How should the diverse origins of people living in France be described?
Patrick Simon, Martin Clément
Population and societies
N°425, juillet 2006, n° ISSN 0184 77 83
An exploratory survey of employees' and students' perceptions
Abstract (click on +)
In a country with a long history of population mixing, defining criteria for identifying origins that are bothobjective and acceptable to everyone is a difficult
task. Though respondents do not oppose the principle of reporting family and individual geographicalorigins, many are ill at ease with the notion of "ethnoracial"classification.The survey also shows that respondents' reported origin reflects a choice rather than an accurate descriptionof ascendants' countries of birth and nationalities.
There is a close correspondence however between reported origin and ethno-racial category.Moreover, while in favour of collecting statistics on origins for scientific purposes, the respondents arewary of their inclusion in the personnel files of employers' or administrations.
task. Though respondents do not oppose the principle of reporting family and individual geographicalorigins, many are ill at ease with the notion of "ethnoracial"classification.The survey also shows that respondents' reported origin reflects a choice rather than an accurate descriptionof ascendants' countries of birth and nationalities.
There is a close correspondence however between reported origin and ethno-racial category.Moreover, while in favour of collecting statistics on origins for scientific purposes, the respondents arewary of their inclusion in the personnel files of employers' or administrations.
Contents (click on +)
How should the diverse origins of people living in France be described? An exploratory survey of employees' and students' perceptions
- Three approaches to origins: information on ascendants, reported origin, "ethno-racial" identity
- Do grandparents' origins really weigh in the
balance? - A sense of unease with the ethno-racial approach
- Personnel files much more sensitive than the census
Box 1: The "measuring diversity" survey
Box 2: INED and the debate on "diversity" statistics
