Social Identity » Ethnicity and Social Class Identity

Where do you come from? Ethnicity and class

Age and gender were covered in the last lesson, Age and Gender Identity. This lesson looks at the other two key aspects of social identity: ethnicity and social class. Like age and gender, they are not just facts about a person. Their meaning is made by society, so it changes from place to place and over time.

Key terms:

• Ethnicity: a shared cultural background that a group of people have in common, such as language, religion, traditions, history or ancestry.
• Ethnic group: a group of people who share an ethnicity.
• Ethnic minority: an ethnic group that is smaller in number than the main ethnic group in a society.
• Racism: treating people unfairly, or holding negative beliefs about them, because of their ethnicity.
• Social class: a group of people who share a similar economic position in society, usually based on things like occupation, income, wealth and education.
• Class identity: how people see themselves, and are seen by others, as belonging to a social class.

What is ethnicity?

Ethnicity is about culture, not biology. It is not the same as skin colour. People who look alike can belong to different ethnic groups, and people of the same ethnic group can look very different. What makes an ethnic group is shared culture: for example a common language, religion, food, clothing, festivals or a sense of shared history.

Ethnicity is also a social construction. Ethnic groups are defined differently in different societies, and the labels used in official forms change over time. Many societies have people from several ethnic groups living side by side.

How ethnicity shapes identity

For members of an ethnic minority, ethnicity is often a very visible part of identity. People may work hard to keep their language and traditions alive in a new country, for example by running weekend language classes. Members of a majority group often take their ethnicity for granted, because it is seen as "normal" in their society.

The impact of ethnicity

• On individuals: ethnicity can bring pride, support and a feeling of belonging. It can also bring pressure, for example when a person feels they have to choose between the culture of their family and the culture of the wider society, or when they face stereotypes.
• On social groups: ethnic groups may form communities with their own places of worship, shops and organisations. Groups can also face racism or be treated unfairly in some societies. Where ethnic groups live together peacefully, a society can become more culturally diverse.
• Different societies: some societies encourage people to keep their ethnic identity, while others expect minorities to adopt the main culture. Some societies have one large ethnic majority, as in Japan, while others have several large groups, as in Singapore, where people of Chinese, Malay and Indian backgrounds all form large communities.

What is social class?

Social class groups people according to their economic position. The main things that place someone in a class are:

• Occupation: the type of job a person does.
• Income and wealth: what a person earns and what they own.
• Education: the qualifications a person has.

Many sociologists divide societies into an upper class, a middle class and a working class. These are broad groups, and the dividing lines are not exact. Marxists, as you saw in the lesson on socialisation theories, focus on two main classes, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Class systems differ between societies. In some, class is closely linked to occupation and education. In others, it is closely linked to owning land or to family background.

How class shapes identity

Class affects the everyday details of life, and these details become part of who people feel they are.

Class identity is also about how people feel. Some people take pride in their class background, such as a strong working-class community. Others may feel embarrassed or want to move up. People may also see themselves as belonging to a different class from the one that others place them in.

The impact of social class

• On individuals: class can shape a person's confidence, ambitions and the kind of people they mix with. It can lead to stereotypes, such as the idea that richer people are more intelligent or that poorer people are less ambitious.
• On social groups: people of the same class often share interests, and this can create solidarity, for example workers joining a trade union. It can also create divisions and tension between groups with very different wealth.
• Different societies: in societies where it is easier to move between classes, people may see class as less fixed. In societies where class is hard to change, class identity may be stronger and passed down in families. In many parts of Europe in the past, class was closely tied to owning land and to family name.

How class and ethnicity affect life chances is covered later, in the lessons Life Chances and Social Class and Life Chances, Ethnicity and Intersectionality.

Exam-style question

(a) Define the term ethnicity. [2 marks]

(b) Give two examples of things that can be used to place a person in a social class. [2 marks]

(c) Explain three ways in which ethnicity or social class can affect individuals or social groups. [6 marks]