I examine the cultural lives, social relationships and ethnic identities of 16 to 20 year old Sikh females in Nottingham. Using an interview schedule, I interviewed my respondents individually and, in private. I present and analyse my findings within a framework which seeks to identify the major factors which can be said to influence the socio-cultural lives and identities of these 'second generation' Sikhs. These factors are either internal to their community (for example, caste membership) or, are externally imposed (for instance, racial prejudice and discrimination). In my framework, I also employ three theoretical concepts. These are 'situational ethnicity’, 'bi-culturalism' and 'social structural pluralism'. In examining my respondents' cultural norms and values, I ask three major questions. First, do they maintain, modify or abandon the Sikh religion and other (Punjabi) traditions? Second, are they acculturated into British norms and values? Third, do they experience 'culture conflict' and, if so, what strategies do they use to reconcile the divergent socio-cultural systems into which they are socialized? My enquiry into their social relationships entails an examination of the ethnic origins of their female friends and (future) spouses in order to establish whether they are socially encapsulated within their ethnic group at the primary group level of relationships. Finally, I focus on their self-defined identities; their perceptions of racial hostility and their perceptions of cultural differences between Sikhs and non-Sikhs in order to examine the extent to which they maintain a distinctive ethnic identity. Briefly, my findings indicate that although partial acculturation into British norms and values has indeed occurred, most Sikh traditions and a distinctive (Sikh) ethnic identity continue to survive in Nottingham. Furthermore, the continuation of endogamous marriages ensures that my respondents remain socially encapsulated. However, such encapsulation is far less pronounced in their friendship patterns.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:514928 |
| Date | January 1988 |
| Creators | Drury, Beatrice Denis |
| Publisher | University of Nottingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/11265/ |
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