Agents of Socialisation - Ethnic Identities

Question 1

What is Francis and Archers theory about the way the family affects ethnic identity?

Answer 1

• Educational achievement is valued by Chinese families.
• Plays an important role in the education of children, and families make sacrifices to ensure success, often going without consumer goods so they can afford to pay school fees.

Question 2

What is Ghumans theory on how the family affects ethnic identity?

Answer 2

• Suggested that the first generation of Asian parents to arrive in the UK in the 1950s/1960s were concerned to transmit key values to their children, this includes:
  - Obedient
  - Loyal
  - Respectful to elders &
  community
  - Parents were considered
  to know best the interests
  of their children
  regardless of age.

Question 3

What is Troyna and Williams / Coards theory on how the education affects ethnic identity?

Answer 3

• The formal curriculum is ethnocentric.
• It focuses on British history, white literature and certain religions more than others.
• This can undermine the self-esteem of ethnic minority students.

Question 4

What is Sewell’s theory on how education affects ethnic identity?

Answer 4

• Argues that the national curriculum requirements allow for African Caribbean culture and other cultures to be studied.
• However, the focus on historical examples such as the Holocaust and the negative experience of slavery only reinforce stereotypes.
• There are other major black achievements that could be studies.

Question 5

What is Alexanders theory on how the Peer group affects ethnic identity?

Answer 5

• Studied the formation of identity amongst black British youth.
• The peer group was important in what she described as the ‘art of being black.’
• Being black was about being stylish, caring about appearance and listening to music.
• These behaviours are reinforced by the peer group
• This is an example of cultural comfort zone.

Question 6

What is Sewell’s theory on the Peer group affecting ethnic identity?

Answer 6

• Argues the African Caribbean male identity is focused on being hypermasculine and ‘gangster’ in the eyes of peers –> this often compensated for the lack of a father figure.
• This street identity is also shaped by the media, which encourages young African Caribbean males to take part in a consumer culture focused on clothing & jewellery, rather than focusing on education.

Question 7

How does the media influence ethnic identities?

Answer 7

• In areas where there are few minority ethnic groups, people rely on media representations to help them form an understanding of ethnic groups.

Question 8

What does Jhally say about how the media affects ethnic identities?

Answer 8

• Being ignored and unrepresented or being stereotyped and misrepresented was a feature of ethnic representation in the media throughout the 70s to the late 90s.
• There has been a change as a new group of ethnic minority stars write material and star in programs.

Question 9

How does religion influence ethnic identities?

Answer 9

• Many people associate Muslims as being one ethnic group, rather than seeing Islam as a religion which is followed by a number of ethnic groups.
• Jewish people are seen as being both an ethnic group and a religious group and these identities overlap.
• The distinction between ethnicity and religion is often blurred because there are many cultural aspects which are linked to religion.

Question 10

What does Madood say about religion affecting ethnic identities?

Answer 10

• Found 82% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals aged 50+ saw religion as very important to how they lived their lives.
• 67% of 16-34 year old’s also saw Islam as important in their lives.
• The centrality of religion in Asian communities can be illustrated by the fact that very few Asians marry across religious or caste lines and most of their children will be socialised into a religious value system.

Question 11

What does Song say about how the workplace affects religion?

Answer 11

• Many Chinese individuals living in the UK are employed in the food and catering sector.
• This shoes the influence of the family on employment opportunities and how important family is in creating and influencing occupation.
• Also over a third of doctors in the NHS are described as Asian.
• For many Indian families, a career brings high status and income which will influence their social class and ethnic identities.