HOW DO WE DEFINE OUR ETHNIC IDENTITY AND HOW MIGHT THAT BE PROVED?

 

Recent research shows that people consider their ethnic identity in very different ways. For some individuals ethnic identity can be multi-faceted, subjective and there is no consensus on what constitutes an 'ethnic group'. For some individuals the country of their birth is the dominant factor. For others, national identity, place of birth of their parents or predecessors or the country where they have resided for some time are most important. Whilst for others their religion or community group are foremost. However, for many people it is a combination of some or all of these factors that defines their 'ethnic identity'.

 

It is extremely difficult to capture all of these complexities within a single classification system. One of the criticisms levelled at the current classification framework is the inconsistent use of area of descent and colour. Some individuals find it difficult to find their place within the categories listed due to not being specifically listed or not wishing their ethnicity to be defined in the way described in the question. One way to help resolve these problems is to try to separate out the main facets of ethnic identity and to ask individual questions on each of these. The main areas to cover would be:

 

COUNTRY OF BIRTH
NATIONAL IDENTITY
AREA'S OF FAMILY DESCENT OR ORIGIN
RELIGION
COLOUR OR WHETHER FROM A VISIBLE
MINORITY ETHNIC GROUP
LANGUAGE
IDENTIFICATION WITH A COMMUNITY OR CULTURE NOT COVERED BY THE OTHER FACETS.

 

Given that separate questions on country of birth, religion and language are already asked within the Cencus, the current ethnicity question could be broken down to ask separately about 'national identity', 'area of family descent/origin', 'colour or whether from a visible minority ethnic group', and 'identification with a community or culture not covered by other questions'. This would help to capture the information required by policy makers and service providers in a more consistent way whilst moving away from the confusion between geography and colour in the current classification and allowing individuals to express a fuller picture of their identity.

If a positive response is received to this approach then testing would be required to see whether it is acceptable to respondents in different ethnic groups, i.e. whether it allows them to define their ethnic identity in the way they would wish.

 

From ‘Review of Census Ethnicity Classifications Consultation’: June 2005. Scottish Executive