Abstract
In this chapter we report on research conducted between 2004 and 2006 in Slough and Bradford which investigated the educational aspirations and experiences of young British Pakistani Muslim men and women.1 Our research, funded by the Leverhulme Trust within a wider programme on migration and citizenship, sought to understand the extent to which young British Pakistanis were making progress in terms of educational achievement and employment in relation to their peers and in relation to the wider findings of successive reports on the differential achievements of ethnic groups (Modood and Shiner, 1994; Modood et al., 1997). Our qualitative study explored the attitudes and dispositions towards education and career aspirations held by a range of young people including both those who had achieved a measure of success (entry into higher education, for example, or professional qualifications) and those who had left compulsory education with few qualifications including those who remained unemployed. One starting point for this research was work by Zhou (2000, 2005) on the high academic achievements of Asian-Americans (particularly those of Vietnamese and Chinese heritage) which posited the role of ‘ethnic social capital’ as being particularly significant in promoting academic achievement through the enforcement of familial and community norms. We wanted to see whether similar forms of ‘ethnic capital’ (Modood, 2004) also operated within Pakistani Muslim communities and whether they were significant in shaping improved educational outcomes for young people.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ahmad, F. (2001) ‘Modern Traditions? British Muslim Women and Academic Achievement’, Gender and Education, 13(2): 137–152.
Ahmad, F. Modood, T. and Lissenburgh, S. (2003) South Asian Women and Employment in Britain: The Interaction of Gender and Ethnicity. London: Policy Studies Institute.
Alam, M.Y. and Husband, C. (2006) Reflections of Young British-Pakistani Men from Bradford: Linking Narratives to Policy. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation Report.
Alexander, C. (2000) The Asian Gang. Oxford: Berg.
Alexander, C. (2004) ‘Imagining the Asian Gang: Ethnicity, Masculinity and Youth After the Riots’, Critical Social Policy, 24(4): 526–549.
Ali, Y. (1992) ‘Muslim Women and the Politics of Ethnicity and Culture in Northern England’, in G. Sahgal and N. Yuval-Davis, eds. Refusing Holy Orders. London: Virago, pp. 101–123.
Allen, C. (2003) Fair Justice — the Bradford Disturbances, Sentencing and the Impact. London: Forum Against Islamophobia and Racism.
Anthias, F. (2007) ‘Ethnic Ties: Social Capital and the Question of Mobilisability’, The Sociological Review, 5(4), 1–18.
Archer, L. (2001) ‘Muslim Brothers, Black Lads, Traditional Asians: British Muslim Young Men’s Constructions of “Race”, Religion and Masculinity’, Feminism and Psychology, 11(1): 79–105.
Archer, L. (2002) ‘Change, Culture and Tradition: British Muslim Pupils Talk About Muslim Girls’ Post-16 “Choices”’, Race, Ethnicity and Education, 5(4), 359–376.
Archer, L. (2003) Race, Masculinity and Schooling. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
Archer, L. and Francis, B. (2005) ‘They Never Go Off the Rails Like Other Ethnic Groups’: Teachers’ Constructions of British Chinese Pupils’ Gender Identities and Approaches to Learning’, British Journal of Sociology of Education, 26(2): 165–182.
Archer, L. and Francis, B. (2006) ‘Challenging Classes? Exploring the Role of Social Class Within the Identities and Achievement of British Chinese Pupils’, Sociology, 40(1): 29–49.
Ball, S. (2003) Class Strategies and the Education Market: The Middle Classes and Social Advantage. London: RoutledgeFalmer.
Ball, S., Bowe, R. and Gewirtz, S. (1995) ‘Circuits of Schooling: A Sociological Exploration of Parental Choice of School in Social Class Contexts’, The Sociological Review, 43(1), 52–78.
Ball, S., Reay, D. and David, M. (2003) ‘“Ethnic Choosing”: Minority Ethnic Students, Social Class and Higher Education Choice’, Race, Ethnicity and Education, 5(4): 333–357.
