Commonplace diversity and the ‘ethos of mixing’: perceptions of difference in a London neighbourhood

Susanne Wessendorf

doi:10.1080/1070289X.2013.822374

Commonplace diversity and the ‘ethos of mixing’: perceptions of difference in a London neighbourhood

Susanne Wessendorf

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

206 Citations (Scopus)

137 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The London Borough of Hackney is one of the most diverse places in Britain. It is characterised by a multiplicity of ethnic minorities, different migration histories, religions, educational and economic backgrounds both among long-term residents and newcomers. This article describes attitudes towards diversity in such a ‘super-diverse’ context. It develops the notion of ‘commonplace diversity’, referring to cultural diversity being experienced as a normal part of social life. While many people mix across cultural differences in public and associational space, this is rarely translated into private relations. However, this is not perceived as a problem, as long as people adhere to a tacit ‘ethos of mixing’. This comes to the fore in relation to groups who are blamed to ‘not want to mix’ in public and associational space. The article discusses the fine balance between acceptable and unacceptable social divisions in relation to specific groups who are seen to lead separate lives.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	407-422
Number of pages	16
Journal	Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power
Volume	20
Issue number	4
Early online date	13 Sept 2013
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/1070289X.2013.822374
Publication status	Published - 2013

Bibliographical note

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power on 13/09/2013 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1070289X.2013.822374

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Keywords

super-diversity
neighbourhoods
London
cultural diversity
everyday multiculturalism
encounters

Access to Document

10.1080/1070289X.2013.822374

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 425 KBLicence: Unspecified

Social relations in a super-diverse context
Wessendorf, S.
1/03/08 → 28/02/14
Project: Research

Cite this

@article{08ed71e11dc64594a65d1fa567f1a09c,

title = "Commonplace diversity and the {\textquoteleft}ethos of mixing{\textquoteright}: perceptions of difference in a London neighbourhood",

abstract = "The London Borough of Hackney is one of the most diverse places in Britain. It is characterised by a multiplicity of ethnic minorities, different migration histories, religions, educational and economic backgrounds both among long-term residents and newcomers. This article describes attitudes towards diversity in such a {\textquoteleft}super-diverse{\textquoteright} context. It develops the notion of {\textquoteleft}commonplace diversity{\textquoteright}, referring to cultural diversity being experienced as a normal part of social life. While many people mix across cultural differences in public and associational space, this is rarely translated into private relations. However, this is not perceived as a problem, as long as people adhere to a tacit {\textquoteleft}ethos of mixing{\textquoteright}. This comes to the fore in relation to groups who are blamed to {\textquoteleft}not want to mix{\textquoteright} in public and associational space. The article discusses the fine balance between acceptable and unacceptable social divisions in relation to specific groups who are seen to lead separate lives.",

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author = "Susanne Wessendorf",

note = "This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power on 13/09/2013 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1070289X.2013.822374 Copyright {\textcopyright} and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. ",

year = "2013",

doi = "10.1080/1070289X.2013.822374",

language = "English",

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journal = "Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power",

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N1 - This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power on 13/09/2013 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1070289X.2013.822374 Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

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N2 - The London Borough of Hackney is one of the most diverse places in Britain. It is characterised by a multiplicity of ethnic minorities, different migration histories, religions, educational and economic backgrounds both among long-term residents and newcomers. This article describes attitudes towards diversity in such a ‘super-diverse’ context. It develops the notion of ‘commonplace diversity’, referring to cultural diversity being experienced as a normal part of social life. While many people mix across cultural differences in public and associational space, this is rarely translated into private relations. However, this is not perceived as a problem, as long as people adhere to a tacit ‘ethos of mixing’. This comes to the fore in relation to groups who are blamed to ‘not want to mix’ in public and associational space. The article discusses the fine balance between acceptable and unacceptable social divisions in relation to specific groups who are seen to lead separate lives.

AB - The London Borough of Hackney is one of the most diverse places in Britain. It is characterised by a multiplicity of ethnic minorities, different migration histories, religions, educational and economic backgrounds both among long-term residents and newcomers. This article describes attitudes towards diversity in such a ‘super-diverse’ context. It develops the notion of ‘commonplace diversity’, referring to cultural diversity being experienced as a normal part of social life. While many people mix across cultural differences in public and associational space, this is rarely translated into private relations. However, this is not perceived as a problem, as long as people adhere to a tacit ‘ethos of mixing’. This comes to the fore in relation to groups who are blamed to ‘not want to mix’ in public and associational space. The article discusses the fine balance between acceptable and unacceptable social divisions in relation to specific groups who are seen to lead separate lives.

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JO - Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power

JF - Identities: Global Studies in Culture and Power

IS - 4

ER -

Commonplace diversity and the ‘ethos of mixing’: perceptions of difference in a London neighbourhood

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

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Projects

Social relations in a super-diverse context

Cite this