To ask you how to work out my ethnicity?

[GettingStuffDoneInSlippers]

Okay, sorry, I'm admittedly posting in AIBU because I need an answer quickly.

I'm wanting to be a blood stem cell donor, and it's something I'm shocked I hadn't signed up to do before now.

So here's my dilemma. It asks for ethnicity (I've attached a picture), and it says it's really important to be specific because it's hard to find a donor as it is, especially one that fits the exact criteria.

I would usually describe myself as White British and leave it at that. But even my Midwife during my pregnancy gave me a raised eyebrow and I always find myself explaining I 'look' the way I do because of my Grandmother.

I know nothing about genetics, hence my question.

My Grandmother is 100% Spanish. My own Mum is Half Spanish, half Scottish.

My Dad was just British.

So what does this make me? Should I just put white British; even though I do not look white British at all?

Does my very olive skin and colouring have any relevance to what I put down?

On the face of it, I suppose I would just put white British?

Sorry for the derail, I've no idea what to put down and don't want to get it wrong

Presumably there isn't an option for white European, so go with white British.

Can’t see the photo, but yes, white British. Spanish is European so white and you are British so white British

I am half Greek Cypriot (dad is full GC, mum white British). I put white other and then an explanation if asked or needed. Presumably if at this stage they don’t require any extra info they’ll ask that if they need to screen you.

I would need the screening as I have thalassaemia trait for eg which is prevalent in Mediterranean folk (also I'm a carrier so I’d put that in my notes)

What are the options? I'm doubting you'd be white British. There will be someone who needs a Spanish Scottish English donor and that's why they ask. Would you not be Anglo-Spanish?

They want to know your ethnicity as in whether you have Asian, African, European roots - the way your skin looks/shape of it isn't the issue.

If I was you I'd also think I was white British.

White British

You are only 1/4 Spanish

There's usually a 'white other' box

Easiest way to work it out- you have or had 4 grandparents- so they contribute 1/4 each.

One grandparent was Spanish, the other 3 British, so you are 1/4 Spanish and 3/4 British.

I can't see a picture with your options but if there is a 'mixed' or 'European' one then I'd go for that. Or tick all that apply.

I can't see a picture but i would say white British (or Scottish if you were born there) I class myself Welsh if that option is on forms, then British.

I would say you are white British because most people have at least a grandparent who isn't British. You could tie yourself in knots otherwise.

I never know what to put for my kids because I'm Spanish and DH is part- Iranian, part Argentinian, except his family hail from the North of Iran where they are not dark skinned and also they were Argentinians of Italian descent! One of my DS is more Asian-looking, two could be from anywhere and one has green eyes and her hair is lighter, so I just put "other," because no category spans three continents!

I usually put any other white (white and latinamerican mix).

Sorry! Forgot to add!

Italian, Portuguese and Spanish is an option

I’ve wondered this - all four grandparents white British, with German ancestry on my dads side - but me and my dad are dark, with black hair, olive skin and green eyes, people always assume that we are Mediterranean, so surely we can’t genetically be white British, and I worry if I put that it won’t actually be correct.

Is there a mixed option?
You're much more white British than Spanish.

I would go with White Other for this one. If it was a census form or similar I would just say White British. I am half Irish and my DC are 1/4 Irish 1/4 British and 1/2 North African. For a census we all say White British but for medical purposes we may say White Other.

Image of one of the options

I would be tempted to contact them and check. I imagine this is a question that has come up a lot.

I can’t see the pic you attached. Can you check all that apply?

I checked multiple boxes when pregnant at booking in as different traits can appear in different ethnicities (ex Tay-Sachs disease).

So click Spanish

is there a comments box where you can explain

Is there an 'other' option? If not I'd go with white British because that's what the majority of your genes are!

I would say you are white British because most people have at least a grandparent who isn't British^

Do they? Of the overall UK population, most people won't have any non British grandparents.

OP there must be some option for you to explain that you have a Spanish grandparent, whether there is a 'white European' box, which may not be - if they want to know the detail, there could be a significant difference between someone with a Spanish, Scandinavian or Hungarian grandparent.

My Dads German but I’ve always put white British and never thought anything of it. Ethnicity on medical forms is usually about risk assessment for certain genetic diseases being prevalent. For instance Scottish/ Irish higher risk of heart disease, Eastern Med higher risk of thalasaemia. It’s all a bit non specific really as many people are not actually sure of their genetic heritage. For instance you could live in Swindon, be White British but if both your parents are from Biggleswade area you are at higher risk of Huntington’s Chorea.
Perhaps the NHS should offer us all one of those DNA swab tests to properly asses the risk - unlikley under current funding!

White Other? My sons are, legally, British (entitled to a passport/ citizenship from their father's home country but not registered for them in any way) but on ethnicity monitoring forms we tick White European, or White Other, if W/E isn't an option.

Ethinicity is how you describe yourself. It isnt a fixed scientific term .