BRITISH

IDENTITY
Beeanxiety’s presentation
 Table of content
1. The four nations and other ethic identities
2. Family and sense of humor
3. Geographical identity
4. Class
5. Men and women
6. Identity in Northern Ireland
7. Being British
8. Social and everyday contacts
9. Religion and politics
 01.
The four nations and
other ethic identities
 The four nations

SCOTLAND
Constant reminders of  Scotttish’s distinctiveness:
 Several important aspects of public life organized separately
 Distinctive way of speaking English
 Well - known symbols of Scottishness

eve r
H ow

The feeling of being Scottish is not that simple

because of the historical cultural split and the sense of cultural identity
 The four nations

WALES
The people of Wales do not have as many reminders of
their Welshness in everyday life.
 A large minority of the people in Wales do not
consider themselves to be especially Welsh
 Scottish, Irish and English people went to find work
 English people still make their homes in Wales
e ve r
Ho w

Highly important symbol of Welsh identity - the Welsh language.

 The four nations

ENGLAND
Most people who describe themselves as English have made
little distinction in their minds between ‘English’ and ‘British’
For example: God Save the Queen - the same as the British.

w e v er
Ho

The English part is becoming clearer.

 Waving the cross of St. George instead of the Union Jack flag
 Having found its own anthem (Land of Hope and Glory)
Other ethnic identity
Two major groupings are identified: Black Caribbeans and Asians

Black Caribbeans
Other ethnic identity
Two major groupings are identified: Black Caribbeans and Asians

ASIANs
 02.
Family and sense of humor
 The family

Family life COMPARISON

Generation gap

• Significant family events • In Vietnam, most children

are not accompanied by live in a nuclear family
large gatherings of people • Many extended families
• Family gatherings are • British teenagers living at • Some significant events
confined to the Christmas home: happy with the invite all people from their
period family friends’ list,
• Adults of different
generations within the
family to live together
A sense of humour

 In Britain, you do not have to tell the best jokes to be humorous.

Nor is there a proper time and place for humour.
 A mildly funny remark is appreciated in all but the most formal situations.
 03.
Geographical identity
 Geographical identity
A sense of geographical identity is not very common or strong in most parts of Britain

Sense of identity with a larger

Sense of local pride
geographical are

iv e rpo
L
ol

‘Northerners’ see themselves as tougher, more

honest and warmer-hearted than the soft, hypocritical Newcastle
and unfriendly 'southerners’
04.
Class
Class
The class system has never been swept away
by a revolution awareness of class forms a
major part of most people’s sense of identity

Little approval of
different-class-relationship
“social climbing” appears to
be in higher class

Class division
is loosen
 05.
Men and women
 Men and women
Additionally, Domestic roles: decreased sharply
 Financial burden not only men’s concern
 Men also participate in household chores and childcare
 British men score 94 for “egalitarianism rating”
Differences are no
longer accepted in the 01 03
public and social roles

02 04

Everyday habits and mannerisms:

 Sharp differences, a man can look untidy,
women can freely display emotions
 Equality:man can use grooming services,
women get drunk
Besides, Public roles:
Almost of the occupations now
are associated with both genders
 Men and women

 24% of women worked in professional occupations.

 Managers, directors or senior officials, with 14% of men.
 Women were more likely administrative and secretarial occupations;
caring, leisure and other service occupations; and in sales and customer-service occupations.
 06.
Identity in Northern Ireland
Identity in Northern Ireland

Social Political
aspect aspect
 Identity in Northern Ireland

Firstly,
Social aspect
 There are 2 sides of the citizens. One side of the
divide is the people whose ancestors came from
lowland Scotland or England. 

 There area people whose ancestors were native Irish

having different notions.

 Although the two communities live side by side,

their lives are segregated.

 To eleviate the intimidation btwn communities,

there are many projects launched.

 Schools Across Border: ed-project

 Identity in Northern Ireland

secondly,
political aspect

 Northern Ireland have a land border with another

EU member 

 Instability for the border between Northern Ireland

and the Republic.

 Security is another important mattermatter

 07.
Being British
Being British

 British people are not normally actively patriotic

 The turn of the millennium saw the subject of ‘Britishness’
become a topic of great public concern
 08.
Social and everyday contacts
Social and everyday contacts
Everyday personal contact is very important to the British
 09.
Religion and politics
 Religion and politics

Compared to other European countries, exception of

Northern Ireland, some people in Scotland and Islamic
community

 Neither religion nor politics : important part of

social identity
 Many people regard themselves as belonging to
religion, church,…
 Some people among minority feel sense of
belonging to political parties.
 Religion + politics : not determine other aspects of
people’s life
THANK YOU