NOT FINISHED Ethnic differences in family patterns

what has created greater ethnic diversity

immigration into Britain since the 1950s. migrants brought family patterns of their countries of origin and continue to change as they interact with the changing culture of Britain

what does Berthoud argue?

British culture is becoming more individualistic and that it is having an impact on patterns of family life among different ethnic groups

compared british south asian, white british and black british caribbean

Berthoud - british south asian families

had a more traditional family life than other groups,

• higher rates of marriage and lower rates of divorce

• couples married younger

• higher fertility rates

• arranged marriage common among sikhs and muslims

• little intermarriage with other ethnic groups

• the young had a strong sense of duty to elders and high value placed on family honour, especially in relation to the behaviour of daughters

Berthoud - white british families

• lower marriage and fertility rates

• later marriage and smaller family sizes

• higher rates of cohabitation and divorce

• arranged marriage almost unknown and intermarriage with other ethnic groups was relatively common

Berthoud - black british caribbean families

• lower marriage rates

• similar fertility rates to white british families

• higher rates of lone parenthood

• high rates of intermarriage with other groups, especially white british partners

Berthoud - old fashioned versus modern individualism

all three groups moving in the same direction; away from families based on ‘old fashioned values’ and towards ones based on modern individualism - individual choice in personal relationships is more important than binding obligations and commitments

changes in British Asian families

Bhatti - in 2002 there were signs of changing attitudes among the young and some conflicts with elders, notably where sons had chosen to marry out of their ethnic groups