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Cultural Diversity- Ethnic Group Monitoring (3)

The 2001 Census

The 2001 Census categories are a response to a greater understanding of these demographic characteristics of the ethnic groups. It begins to address the issues that are significant in the ways in which society and communities within it are evolving. The inclusion of an actual category that reflects ‘mixed’ parentage is seen as valid and useful for the collection of accurate information about ethnicity.

Residents by ethnic groupings from the 2001 Census data  

As stated earlier, the 2001 Census collected data  for the first time on religious affiliation (Aspinall, 2000).

The following religion question was asked in England and Wales:

With the introduction of the religion question, it will be now possible to collect further information that is considered important with respect to determining and identifying ethnicity. For example, as with other ethnic groups, it will be possible to identify further the diversity among the ‘white’ ethnic groups. With reference to health assessment and planning, it may be possible to identify the diversity within the community of communities with respect to spirituality and spiritual needs, and the extent to which this may impact on provision of services in a particular geographical locality.

At this point, it may be worthwhile to compare and contrast the ethnic group categories in the 1991 census and the 2001 census.

The scenarios may provide an insight into the issues that emerge when an attempt is made to work out the ethnicity of individuals. The information available is limited, and demonstrates some of the real problems with 'ethnicity' as a variable. At the local level of health planning and assessment, Health Trusts can add categories to the official census categories in order to obtain an accurate demographic profile of the communities they serve. It is important to allow people to choose how they express their ethnic identity.

Although arbitrary and not the way it should be done, and even with the limited information, it is possible to illustrate issues for discussion by considering the ethnic groupings of the persons profiled in the scenarios. You may wish to compare your own responses to the following:

Given a voice, individuals may not describe themselves as belonging to the categories listed above. They may choose to emphasis particular characteristics over others.

We may have multiple ethnic identities, just as we might have numerous cultural identities.

With the 2001 categories it may be possible to be relatively more specific about our ethnic group. The idea that these are relatively more specific is because in a sense these categories are still restrictive as opposed to individuals being given a choice to express their own ethnic group identification.

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