Inter-ethnic Marriages, their Associated Family Dynamics and Nature of Identity among British Pakistanis

Abstract

The United Kingdom, by virtue of being a multi-ethnic society, has a record of an increasing tendency towards the phenomenon of inter-ethnic unions as per the census of 2011. In the context of the British Pakistani community in England and Wales, around 9% of all unions made were inter-ethnic in nature. What are the factors leading towards British Pakistanis undergoing such a form of marriage, especially as a review of literature reveals their inclination to be involved in endogamous and transnational marriages? What are the lived experiences and family dynamics among families formed from such British Pakistani inter-ethnic unions? What are the various forms of identity reflected among members of British Pakistani inter-ethnic families due to cross-cultural contact? Qualitative research methodology was used to explore these research questions. Purposive sampling technique was used to collect a sample of two key informants (both female British Pakistanis), 35 members of inter-ethnic British Pakistani couples (11 males and 25 females), and 3 offspring born of such inter-ethnic unions (2 males and 1 female) from the towns of Norbury and Croydon located in the London Borough of Croydon, Greater London. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect the data and case studies with the help of two semi-structured interview guides. It was observed that religion (Islam) played a major role in many aspects of the respondents’ lives, including their tendency to inter-marry (religious boundaries were not crossed in all cases but one); as a common ground for negotiating various cultural differences faced due to cross-cultural contact, including dynamics of the family; and as the major form of identity through which all other forms of identity are exhibited depending on whether or not they would be permitted on the basis of perceived Islamic principles.