Mixed Race: Classified as 'Other' **Thread title edited by MNHQ**

[KatyMac]

Twice in the last month my daughter has had to classify her ethnicity as 'other'

I can't remember this happening since she was about 3

She is mixed, Jamaican/British White - we have ticked 'mixed' or 'White and Black Caribbean' with an option much like below:

"Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups

1. White and Black Caribbean
2. White and Black African
3. White and Asian
4. Any other Mixed/Multiple ethnic background, please describe"

Have things changed? I'm not sure I like her being 'other'

Small bump after MN corrected my typing and spelling

I can see how this must grate, but given that we are such a multi-cultural society these days I'm not sure that forms can indicate every possible ethnicity. And I would assume that if one particular ethnicity is repeated enough times under 'other', the forms will then start to include it.

What is wrong with 'white and Black Caribbean', out of interest?

Nothing - it's great, accurate and inoffensive

But choosing between White, Black, Asian and Other - is old fashioned and a bit rude imo

oh yes, completely agree with that - don't think I've seen form with just those for years! That is very old-fashioned.

Me neither - I stopped ticking 'other' in about 2000 I reckon

It's awful!

I agree with you there. Those 4 options are insufficient to reflect today's society.

I'm wondering about the possibiity of not asking at all, except I know there are good reasons for doing so. Maybe a question like "are there specific reasons your ethnicity is relevant, if so please outline in box below" or something?

I don't much like "other", it's a bit too easy to become othered from it.

But, I am white British as is dh and so therefore is dd, so what do I know?

Many of us always have to tick other as well we don’t fall into any of the usual boxes.

But I have now started to write “not relevant” on all forms except for medical ones where my ethnicity may be relevant to certain inherited diseases.

The whole ONS question is pretty comprehensive:

What is your ethnic group?

Choose one option that best describes your ethnic group or background

White

1. English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British
2. Irish
3. Gypsy or Irish Traveller
4. Any other White background, please describe

Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups

1. White and Black Caribbean
2. White and Black African
3. White and Asian
4. Any other Mixed/Multiple ethnic background, please describe

Asian/Asian British

1. Indian

10. Pakistani 11. Bangladeshi 12. Chinese 13. Any other Asian background, please describe

Black/ African/Caribbean/Black British

14. African
15. Caribbean
16. Any other Black/African/Caribbean background, please describe

Other ethnic group

17. Arab
18. Any other ethnic group, please describe

But yes not relevent is often a good reply

I never know what to fill in for these things. I mean I’m Indian, but like most Northern / Western Indians I look Middle Eastern / Arab. Do they want my actual ethnicity or what I look like (the latter makes more sense from a diversity perspective)?

Well I could be wrong but I really don't think they want what you look like - it's your ethnicity that matters surely

I have rarely seen a form with the option for 'Arab' Katymac. Dh always seems to have to select 'other' and the dc 'other mixed'. Think like a previous poster I may also start ticking 'not relevant' except on medical things.

I've always had a problem with these forms being multi racial.

My mother is from a small island (African, Indian and Chinese) my father is white British.

I never know what to tick.

I've always ticked any other mixed background but a lot of time when I get my notes back they'll then say white other 🤷🏽‍♀️

I never tick anything on those forms, or the "prefer not to say". I tell my kids to do the same.

The Gypsy, Roma, Traveler category makes no sense either. The Roma originated from India, while travelers originated from Ireland.

Yes I do think it's your ethnicity that counts e.g. some conditions being more common in some groups.