Basit, T.N. (1997) ‘I Want More Freedom, but Not Too Much: British Muslim Girls and the Dynamism of Family Values’, Gender and Education, 9(4): 425–439.
Berthoud, R. (2009) ‘Patterns of Non-Employment, and of Disadvantage, in a Recession’, Working Paper No. 2009–23, Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex.
Bourdieu, P. (1997) ‘The Forms of Capital’, in A.H. Halsey, H. Lauder, P. Brown and A.S. Wells, eds. Education: Culture, Economy, and Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 46–58.
Bowlby, S., Lloyd Evans, S. and Roche, C. (2004) ‘Youth Employment, Racialised, Gendering and School-Work Transitions’, in M. Boddy and M. Parkinson, eds. City Matters. Bristol: Policy Press, pp. 323–345.
Bradford Commission (1996) The Bradford Commission Report. Bradford: The Bradford Congress.
Brah, A. (1993) ‘“Race” and “Culture” in the Gendering of Labour Markets: South Asian Young Muslim Women and the Labour Market’, New Community, 19(3): 441–458.
Burgess, S., Wilson, D. and Piebalga, A. (2009) ‘Land of Hope and Dreams: Education Aspirations and Parental Influence Among England’s Ethnic Minorities’, Paper presented at Social Policy Association Conference, Edinburgh.
Cantle, T. (2001) Community Cohesion: A Report of the Independent Review Team. London: Home Office.
Coleman, J.S. (1988) ‘Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital’, American Journal of Sociology, 94: S95–S121.
Connor, H., Tyers, C., Modood, T. and Hillage, J. (2004) Why the Difference? A Closer Look at Higher Education Minority Ethnic Students and Graduates. Research Report 532. London: Department of Education and Skills.
Crozier, G. and Davies, J. (2006) ‘Family Matters: A Discussion of the Bangladeshi and Pakistani Extended Family and Community in Supporting the Children’s Education’, Sociological Review, 54(4): 768–795.
Dale, A., Shaheen, N., Fieldhouse, E. and Kalra, V. (2002a) ‘Routes into Education and Employment for Young Pakistani and Bangladeshi Women in the UK’, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 25(6): 924–968.
Dale, A., Shaheen, N., Fieldhouse, E. and Kalra, V. (2002b) ‘Labour Market Prospects for Pakistani and Bangladeshi Women’, Work, Employment and Society, 16(1): 5–26.
Darlow, A., Bickerstaffe, T., Burden, et al. (2005) Researching Bradford: A Review of Social Research on Bradford District. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Davies, N. (2004) ‘Views, Voices and Visibility: Reflections on the Processes Involved in Realising the Achievement of Muslim Pupils of Pakistani and Kashmiri Heritage in Slough’, Raise Project Case Study, RAISE, http://www.insted.co.uk/raise.html. Last accessed 6 June 2010.
Department of Communities and Local Government (2010) Tackling Race Inequality — A Statement on Race, http://www.communities.gov.uk. Last accessed 6 June 2010.
Dwyer, C. (1999) ‘Veiled Meanings: British Muslim Women and the Negotiation of Differences’, Gender, Place and Culture, 6(1): 5–26.
Dwyer, C. and Shah, B. (2009) ‘Rethinking the Identities of Young British Pakistani Muslim Women: Educational Experiences and Aspirations’, in P. Hopkins and R. Gale, eds. Muslims in Britain: Race, Place and Identities. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 55–73.
Dwyer, C., Shah, B. and Sanghera, G. (2008) ‘“From Cricket Lover to Terror Suspect” — Challenging Representations of Young British Muslim Men’, Gender, Place and Culture, 15(2): 117–136.
Edwards, R., Franklin, J. and Holland, J. (2003) Families and Social Capital: Exploring the Issues. London: Families and Social Capital ESRC Research Group, South Bank University.
Equal Opportunities Commission (2007) Moving On Up? The Way Forward. Report of the Equal Opportunities Commission’s investigation into Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Black Caribbean women and work. London: EOC.
