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Self-segregation orauto-segregation is theseparation of areligious,ethnic, orracial group from other groups in acountry by the group itself naturally. This usually results in decreased social interactions between different ethnic, racial or religious groups and can be classed as a form ofsocial exclusion.[1]
As self-segregation begins to appear, residents of different ethnic, racial or religious background begin to separate from each other and live in different areas in large concentrations.
In some countries affected by self-segregation, there exists a divide among racial groups in rural areas and in urban areas of a country. This trend is most commonly seen in countries affected byWhite demographic decline and is usually an occurrence ofwhite flight from inner city areas and then outer citysuburbs as these places become more ethnically diverse and heterogeneous to more whiter rural areas.
Typically as segregation begins to appear schools end up becoming segregated on ethnic and religious lines.[2]
Self-segregation and segregation in general sometimes escalates into inter-ethnic violence between different ethnic, racial or religious groups. Instances of this can be seen worldwide in places which have a degree of ethnic or religious diversity within them, famous examples of this arethe Troubles and sectarian conflict inIraq betweenSunnis andShia's and general religiously motivated riots inSouth Asia andAfrica, especially inIndia andNigeria.[3]
In India, religious self-segregation exists between mainly theHindu majority in the country and the largeMuslim minority.
According to researcher Emma Neuman atLinnaeus University, segregation sets in at population share around 3-4% of non-European migrants in a district, while European immigration shows no such trend. The study comprised the 12 largestmunicipalities of Sweden for the period 1990–2007. High income earners and highly educated move out of non-European migrant districts first whereethnic segregation in turn leads tosocial segregation.[4]
A study atÖrebro University concluded that while Swedish parents stated positive views towards the values ofmulticulturalism, in practice they still chose Swedish-majority schools for their children, such that they would not become anethnic minority during their formative years and in order to stay within an environment to develop their native Swedish language.[4]
Self-segregation in theUnited Kingdom has been increasing in recent decades as theWhite British population has declined overall nationally, increasing in the years between2001 and2011 asimmigration has increased to the country and the speed ofdemographic decline for the White British has sped up. In large towns and cities for example the White population has largely began migrating out of ethnically diverse heterogeneous urban areas and have begun to self-segregate in whiter rural areas.[9][10] Muslim migrants to the country also have high rates of endogamy, for example it is estimated that around 55% of British Pakistanis are married to their first cousins.[11] These groups typically segregate away from other ethnic and religious groups via the use of religious faith schools. For example, in theLondon Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End, around 60% of White students in the Borough attend White majority schools while 17 primary schools had more than 90% Bangladeshi pupils while 9 schools had less than 10%.[12]
Calls for action against this trend have increased in volume since the2001 race riots in Bradford andOldham,[13] where racial segregation is present as well. The Cantle Report of 2001 outlined that different communities were living 'parallel lives'[14][15][16] which advocated for 'community cohesion' strategies to promote integration. The Casey Report in 2016, which preceded after the Cantle Report fifteen years prior suggested a similar outlook to the previous report that segregation was still at 'worrying levels'.[17][18]
In 2023, according to research published by Queen's University Belfast, England and Wales have been becoming more diverse and less ethnically segregated over time, following an in-depth analysis of 2021 Census data.[19]
InBradford, self-segregation between the prominent Muslim minority in the city and theWhite British population exists at large and was a factor behind therace riots in 2001.
Self-segregation is on the increase in theUnited States, being mostly influenced byWhite demographic decline in the country which is more prevalent than in other white-majority societies worldwide (57% of the country as of 2020 isNon-Hispanic White). In 2018, research by theUniversity of Illinois and sociologist Mary Krysan found that whileWhites,Blacks andHispanics in the United States stated that the ideal neighbourhood that they liked was racially diverse, most ended up living in neighbourhoods in which their racial group was the majority. However, this differed from racial group to racial group on how much of a percentage their racial group represented in their neighbourhood. While Hispanics (51% Hispanic) and Blacks (66% Black) ended up living in areas in which they were a majority, their proportional amount was significantly lower than that of whites. (74% white).[20]
Endogamy, the practice of marrying within a group, encourages group affiliation and bonding. It is a common practice amongdisplanted cultures attempting to make roots in new countries whilst still resisting complete integration, as it encourages group solidarity and ensures greater control over group resources (which may be important to preserve when a group is attempting to establish itself within an alien culture).
However, endogamy can also serve as a form of self-segregation and helps a community to resist integrating with surrounding populations. It thus helps minorities to survive as separate communities over a long time, in societies with other practices and beliefs.
Examples of ethno-religious groups with higher levels of endogamy that have successfully resisted cultural destruction and assimilation for centuries are theRomani (colloquially referred to by non-members as "Gypsies"), theAshkenazi Jews of Europe and the Americas and theAfrikaners ofSouth Africa.[citation needed]
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