Ethnenticty v's Nationality?

Question

I recently asked a question on the nationality of Y! answer users. A lot of the respondents responded with their Ethnic background or at least mentioned it. Why? Do you think they misread the question or was something else going on?

(BTW US 31%, Brit 21%, Aliens 10%, Canadians 10%, 28% others. Not very scientific I know.)

Answer 1

Nationality is quite an artificial, arbitrary construct - many people feel a stronger bond of identity with their ethnic group, their religion, their favourite sports team or other things that might be more tangible.
It's also very common in nations with high levels of immigration for people to continue to feel a tie with their, or their parents' original country. I noticed it particularly in America, no one seems to be just American - they're African-American, Italian-American, Jewish-American etc., and it seems to be becoming more common in the UK too. It's a way for people to express the fact that they feel multiple ties, not just to the country they were born in, or work in, or have a passport from.
It could also have to do with the fact that people are now very used to answering equal opportunity questions, which freqently ask for nationality and ethnicity.
Of course, the other possibility is just that people wanted to provide as much information as possible, even if irrelevant, to increase their chances of getting best answer!

Answer 2

Nationality used to be an accident of birth, although these days being born in a country doesn't guarantee that the country will grant you nationality. If you want to and try hard enough you can change your nationality. You can't change your ethnic background. If you are ethnically Tamil, then you are a Tamil, regardless of your citizenship. If you are a Kurd, you are ethnically Kurdish, regardless of whether you hold a Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, Syrian, British or any other passport.

Answer 3

I think a lot of people confuse ethnicity with nationality. I can't speak for every country, but in the US, much attention is placed on our individual ethnicity, so many relate to it much easier. It's not until some major crisis like 9/11, the war in Iraq or Hurricane Katrina that we start to relate to ourselves as jsut Americans. Even then, soon thereafter, it's back to ethnicity.

I know this is more than you asked, but I think both are important. A person of African decent living in England has a different set of experiences than one living in the US. I would supposed the same holds true for other ethnicities.

Answer 4

Wow 10% Aliens !

Ethnicity is usually mentioned because it gives people an identity. To say you are from Dundee, Swansea or Margate gives another person absolutely no idea of what you are like. Mention your ethnicity and immediately a picture forms in your mind.

Any photographs of the Aliens ?

Answer 5

Ethnicity is your ethnic background - English, Irish, Scottish, German, or what have you. Nationality is the country of which you are a citizen. So my ethnicity is German, Irish and Spanish, and my nationality is Canadian.

Answer 6

Its all interwoven a bit isn't it? Because being British is more complicated than just being born here. Its about what we perceive to be Britishness. There are all kinds of ideas about colour and religion and ethnicity which are tied into how we feel about being British.

Answer 7

I'd hope it was simple lack of intelligence but i have a feeling less and less people are identifying themselves as belonging to a nationality and are withdrawing into ethnic groups.

Answer 8

i didnt even know what ethnic was, until it became politically correct to mention it and keep harping onabout it!!
as it is i'm brit/english.

Answer 9

Im British.See,it's not enough is it.