YOUNG PEOPLE and BRITISH IDENTITY Gayatri Ganesh, Senior Research Executive, Ipsos MORI 79-81 Borough Road London SE1 1FY
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YOUNG AND BRITISHY PEOPLEIDENTIT Research Study Conducted for The Camelot Foundation by Ipsos MORI Contact Details This research was carried out by the Ipsos MORI Qualitative HotHouse: Annabelle Phillips, Research Director, Ipsos MORI YOUNG PEOPLE AND BRITISH IDENTITY Gayatri Ganesh, Senior Research Executive, Ipsos MORI 79-81 Borough Road London SE1 1FY. Tel: 020 7347 3000 Fax: 020 7347 3800 Email: fi [email protected] Internet: www.ipsos-mori.com ©Ipsos MORI/Camelot Foundation J28609 CCheckedhecked & AApproved:pproved: MModels:odels: Annabelle Phillips Pedro Moro Gayatri Ganesh Brandon Palmer Sarah Castell Triston Davis Rachel Sweetman Fiona Bond Joe Lancaster Laura Grievson Samantha Hyde Nosheen Akhtar Helen Bryant Zabeen Akhtar Emma Lynass PPhotographyhotography & DDesign:esign: Diane Hutchison Jay Poyser Dan Rose Julia Burstein CONTENTS Forward.....1 Acknowledgements.....2 Background and Objectives 3 Methodology.....4 Qualitative phase.....4 The group composition.....5 Quantitative phase.....6 Interpretation of qualitative research.....6 Semiotics.....7 Interpretation of semiotics.....9 Report structure.....10 Publication of data.....10 Executive summary 11 Young people’s lives today.....13 The challenge of Britishness.....14 Where next for British youth identity?.....16 Young people in Britain today 19 Young people’s lives today.....21 My identity.....21 My local area.....23 Young people’s views on living in Britain.....28 Where is the concept of Britain relevant.....30 National and ethnic identities 37 England.....39 Scotland.....47 Wales.....65 Northern Ireland.....75 The challenges of Britishness 89 Lack of an emotional resonance.....92 Opposition to the English.....94 Ethnic identity and Britishness.....95 Parental pressure.....96 Racial discrimination.....96 Multiple identities and a myth of unity.....101 Britishness and social cohesion.....103 Where next for British youth identity? 109 The residual codes of British identity today.....113 The dominant codes of youth identity today.....117 Democracy of creativity.....118 Extreme meritocracy.....120 Voice of the child.....122 DIY inventiveness and innovation.....127 The power of teamwork (group versus individual).....127 The return of the community - the internet.....128 Constructive energy and ‘adult to adult’ tone - Ballet Hoo, The History Boys.....128 Meritocracy of skills with an adult voice.....82 Conclusion: The price of engaging young people.....96 Conclusion 132 Some next steps for communicators.....135 Appendices 137 References.....137 Semiotic texts.....137 Cultural codes and paradigm shifts.....138 Discussion guide.....138 Topline results.....144 Forward Acknowledgements The idea for this research grew from a seminar that The Foundation held on 13th July Ipsos MORI would like to thank Samantha Hyde, Acting Director of The Camelot 2005, only two days after the tragedy of the London bombings, as we have read and Foundation and her team for all their help, advice and support throughout this project. seen in the media there was an immense sense of solidarity as we were united in our We would also like to thank all the young people who shared their views with us, grief and shock – it lead to many questions about the sense of identity and Britishness at without whom this research would not have been possible. Throughout this report our seminar for the young people that attended. Our former Director, Susan Elizabeth, you will see photographs of the young people who were involved in one of the youth developed this research at the outset; her role in shaping this work was fundamental. programmes funded by The Camelot Foundation. We would like to thank them for their One of the many virtues of this work is that it has served as a reminder of some of time, effort and enthusiasm the facts that face young people everyday and through commissioning Ipsos MORI we Annabelle Phillips and Gayatri Ganesh, Ipsos MORI wanted to connect directly with the voice of those young people. The Foundation considers itself unique through its combination of targeted grant giving and direct programme delivery. We aim to make a real difference to the lives of the most disadvantaged young people and show that they have a positive role to play in shaping their own futures and the future of their communities. When we review our grant making and programme delivery we do so with an unblinking focus on reaching the marginalised young people that The Foundation was set up to serve by Camelot Group plc in 1997. The commitment of our Trustees and sponsor allows us to strive for innovation and to tackle issues that will secure real change in policy and practice. It is always a privilege to work directly with our young people and this report is a product of their support too – the photographs are of young people that have been on the 4front journey; a development programme for young people that aims to develop skills, broaden thinking and encourage leadership. To the participants of the research we owe great thanks for sharing their views. We are confi dent that this research will mark the beginning of a new journey for The Foundation and inform our thinking and that of others for the future. Samantha Hyde Acting Director 12 Ipsos MORI was commissioned by The Camelot Foundation to conduct research among young people, aged 16 to 21 years, on the meaning of Britishness as a national identity. The study has been commissioned to bring to the debate young people’s perspectives on what a national identity means to them, the relevance it has to their lives and its currency in present day culture. The three main objectives of this research are to: • Explore young people’s views of Britishness • Explore young people’s views on national identity • Explore what Britishness means in everyday life Methodology To meet these objectives, the methodology comprised qualitative group discussions, a quantitative survey as well as semiotic analysis of youth and British culture. Qualitative phase The qualitative research comprised 12 group discussions across six areas of the UK including a mixture of urban, rural, suburban, and deprived locations. In each area, two group discussions were conducted: one with 16 to 18 year olds, and the other with 18 to 21 year olds. Each group consisted of eight participants. In total 96 young people participated in the group discussion. Quotas were set according to age, education status, employment status, ethnicity and gender. Participants were also given a pre-task to complete before they attended the discussion. Six of the 12 groups were given a ‘life-book’ or diary to complete and the others were given a Polaroid camera with the task of taking pictures that represented their local community or their nation. Fieldwork was conducted between 30 August and 20 September 2006 in London, Birmingham, Plymouth, Cardiff, Belfast and Glasgow. The group discussion matrix is shown in Figure 1 on page 5. 3 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES 4 5 FIGURE 1 GROUP COMPOSITION Group Age & work status Gender Location Ethnicity Social Class Pre-task No. and area type 116 to 17; In education Male and Female England, London, Hackney and Mixed race (Black Caribbean BC1 Life books surrounding boroughs or African and white/Asian and white) 2 18 to 21; In work or Male and female White, black and Asian – even C1C2DE Urban Cameras education split Marginalised 3 16 to 17; 3 in education/3 Male and female England, Midlands, Black DE Marginalised Cameras not; 2 Aston and Lozells/ Handsworth of either 4 18 to 21; Half in work or Male and female White, black and Asian – even C1C2DE Urban Life books education; rest not split 5 16 to 17; In education Male and female Wales, Cardiff White BC1 Suburban Cameras 6 18 to 21; Half in work/half not Female White C2DE Urban Life books in work or education 7 18 to 21; 3 in work or Male England, Cornwall, Plymouth White C2DE Cameras education; 3 not in either; 2 Marginalised of either 8 16 to 17; In education Female White C2DE Rural Life books 9 18 to 21; In work or Male and Female N. 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