Self-segregation

Recurring patterns in countries affected by self-segregation

Residential segregation

As self-segregation begins to appear, residents of different ethnic, racial or religious background begin to separate from each other and live in different areas in large concentrations.

Rural and urban divide

In some countries affected by self-segregation, there exists a divide among racial groups in rural areas and in urban areas of a country. This trend is most commonly seen in countries affected by White demographic decline and is usually an occurrence of white flight from inner city areas and then outer city suburbs as these places become more ethnically diverse and heterogeneous to more whiter rural areas.

School segregation

Typically as segregation begins to appear schools end up becoming segregated on ethnic and religious lines.

Ethnic communalism

Main article: Communalism (South Asia), Communal violence, Ethnic conflict

Self-segregation and segregation in general sometimes escalates into inter-ethnic violence between different ethnic, racial or religious groups. Instances of this can be seen worldwide in places which have a degree of ethnic or religious diversity within them, famous examples of this are the Troubles and sectarian conflict in Iraq between Sunnis and Shias and general religiously motivated riots in South Asia and Africa, especially in India and Nigeria.

Self-segregation in countries

India

In India, religious self-segregation exists between mainly the Hindu majority in the country and the large Muslim minority.

Sweden

According to researcher Emma Neuman at Linnaeus University, segregation sets in at population share around 3-4% of non-European migrants in a district, while European immigration shows no such trend. The study comprised the 12 largest municipalities of Sweden for the period 1990–2007. High income earners and highly educated move out of non-European migrant districts first where ethnic segregation in turn leads to social segregation.

A study at Örebro University concluded that while Swedish parents stated positive views towards the values of multiculturalism, in practice they still chose Swedish-majority schools for their children, such that they would not become an ethnic minority during their formative years and in order to stay within an environment to develop their native Swedish language.

United Kingdom

Calls for action against this trend have increased in volume since the 2001 race riots in Bradford and Oldham, where racial segregation is present as well. The Cantle Report of 2001 outlined that different communities were living 'parallel lives' which advocated for 'community cohesion' strategies to promote integration. The Casey Report in 2016, which preceded after the Cantle Report fifteen years prior suggested a similar outlook to the previous report that segregation was still at 'worrying levels'.

In 2023, according to research published by Queen's University Belfast, England and Wales have been becoming more diverse and less ethnically segregated over time, following an in-depth analysis of 2021 Census data.

Bradford

In Bradford, self-segregation between the prominent Muslim minority in the city and the White British population exists at large and was a factor behind the race riots in 2001.

United States

Self-segregation is on the rise in the United States, being mostly influenced by White demographic decline in the country which is more prevalent than in other white-majority societies worldwide (57% of the country as of 2020 is Non-Hispanic White). In 2018, research by the University of Illinois and sociologist Mary Krysan found that while Whites, Blacks and Hispanics in the United States stated that the ideal neighbourhood that they liked was racially diverse, most ended up living in neighbourhoods in which their racial group was the majority. However, this differed from racial group to racial group on how much of a percentage their racial group represented in their neighbourhood. While Hispanics (51% Hispanic) and Blacks (66% Black) ended up living in areas in which they were a majority, their proportional amount was significantly lower than that of whites. (74% white).

Endogamy as self-segregation

Main article: Endogamy

Endogamy, the practice of marrying within a group, encourages group affiliation and bonding. It is a common practice among displanted cultures attempting to make roots in new countries whilst still resisting complete integration, as it encourages group solidarity and ensures greater control over group resources (which may be important to preserve when a group is attempting to establish itself within an alien culture).

However, endogamy can also serve as a form of self-segregation and helps a community to resist integrating with surrounding populations. It thus helps minorities to survive as separate communities over a long time, in societies with other practices and beliefs.

Examples of ethno-religious groups with higher levels of endogamy that have successfully resisted cultural destruction and assimilation for centuries are the Romani (colloquially referred to by non-members as "Gypsies") and the Ashkenazi Jews of Europe and the Americas.

References

References

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