The maze of classification based on ethnicity: is there a solution? Chantal Davies (Senior Lecturer, University of Chester)

Objectives Background Categorisation and ethnicity Conclusions: application to future research

Background The 2011 BME Experience Project (Davies & Garrett, 2011) o Nature of the project o Use of broad generic terminology o Self-identification o Problems The ‘Employability’ research o Background o Importance of ‘race wrestling’ (Pollock, 2004)

Categorisation and ethnicity: introduction The need for classification Tool of emancipation? (Urla, 1993) Tool of oppression? (Bonnett & Carrington, 2000) Higher Education and ethnic monitoring (Bird, 1996; Connolly, 1994)

Categorisation and ethnicity: general terminology Race/ethnicity The politicisation and decline of ‘black’ Use of umbrella terminology o Black o BME o Ethnic minority o Minority ethnic

Categorisation and ethnicity: pan- ethnic and specific categorisation Use of pan-ethnic terms Specific terminology: o The problem of ‘White’ o Conceptual confusion (Burton et al, 2010) Imposed or self-categorisation

Conclusions: application to future research Multiplicity of ethnicity (Nazroo & Karlsen, 2003) Open ended questions on dimensions of ethnicity The importance of ‘race wrestling’ Position as a non-BME researcher (Howarth, 2002)

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