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Press Releases
Over a third British Asians don't feel British suggests Asian Network poll
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A survey commissioned as part of 91Èȱ¬ Asian Network's Asian Nation season looks at the state of mind of UK Asians in 2007.
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It suggests an Asian population happy with life in Britain but with some major caveats concerning Asian and British identity – a key theme of today's news agenda.
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- Over a third of British Asians surveyed say they don't feel British.
- Nearly half feel they aren't treated as British by the "white" UK public.
- Nearly half believe it's too easy for immigrants to settle in Britain.
- Only half feel that Britain offers more opportunity than South Asian countries.
- A third think you need to be a "coconut"* to get on in Britain.
- Three-quarters feel their culture is diluted by living in Britain.
- Almost 85% are satisfied with life in the UK.
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Britishness
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Over a third (38%) of British Asians surveyed say they feel only a little/not at all British.
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Two-thirds (59%) say they feel completely/a lot British, compared to 73% of white people.
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According to the survey, Asians were almost evenly split over whether they are treated as British by the white UK population.
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Fifty per cent of Asians surveyed felt that white people treat them as British, compared to 47% who felt that white people did not treat them as British.
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Eighty-four per cent felt they were satisfied with life in Britain with 6% not satisfied.
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Immigration
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The survey suggested nearly half of British Asians believe it is too easy for immigrants to settle in Britain.
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Forty-eight per cent of Asians polled in the survey felt it was too easy to come to the UK compared to 63% of white respondents.
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"Coconut "culture*
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Over a third of the Asians surveyed agreed that you need to be a "coconut" – a person who acts or thinks like a white person – to get on in the UK.
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Thirty-five per cent agreed that you do need to be a "coconut" to get on with 41% disagreeing. Twelve per cent of Asians polled consider themselves to be a "coconut".
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Opportunity in Britain compared to South Asia
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Forty-eight per cent of the Asians surveyed felt that there are more opportunities in Britain than elsewhere, 29% felt that Britain offered the same opportunities as South Asia and 20% felt that there were fewer opportunities in Britain.
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Asian Culture being diluted?
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According to the survey, 30% of Asians feel that their culture is being diluted a lot, 45% say their culture is being diluted a little whilst 22% felt that their culture is not at all diluted.
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Notes to Editors
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ICM Research interviewed two separate samples of people under 34 years old.
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Firstly, 500 Asian 16 to 34-year-olds were interviewed by telephone on from 4 to 11 July 2007. Interviews were conducted across the country and the results weighted to the profile of 16 to 34-year-old Asians.
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Secondly, ICM interviewed 235 white 18 to 34-year-olds by telephone on frmo 6 to 12 July. Interviews were also conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of white 18 to 34-year-olds.
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ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
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"Asian" refers to people identifying themselves as Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan.
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Asian Nation on 91Èȱ¬ Asian Network is a series of programmes and reports on Asian Network to mark the 60th anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan this August which explores the roots, lives and music of young British Asians in the UK today.
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It is the biggest, most ambitious piece the 91Èȱ¬ Asian Network has done on the South Asian subcontinent and is part of a season of programmes across 91Èȱ¬ television, radio and online called India & Pakistan 07.
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DR2
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