Francis, B. and Archer, L. (2005) ‘British-Chinese Pupils’ and Parents’ Constructions of the Value of Education’, British Educational Research Journal, 31(1): 89–108.
Haw, K. (1998) Educating Muslim Girls: Shifting Discourses. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.
Hopkins, P. (2004) ‘Young Muslim Men in Scotland: Inclusions and Exclusions’, Children’s Geographies, 2(2): 257–272.
Hopkins, P. (2006) ‘Youthful Muslim Masculinities: Gender and Generational Relations’, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 31: 337–352.
Hopkins, P. (2007a) ‘Global Events, National Politics, Local Lives: Young Muslim Men in Scotland’, Environment and Planning A, 39(5): 1119–1133.
Hopkins, P. (2007b) ‘“Blue Squares”, “Proper” Muslims and Transnational Networks: Narratives of National and Religious Identities Amongst Young Muslim Men Living in Scotland’, Ethnicities, 7(1): 61–81.
Hussain, Y. and Bagguley, P. (2005) ‘Citizenship, Ethnicity and Identity: British Pakistanis After the 2001 Riots’, Sociology, 39(3): 435–457.
Hussain, Y. and Bagguley, P. (2007) Moving on Up: South Asian Women and Higher Education. London: Treatham.
Institute of Public Policy Research (2010) ‘Recession Leaves Almost Half of Young Black People Unemployed’, http://www.ippr.org.uk/pressreleases/?id=3846. Last accessed 6 June 2010.
Kao, G. (2004) ‘Social Capital and Its Relevance to Minority and Immigrant Populations’, Sociology of Education, 7, 172–183.
Lewis, P. (1994) Islamic Britain. London: I.B. Tauris.
Macey, M. (1999) ‘Class, Gender and Religions Influences on Changing Patterns of Pakistani Male Violence in Bradford’, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 22(5), 845–866.
Macey, M. (2002) ‘Interpreting Islam: Young Muslim Men’s Involvement in Criminal Activity in Bradford’, in Basia Spalek, ed. Islam, Crime and the Criminal Justice System. Devon: William Publishing, pp. 19–42.
Macey, M. (2007) ‘Islamic Political Radicalism in Britain: Muslim Men in Bradford’, in Tahir Abbas, ed. Islamic Political Radicalism: A European Perspective. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 160–172.
McDowell, L. (2003) Redundant Masculinities? Oxford: Blackwell.
Modood, T. (1993) ‘The Number of Ethnic Minority Students in British Higher Education’, Oxford Review of Education, 19(2): 167–182.
Modood, T. (2004) ‘Capitals, Ethnic Identity and Educational Qualifications’, Cultural Trends, 13(2): 87–105;
reproduced in D. Hoerder, Y. Hebért and I. Schmitt, eds. (2005) Negotiating Transcultural Lives: Belongings and Social Capital Among Youths in Comparative Perspective. Göttingen, Germany: V&R UniPress;
and in R. Alba and M. Waters, eds. (2011) New Dimensions of Diversity: The Children of Immigrants in North America and Western Europe. New York: New York University Press,forthcoming;
and in T. Basit and S. Tomlinson, eds. (2011) Social Inclusion and Higher Education. Bristol: The Policy Press, forthcoming,
Modood, T. and Shiner, M. (1994) Ethnic Minorities and Higher Education: Why Are There Differential Rates of Entry? London: Policy Studies Institute.
Modood, T., Berthoud, R., Lakey, J., et al. (1997) Ethnic Minorities in Britain: Diversity and Disadvantage. London: Policy Studies Institute.
Mohammad, R. (2001) ‘“Insiders” and/or “outsiders”: Positionality, Theory and Praxis’, in M. Limb and C. Dwyer, eds. Qualitative Methodologies for Geographers. London: Arnold, pp. 101–114.
Mohammad, R. (2005) ‘Negotiating Space of the Home, the Education System and the Labour Market: The Case of Young, Working-Class, British Pakistani Muslim Women’, in F. Ghazi-Walid and C. Nagel, eds. Geographies of Muslim Women. London: Guildford Press, pp. 178–202.
