White British or something else?

[Saltisford]

Please settle a debate for me. Am I being unreasonable to tick something other than White British on the UK census form? White European?

My background is that I have one British grandparent, two Polish and one German but I was born in the UK.

What should I tick?

I've had this conversation with my husband before, generally, not for form purposes as I always put British.

However both my parents have Welsh in them, more my mum than my dad, it makes me 3/4 Welsh but DH always says that's not possible because I was born in Britain.
That's just daft.

Isn't it?!
(I'm doubting myself now!£

The ethnicity and nationality questions are different.

DH Put "other' for his nationality and then wrote European.

It depends what the question is. If the question asks how you feel then you put White British, if that's how you feel. If the question asks your ethnicity then you are White European or mixed White British / White European.

Either way there should be Black and Asian British, as well as an ability to select a mix. It's not always clear that the options can deliver the information the question asks for, many people have a mixed heritage.

European isn't a nationality.

Schrodinger it's a political statement about Brexit.

Some people are also being advised to write "climate concerned" for religion.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

European isn't a nationality.

Nor is African and nor is Caribbean. Perhaps "please select all known continents of origin of your grandparents" would be clear.

I know it's a political statement.

As I said elsewhere, this will be one of the most useless censuses ever going by what's shown on Twitter.

Nor is African and nor is Caribbean.

Is African and Caribbean in nationality part too? I thought it's just in ethnicity. That's stupid if it is kn nationality bit too

You can tick whatever you identify with, but seeing as you are second generation to be born British, I’d say you are white British in my opinion. Is there a reason why you don’t like being British?

Schrodinger I think in the last census there were a large number of people who wrote "Jedi" for their religion.

Twas ever thus.

At least some of the statements currently doing the rounds on social media are clean and unambiguous.

I have 2 English grandparents and 2 non-English (but still European) grandparents. I ticked White European.
My DC have 3 British grandparents and 1 non-British. I ticked White British for them.

For national identity I put British and the other European country for me and asked dc what to put for them - one said English and British, the other just wanted British.

I've forgotten, they are definitely in ethnicity, which equally makes no sense when you consider the huge cultural and genetic variations across Africa. Splitting into multiple questions to address different topics seems like it would lead to less confusion.

I have one British parent and one from another country. I was born in the UK but have dual citizenship, so I went for "white other" and wrote in the specifics.

I have one British parent, one European, both white. I put White British - I'm proud of my non-British heritage but don't have dual nationality and don't have strong links with that country in terms of visiting and language.

So for the purpose of the census, White British is fine. It makes no impact on my life, or the government's treatment of me, that I have one European parent.

Put what you want. It asks your National Identity doesn't it, rather than what's in your passport? There are many people who feel something different than what they technically are identified as.

White British
Grandparents are too far down to affect your nationality IMO.

@Saltisford

But ethnicity isn’t a choice is it? It’s determined by your ancestors? (Oh no we’re getting deep now!)

I suppose I would like it to be accurate for researchers or my descendants doing future family research but I know my family will all choose different options.

I put this on the Census -AMA thread

No real answer.

I put White European. It reflects most accurately what I am.

You are definitely white British.

White other would be for a first generation person from central Europe (Poland, Slovakia etc.)

Do you incorporate Polish or German traditions, language, food etc in to your life? Do you or did you spend time in either countries, follow their politics or other important news things going on there?
That's how you decide what to put.

I put white other as my aunty kissed a black man on a night out in the 70's so I feel that this is part of my heritage

@VeganVeal

I put white other as my aunty kissed a black man on a night out in the 70's so I feel that this is part of my heritage

Anything but British eh. LOL

@sweetpotatopie12

My mum used to to say

Just because you were born in a stable doesn't make you a horse lol

I've heard this so many times and it just seems like a racist attack, like I'm not allowed to be British because of my skin colour.

I'm not having a go at you, just that these questions are all so loaded. It doesn't matter that I don't fit kn the census. It matters that they keep trying to put us in boxes and society is so damaged as a result.

Umm @LunaHeather in what universe is this a racist attack????

I was born in Germany to English parents doesn't make me German or European I'm British, says so in my passport.

Maybe dont be so precious and try and start spreading hate where there is none