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Ethnic identities

Borkowska, Magda; Nazroo, James; Finney, Nissa; Harrison, Joseph

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Authors

Magda Borkowska

James Nazroo

Nissa Finney



Abstract

Key findings
Ethnic identity is important to people alongside a strong sense of belonging to British
society but standardised measures of ethnicity do not fully capture the complex ways
that people describe their ethnicity.
• The free-text ethnic identity responses demonstrate that the standardised ethnic
categories do not allow people to accurately express complex ethnic origins and
migration experiences; they exclude identities from certain parts of the world and
subnational, place- based identities.
• Ethnic identity is important for most people from minority backgrounds. This is
especially true for those from Black African, Black Caribbean, Pakistani, White Irish and
Jewish backgrounds. Ethnic identity is the least important for White British people,
followed by people from White Eastern European, White Other, and Mixed White and
Asian backgrounds.
• Religious belonging varies considerably across ethnic groups. People from Bangladeshi,
Pakistani, Black African, Arab and Indian backgrounds most frequently report having
a religion. Those from White British, Mixed White and Asian, and Mixed White and
Black Caribbean backgrounds most frequently declare having no religious affiliation.
• Strong religious attachment is more common when people identify with minority
religions and when there tends to be a consistency between ethnic identity and
religious affiliation.
• Most people from ethnic minority backgrounds participate in practices linked to
their ethnicity or religion. White British are the least likely to report participation
in such practices, followed by White Irish and White Eastern Europeans. Eating food
associated with one’s ethnic or religious background is the most popular practice
across ethnic groups.
• A sense of belonging to British society is very high across all groups. A particularly high
sense of belonging is reported by those from Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Black African,
Black Other, Arab, Jewish and White British backgrounds. A strong sense of belonging
to English, Scottish and Welsh societies is somewhat less common among people from
ethnic minority backgrounds compared to those from a White British background.

Publication Date Apr 12, 2023
Deposit Date May 12, 2025
Publicly Available Date May 15, 2025
Publisher Policy Press
Pages 30-53
Book Title Racism and Ethnic Inequality in a Time of Crisis: Findings from the Evidence for Equality National Survey
Chapter Number 3
ISBN 9781447368847
DOI https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.3279115.8

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