title: asian culture & feminine identity starter: discuss in pairs how you think mia views...

Title: Asian Culture & Feminine Identity

Starter:Discuss in pairs how you think MIA views herself.How older generation Asians view her?How younger generation Asians view her.Extension: How does MIA differ to traditional Asian female stereotypes?

L.O: To understand how feminine identity is influenced by ethnicity

All (D): Can identify the different ways in which feminine identity can be influenced through ethnicity, using some studies to support points. Able to list factors which influence Black-Caribbean Identity and explain one factor in detail.

Most (C/B): Can explain using studies and key terms how ethnicity influences female identity and can cause potential conflicts within families. Can evaluate the factors which influence Black-Caribbean identity giving examples relating to real life and studies.

Some (A/A*): Can evaluate how ethnicity influences female identity, explaining potential family conflicts, giving real-life examples and studies to support answer. Able to analyse the factors which influence Black-Caribbean identity, using key terms and studies to support answer.

• Studies of domestic labour have found women (Asian) are expected to take responsibility for housework and childcare.

• Brah found that single women share responsibility of childcare (siblings and cousins etc).

• Additionally Brah found Asian women are more likely than white women to experience both paid and domestic work

However these are not the only responsibility of a wife and mother.

Brah men are publicly expected to present an image of fearlessness and independence, where they keep control over their female family members..

However, Brah argues that this does not mean Asian females are PATRIARCHAL. This is because women control domestic duties and financial decision making, so husbands must take notice of their wives’ concerns and interests.

Women also play a central role in upholding family honour and are often the ones who take control of arranged marriage preperations.

Muslim Female Identity

In Muslim families, control of females tends to be stressed this is because the future of the community depends on them becoming wives and mothers in order to socialise the next generation into key Muslim values.

What are the key Muslim Values?

Pakistani and Bangladeshi women are seen as subordinate to men.

Reputation and honour are VERY important and consequently so is the reputation of the daughter.

Discuss: What types of conflict may this cause? Especially in Britain where young Asian girls are exposed to western culture?

What may make young Pakistani and Bangladeshi girls challenge the idea they should play a lesser role in their communities?

Which young Pakistani girl has famously challenged girls being thought of as less important??

"I am here to speak up for the right of education of every child,”

WHY IS SHE DOING THIS??http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23291897

Ethnic identity and potential family conflict

Anwar (1981) suggested family is where much conflict occurs between grandparents, parents and children.

WHY do you think this is??

Older generations (Grandparents) believe that the younger generation has mixed with people (Westeners) who have very different values and attitudes to themselves, and this has caused the younger generations to have different values and ideas which their parents cannot comprehend.

E.g. Younger generation girls may wish to continue with further education and have professional careers, the older generation may not agree with this and want the females to have more traditional roles.

Dating- A generational conflict with Asian families.

Drury (1991) found 1/5 of girls in her Asian sample were secretly dating a boy.Drury also found that some were going to pubs and drinking alcohol without their parents knowledge or consent.Why was this done secretly?

“I would like to have a boyfriend and I would like to have a love marriage but the consequences are too great. Gossip spreads and you can lose everything. Everyone in the family can be hurt and nobody will want to marry my sister…I think that Sikh boys in England are given too much freedom. They can go out with white girls yet they are still expected to marry an innocent Indian girl”(Quote from a Sikh girl from Drury’s study (1991)

There is clear conflict between freedom given to boys and the fact girls are expected to take on domestic duties whereas their brothers are not. What type of conflict may this cause??

Ethnic Identity and ReligionReligion has a BIG influence as an

agent of socialisation in shaping young Asians.

Modood (1997), questioned TWO generations of Asians, Black Caribbean and White people about the following statement:

‘Religion is very important to how I live my Life’

In pairs, discuss what you think his findings will show and why.-which ethnicity will place the greatest importance in religion and why?-Do you think this will be the same across both generations?

Findings:Those most in favour of religion Pakistani and Bangladeshi. This

was for both generations.Over 50- 82%16-34- 67%

The ethnicity with the lowest figure was whites.Younger generation- 5%

Black Caribbeans (Younger generation) 18%

The centrality of religion in Asian cultures can be seen by the fact that very few Asians marry across different religions or caste lines.

This means their children will also be socialised into the same norms and values.

Independent Work:Answer the following questions (you have 15

minutes)1. How important is religion in acquiring an

ethnic identity?2. What sort of inter-generational conflict may

arise because of a clash of values between majority and minority cultures?

African-Caribbean Identity

Using what you read for homework, discuss with your partner what the main factors were in shaping African-Caribbean Identity.

Write these on your whiteboards.

• Skin colour• Peer-group Pressure• Religion• Mass Media

In Pairs, spend 10 minutes preparing a presentation to tell the class why the factor you have been given is important in shaping Black-Caribbean Identity.

You will present these back to the class.

Make sure you use • key terms e.g. subculture• Studies (if applicable)• Examples

Ethnic Identity and Popular Culture

There are numerous media agencies which are owned and controlled by ethnic minorities, these can help keep minority groups in touch with their countries of origin and cultural norms.

E.g. Bollywood, Satellite channels, newspapers.

Paul Gilroy (1992) argues that young African-Caribbeans can adopt identities which are influenced through media role models E.g. 50 Cent and So Solid Crew.

Gangsta rap and hip-hop are accessed through channels such as MTV and these have been a powerful influence- Often these symbolise opposition to White society.

Kellner (1995) agrees and notes that rap music is a way of expressing black identity in what is perceived by African-Caribbeans as a hostile and racist environment.

Plenary & Homework:Covert Observation:• Choose an area of ethnic identity you want to

investigate.• E.g. Male African-Caribbeans are more ‘hyper

male and gangsta’.• Spend an afternoon/evening/free lesson

observing your chosen group and make notes on what you have found.

• Does it support what studies say? How? /Why not?

title: asian culture & feminine identity starter: discuss in pairs how you think mia views...

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