Terminology

Terminology is a frequently changing and highly disputed area, with changes in the acceptability of different terms in relation to race/ethnicity having important consequences.  In biological terms, the notion of separate human races has long been discredited with 'social race' increasingly being used to refer to groups of people sharing common characteristics.  Against this backdrop it is recognised that categories used in research reflect an understanding of race which is not necessarily shared, and which certainly changes over time.  Gordon (1992) refers to this as the 'racialisation' of ethnic and racial data.  Those with an interest in this area are advised to read his work, which explains more about this, in order to help them make sense of many of the reports within this section.  In brief, Gordon argues that research in the area of race and ethnicity accepts:

• There is a degree of inequality based on race or ethnicity that can be quantified
• That it is possible to devise categories based on difference that are meaningful

He concludes that: 'whilst statistical information can play an important role in identifying patterns of inequality and the processes that produce them ... it is important to keep in mind that these statistics do not just reflect facts that are 'out there' waiting to be discovered, but are the results of many decisions and, of course, can be open to very different interpretations' (Gordon, 1992:33)

This point is powerfully demonstrated when considering the collection of terms used to describe the two largest 'ethnic' minorities in Britain.  The following list has been collected from a range of research sources, over a period of about 10 years, to illustrate the point: Afro Caribbean; Afro-Asian Caribbean, African Caribbean; Asian; African; Black; Black African; Brown; ethnic minority; minority group, New Commonwealth; immigrants; non-whites; racial minority; South Asian; visible minority; West Indian; Asians and West Indian; Black British; Asians and West Indians; blacks and Asians; blacks and immigrants; black settlers; coloured immigrants; coloured settlers ... there will be more!

• Gordon, P. (1992) in Skellington, R. & Morris, P., Race in Britain Today London: Sage Publications pp 16-34

What are the challenges?

Background data which emphasise education and employment - which are particularly relevant to guidance - are considered in this section.

What is the Legislation/policy?

Links to sites and resources concerning current legislation and future policy directions relating to race and ethnicity.

Implications for practice

How can guidance practice take account of ethnic diversity?

Resources

Here you will find weblinks on race/ethnicity, together with a list of annotated references, some of which will take you directly to additional resources - together with a standard bibliography giving the references for publications referred to in this section on race and ethnicity.

Race/ethnicity (social bookmarks tag view)

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