary British society.

Hybrid identities

Several examples demonstrate a lack of opposition to ethnic boundaries; instead, they signal the fact that people often feel a sense of belonging to more than just one ethnic group. There are two kinds of hybrid ethnic identities.

Conventional hybridisation

Conventional hybridisation involves mixing features from various ethnicities to create new, unique identities.

Fig. 2 - Chicken tikka masala is an example of conventional hybridisation.

Contemporary hybridisation

Contemporary hybridisation involves the constant changing and evolution of ethnic identities as a result of widespread migration and cultural globalisation practices.

Changes in Black identities

Tariq Modood et al. (1994) conducted a longitudinal study to investigate cultural changes among African-Caribbeans living in Birmingham.

While many aspects of Caribbean culture were pervasive, there were notable differences between generations. For example, the role of religion in culture was significantly smaller among younger generations.

Furthermore, Black youth were more inclined to use Patois (a Caribbean dialect) as a way to actively assert their ethnic identity in opposition to others.

Changes in Asian identities

Upon surveying a large cohort of Muslims living in Britain, Munira Mirza et al. (2007) found that most of them were well integrated into British culture.

This was indicated by a general preference for mixed state schools and British law (as opposed to Sharia law), as well as engagement in secular activities such as drinking.

However, younger Muslims were less likely to report a preference for British culture than their parents - and they were generally more religious than older respondents in the study.

This is a surprising finding, as it demonstrates that youth who grew up integrated into British culture and society are generally more aware of their difference than their parents are.

Ethnic identity crisis

Erik Erikson identified the identity crisis as a significant psychological event that many people go through. During an identity crisis, people start to question their sense of self. This is particularly common with ethnic identities in an increasingly globalised world, where cultures are more commonly assimilated with one another.

This event signals the fluidity and negotiability of ethnic identity, which is a key factor to consider when studying one's level of commitment and belonging to certain ethnic groups.