National Equality Panel (NEP) (2010) An Anatomy of Economic Inequality in the UK. London: Government Equalities Office.
Ouseley, H. (2001) Community Pride not Prejudice. Bradford: Bradford Vision.
Phillips, D. (2006) ‘Parallel Lives? Challenging Discourses of British Muslim Self-segregation’, Environment and Planning D: Society and Space, 24(1), 25–40.
Platt, L. (2005) ‘New Destinations? Assessing the Post-migration Social Mobility of Minority Ethnic Groups in England and Wales’. Social Policy and Administration, 39(6), 697–721.
Ramji, H. (2005) ‘Exploring Intersections of Employment and Ethnicity amongst British Pakistani Young Men’, Sociological Research Online, 10(4), http://www.socresonline.org.uk/10/4/ramji.html.
Ramji, H. (2007) ‘Dynamics of Religion and Gender Amongst Young British Muslims’, Sociology, 41(6): 1171–1189.
Reay, D., David, M. and Ball, S. (2005) Degrees of Choice: Social Class, Race and Gender in Higher Education. Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham Books.
Salway, S. (2008) ‘Young Bangladeshi Men in the UK L Market: Identity, Inclusion and Exclusion’, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 31(6): 1126–1152.
Sanghera, G. and Thapar-Björkert, S. (2007a) ‘Because I’m Pakistani and I’m Muslim… and I am Political’ — Gendering Political Radicalism: Young Femininities in Bradford’, in T. Abbas, ed. Islamic Political Radicalism. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 173–191.
Sanghera, G. and Thapar-Björkert, S. (2007) ‘Methodological Dilemmas: Gatekeepers and Positionality in Bradford’, Ethnic and Racial Studies, 31(3): 543–562.
Shah, B. (2007) ‘Place, Space and History in the Research Process: Reflections From Slough’, Paper presented at the Panel on Feminist Research Methods at the American Sociological Association Meetings, New York, 11–14 August.
Shah, B., Dwyer, C. and Modood, T. (2010) ‘Explaining Educational Achievement and Career Aspirations Among Young British Pakistanis: Mobilising “Ethnic Capital”?’, Sociology: 44(6): 1109–1127.
Shain, F. (2002) The Schooling and Identity of Asian Girls. Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham Books.
Thapar-Bjorkert, S. and Sanghera, G. (2010) ‘Social Capital, Educational Aspirations and Young Pakistani Muslim Men and Women in Bradford, West Yorkshire’, Sociological Review, 58(2): 244–264.
Tyrer, D. and Ahmad, F. (2006) Muslim Women and Higher Education: Identities, Experiences and Prospects: A Summary Report. Liverpool: John Moores University and European Social Fund.
Zhou, M. (2000) ‘Social Capital in Chinatown: The Role of Community-Based Organisations and Families in Adaptation of the Younger Generation’, in M. Zhou and James V. Gatewood, eds. Contemporary Asian America: A Multidisciplinary Reader. New York: New York University Press, pp. 315–335.
Zhou, M. (2005) ‘Ethnicity as Social Capital: Community-Based Institutions and Embedded Networks of Social Relations’, in G. Loury, T. Modood and S. Teles, eds. Ethnicity, Social Mobility and Public Policy: Comparing USA and UK. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 131–159.
Zhou, M. and Bankston, C.L. III (1994) ‘Social Capital and the Adaptation of the Second-Generation: The Vietnamese Youth in New Orleans’, International Migration Review, 28(4): 821–845.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2011 Claire Dwyer, Tariq Modood, Gurchathen Sanghera, Bindi Shah and Suruchi Thapar-Björkert
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dwyer, C., Modood, T., Sanghera, G., Shah, B., Thapar-Björkert, S. (2011). Educational Achievement and Career Aspiration for Young British Pakistanis. In: Modood, T., Salt, J. (eds) Global Migration, Ethnicity and Britishness. Palgrave Politics of Identity and Citizenship Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230307155_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230307155_9
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-33402-5
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-30715-5
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social Sciences CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)