Outline and briefly evaluate the view that ethnic identities are becoming hybridised in the contemporary UK.

Outline and briefl evaluate the view that ethnic identtei are becoming hlbridiied in the
contemporarl UK. (12)


Ethnicity refers to the idea that there are shared origins or traditons ithin a group. That is, ethnic
groups share a common culture (customs, values, religion, diet, language, dress) based on a sense of
belonging and common origin. Hybridisaton refers to the idea that that ne ethnic identtes are
being created by mixing t o or more cultures.
One ay in hich ethnic identtes are becoming hybridised is identied by yill. yill (2009) found
that a ne hybrid ethnic identty, ‘lasiann, has been created, hich is a mixture of black and Asian
cultures. ‘lasiansn in this context refers to young ‘ritsh individuals of South Asian origin – usually
from Indian, ‘angladesh and Pakistan – ho develop ne identtes most closely associated ith
black African-Caribbean culture. He found that ‘ritsh Asians borro ed aspects of black culture such
as: a blackn style of dress; black linguistc forms and music tastes; friendship groups that included
black youths; a physical appearance (hair, etc.) that imitated black styles. Individuals like Apachee
Indian and Jay Sean are examples of ‘lasian identtes. Indeed, yill concluded that young ‘ritsh
Asians ere infuenced more in their identtes by black culture than they ere ith hite culture.
This study sho s ho hybrid identtes are created by individuals from one ethnic group borro ing
aspects of culture from others and using these to create a ne identty ith aspects of several
different cultures.

Another ay in hich ethnic identtes are becoming hybridised is identied by ‘urdsey. ‘urdsey
explored the relatonship bet een the ethnic identty of ‘ritsh Asian (including: ‘ritsh Pakistani,
‘ritsh ‘engali and ‘ritsh Punjabi) footballers and their apparent need to it into the predominantly
hite laddish culture of the orld of football in order to be successful. This culture as one of
drinking, gambling and sexual discussion, including the atching of pornographic videos. ‘urdsey
argues that over the last four to ive years there has been increasing evidence of the consumpton of
designer clothes, recreatonal drugs and other leisure actvites by young ‘ritsh Asians- these
actvites ere previously associated ith young hite and black males. Therefore, in order to
become one of the team, young Asian footballers ould ofen subsume their ethnic identty under a
laddish one and join in afer game actvites such as atching pornographic videos, drinking and
talking about girls in order to become one of the ladsn. This demonstrates ho the ethnic identtes
of ‘ritsh Asians has changed over tme as people from South Asian backgrounds adopt ‘ritsh
culture and it becomes hybridised ith their existng culture. That is, change can be seen in the
development of ‘rasian identtes.
Ho ever, it can be argued that it is difcult to measure ho much change in ethnic identty is
actually taking place in society as ethnic identty is a complex topic. Moreover, identty can be
shaped by other factors apart from ethnicity eg, gender, age and class. It is difcult to assess hich
factor shapes a personns identty the most. Furthermore, Rex argues that racism stll exists in the UK
such that hybrid ethnic identtes may not be socially accepted by some parts of society ,hence e
should not exaggerate the extent of change. Another evaluaton is that here may be resistance
against changing ethnic identtes as some people may feel their ethnic cultures are being diluted
hence they assert their ethnic differences more strongly. Overall change is occurring ho ever
ethnicity contnues to be an important part of an individuals identty.