Myths and statistics: an exploration of the assumptions connected to ethnicity and family support
Myths and statistics: an exploration of the assumptions connected to ethnicity and family support
The aim of this paper is to explode some of the myths surrounding the ‘look aftertheir own’ idea which predominates in the discourse around ethnicity and support.With reference to the Home Office Citizenship Survey, ethnic group differences in thedeterminants of help received from, and given to, family members and friends will bepresented.National statistics have found that South Asian ethnic groups have more complexhouseholds and greater numbers of children than the White British population(Modood et al, 1997). There is a popular perception that particular minority ethnicgroups have a stronger sense of filial responsibility than is found in WesternEuropean societies, which is thought to lead to a greater level of support for olderfamily members. A combination of these concrete statistics and intangible populartheories has led some social services staff to believe that their services are either notwanted or not required by minority groups (Murray and Brown, 1998). However, thisclaim has been refuted by other authors (Atkin & Rollings, 1996; Downes, 2007) whosuggest that some minority ethnic older people are actually in greater need ofsupport, because of factors such as poorer health and lower socio-economic status,than the white majority in Britain. Nevertheless, the extent of family and communitysupport for older people of different ethnic groups in Britain, and in particular thefactors which determine such support being given, have yet to be studied.This paper, based on recent doctoral work, will go some way towards identifying thefactors which predict family and community support amongst older people fromdifferent ethnic groups in Britain
Willis, Rosalind
dd2e5e10-58bf-44ca-9c04-f355f3af26ba
7 March 2009
Willis, Rosalind
dd2e5e10-58bf-44ca-9c04-f355f3af26ba
Willis, Rosalind
(2009)
Myths and statistics: an exploration of the assumptions connected to ethnicity and family support.
Radical Statistics Annual Conference, An Ageing Society: Are We Prepared?, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to explode some of the myths surrounding the ‘look aftertheir own’ idea which predominates in the discourse around ethnicity and support.With reference to the Home Office Citizenship Survey, ethnic group differences in thedeterminants of help received from, and given to, family members and friends will bepresented.National statistics have found that South Asian ethnic groups have more complexhouseholds and greater numbers of children than the White British population(Modood et al, 1997). There is a popular perception that particular minority ethnicgroups have a stronger sense of filial responsibility than is found in WesternEuropean societies, which is thought to lead to a greater level of support for olderfamily members. A combination of these concrete statistics and intangible populartheories has led some social services staff to believe that their services are either notwanted or not required by minority groups (Murray and Brown, 1998). However, thisclaim has been refuted by other authors (Atkin & Rollings, 1996; Downes, 2007) whosuggest that some minority ethnic older people are actually in greater need ofsupport, because of factors such as poorer health and lower socio-economic status,than the white majority in Britain. Nevertheless, the extent of family and communitysupport for older people of different ethnic groups in Britain, and in particular thefactors which determine such support being given, have yet to be studied.This paper, based on recent doctoral work, will go some way towards identifying thefactors which predict family and community support amongst older people fromdifferent ethnic groups in Britain
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Published date: 7 March 2009
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Radical Statistics Annual Conference, An Ageing Society: Are We Prepared?, Oxford, United Kingdom, 2009-03-07
Organisations:
Gerontology
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Local EPrints ID: 341529
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/341529
PURE UUID: ba5a1068-fc01-44c5-a2a8-1862d842f768
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Date deposited: 26 Jul 2012 12:22
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:38
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