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Ethnic identities, social capital and health inequalities: factors shaping African-Caribbean participation in local community networks in the UK

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  • Campbell, Catherine
  • McLean, Carl

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of ethnic identity on the likelihood of peoples' participation in local community networks, in the context of recent policy emphasis on the participation of marginalised communities in such networks as a means of reducing health inequalities. Conceptually, the paper is located against the background of debates about possible links between health and social capital--defined in terms of grassroots participation in local community networks--and an interest in the way in which social exclusion impacts on social capital. The paper draws on lengthy semi-structured, open-ended interviews with 25 African-Caribbean residents of a deprived multi-ethnic area of a south England town. While African-Caribbean identity played a central role in peoples' participation in inter-personal networks, this inter-personal solidarity did not serve to unite people at the local community level beyond particular face-to-face networks. Levels of participation in voluntary organisations and community activist networks were low. Informants regarded this lack of African-Caribbean unity within the local community as a problem, saying that it placed African-Caribbean people at a distinct disadvantage--furthering their social exclusion through limiting their access to various local community resources. The paper examines the way in which the construction of ethnic identities--within a context of institutionalised racism at both the material and symbolic levels--makes it unlikely that people will view local community organisations or networks as representative of their interests or needs, or be motivated to participate in them. Our findings highlight the limitations of policies which simply call for increased community participation by socially excluded groups, in the absence of specific measures to address the obstacles that stand in the way of such participation.

Suggested Citation

  • Campbell, Catherine & McLean, Carl, 2002. "Ethnic identities, social capital and health inequalities: factors shaping African-Caribbean participation in local community networks in the UK," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(4), pages 643-657, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:55:y:2002:i:4:p:643-657
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    Cited by:

    1. Montesanti, Stephanie Rose & Abelson, Julia & Lavis, John N. & Dunn, James R., 2015. "The value of frameworks as knowledge translation mechanisms to guide community participation practice in Ontario CHCs," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 223-231.
    2. James H. Spencer & Katherine Irwin & Karen N. Umemoto & Orlando Garcia-Santiago & Stephanie T. Nishimura & Earl S. Hishinuma & Soojean Choi-Misailidis, 2009. "Exploring the Hypothesis of Ethnic Practice as Social Capital: Violence Among Asian/Pacific Islander Youth in Hawaii," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 55(6), pages 506-524, November.
    3. Choi, Jin Young, 2009. "Contextual effects on health care access among immigrants: Lessons from three ethnic communities in Hawaii," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 1261-1271, October.
    4. Morgan, Myfanwy & Mayblin, Maya & Jones, Roger, 2008. "Ethnicity and registration as a kidney donor: The significance of identity and belonging," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(1), pages 147-158, January.
    5. Ellaway, Anne & Macintyre, Sally, 2007. "Is social participation associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 64(7), pages 1384-1391, April.
    6. Koffman, Jonathan & Morgan, Myfanwy & Edmonds, Polly & Speck, Peter & Higginson, Irene J., 2008. ""I know he controls cancer": The meanings of religion among Black Caribbean and White British patients with advanced cancer," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 780-789, September.
    7. Hampshire, Katherine Rebecca & Matthijsse, Mathilde, 2010. "Can arts projects improve young people's wellbeing? A social capital approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(4), pages 708-716, August.
    8. Shiell, Alan & Hawe, Penelope & Kavanagh, Shane, 2020. "Evidence suggests a need to rethink social capital and social capital interventions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    9. Tritter, Jonathan Quetzal & McCallum, Alison, 2006. "The snakes and ladders of user involvement: Moving beyond Arnstein," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 156-168, April.
    10. Bisung, Elijah & Elliott, Susan J., 2014. "Toward a social capital based framework for understanding the water-health nexus," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 194-200.

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