EUROPEUS

What does it mean to be British in the 21st century for British Asians? This is a difficult question for anybody currently living in Britain, especially when most of the country prefers to adopt the identity of its constituent country, such as Scottish, Welsh and English. What is missing from the lives of British Asians that leaves them feeling as like outsiders? Are they really being excluded, is it a state of mind, a sense of unable to find their place in society or is a British identity really out there?

Citizens of Britain can participate in the democratic process by voting and running for office, they can freely practice any religion, and they can freely shop anywhere or start their own business. They are free to access social services, interact with the media, drive an automobile, utilise the education system and use the health service free of charge. Concerning the services available in Britain there is nothing that is off-limits for any British citizen, so all that remains is the intangible idea of identity.

As a British citizen, although I actually prefer English, it is no simple matter explaining what makes me feel either English or British. It does not make matters any simpler as an expatriate Brit living in Finland, since this position makes me feel this strange sense of identity even stronger when it stands face-to-face with the Finnish ideas of identity. Over the past two years my focus on my Englishness has been heightened by the desire to instil some of those ideas in my daughter, so one day she will be in the same position as the British Asians as a British Finn – or Finnish Brit, as my wife would argue.

To go from not caring about an identity to trying to bestow something upon my daughter has been peculiar, but the question is whether it is a British identity that is being taught or merely a personal identity formed as a member of the Butcher family. I was raised in a stable loving environment on the south coast of England, so how can I have the same ideas concerning British identity compared to somebody from an abusive home in the north of England?

The great aspect surrounding the reporting of this survey in the media has been the focus upon the minority again. Minority in the sense that the figures were spun to show those not feeling British, while those British Asians that do total 59% compared to 73% of white people. It would be interesting to interview second or third generation children of immigrants in Finland and see if they feel Finnish because it is unlikely that the number would reach anywhere near 60%.

As the father of a dual-identity child it will be a challenge ensuring that she is raised with a balanced approach to both Finnish and English, without either one undermining or disrespecting the other, so she can be proud to be both. Thankfully I am in a position to shield her from aspects of British/English identity that are embarrassing to me or are just outdated, such as continuing this ridiculous notion that she must grow up hating Germans/French/Argentineans because of war or football. It is also my wife's responsibility to ensure that the prevailing Finnish attitude towards Russians and Swedes is stamped out.

Asa Butcher is cofounder of Ovi Magazine

With Ovi Magazine