[Book review of:] Black middle class Britannia: identities, repertoires, cultural consumption

Minority middle classes deserve more scholarly attention. In many societies, racial and ethnic minorities, slowly but persistently, despite many structural barriers, become middle class. This often leads to confusion, uneasiness and even distrust in Western societies, where middle-classness is generally associated with whiteness and sociocultural assimilation to the established white middle-class codes, interests and networks. How do minority middle-class individuals negotiate their positions and craft their identities in these contexts? Meghji’s book is a relevant contribution to this field, shining light on the identifications and cultural consumption of Black middle-class Britons

Ethnic Identity, Social Mobility and the Role of Soulmates

Based on a study among higher-educated adult children of lower-class Turkish and Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands, this open access book explores processes of identification among social climbers with ethnic minority backgrounds. Using both survey data and open interviews with these ‘minority climbers’, the study details the contextual and temporal nature of identification. The results illustrate how ethnicity is contextual but have tangible and inescapable effects at the same time. Also the findings call for a more reflexive use of terms like ethnic ingroup/outgroup and bonding/bridging. Overall, the book helps us understand the emergence of middle-class segments that articulate their minority identities and as such it will be of great interest to academics, policy makers and all those interested in processes of integration and/or diversity

Ethnic Identity, Social Mobility and the Role of Soulmates

Based on a study among higher-educated adult children of lower-class Turkish and Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands, this open access book explores processes of identification among social climbers with ethnic minority backgrounds. Using both survey data and open interviews with these ‘minority climbers’, the study details the contextual and temporal nature of identification. The results illustrate how ethnicity is contextual but have tangible and inescapable effects at the same time. Also the findings call for a more reflexive use of terms like ethnic ingroup/outgroup and bonding/bridging. Overall, the book helps us understand the emergence of middle-class segments that articulate their minority identities and as such it will be of great interest to academics, policy makers and all those interested in processes of integration and/or diversity

Les musulmans à l’intérieur de la « Maison néerlandaise »

La construction de l’autre en négatif de la définition de soi est au cœur de la relation biaisée qu’entretiennent les Pays-Bas avec leurs citoyens musulmans. Derrière son image d’Épinal d’un peuple ouvert et accueillant, la société néerlandaise impose les représentations d’une culture nationale auxquelles les immigrés et leurs descendants sont sommés de s’adapter. Les visions protectionnistes des libertés culturelles ou sexuelles, et nationalistes du territoire fonctionnent de concert dans cet imaginaire qui fantasme son homogénéité. L’identité néerlandaise se fabrique ainsi sur une double discrimination religieuse et ethnique dont ceux qu’elle vise ne parviennent pas à s’extraire

ICT as an instrument for social and emotional ageing. A qualitative study with older adults with cognitive impairments

Inspired by theories from the field of social and emotional aging, we studied the use of ICTs by older adults with cognitive impairments. By means of qualitative interviews (N=30) with older adults with cognitive impairments and their relatives, we got a detailed picture of the role of ICTs in their daily lives. First, our data showed that older adults with cognitive impairments used ICTs to enhance their social and emotional wellbeing. This involved social interaction, feelings of belongingness, and engagement in hobbies and regular daily activities. Second, our research provided insight into the strategies applied when ICT use became too difficult, with a considerable role for the social network. When the network offered help upon request or proactively encouraged the older person, this increased the perception of control. This also applied to the indirect use of ICTs, when someone from the social network operated the devices. Denying the older person the use of ICTs undermined the perception of control. The findings provide insight into how the potential of ICT can be exploited for this target group. We end the paper with practical recommendations