British Asian Research Articles

Double Diaspora and Transgenerational Memory in Nikesh Shukla’s The One Who Wrote Destiny

This article offers a focused exploration of Nikesh Shukla's The One Who Wrote Destiny (2018), delving into the challenges and complexities of the 'double diaspora' experienced by British South Asian characters in the UK. Situated at the intersection of literary analysis and sociocultural studies, the study addresses the novel’s thematic core, emphasizing the lasting impact of racism and cultural displacement across multiple generations. Utilizing Jan Assmann's framework of 'communicative memory' and 'cultural memory,' alongside Maya Parmar's exploration of double diaspora, the study investigates the evolution of memory representation, highlighting the transformation from lived, embodied memory to mediated, cultural forms. Central to this research is the examination of double diaspora, as outlined by Parmar, exploring the migration of the Gujarati community from South Asia to East Africa and later to Britain, and the identity struggles arising from these dual displacements. Through this in-depth analysis, the article explores the intricate interplay between memory, generational shifts, and the unique challenges faced by twice-migrant communities. It provides valuable insights into the evolving nature of immigrant experiences, cultural identity, and belonging in the United Kingdom since the turn of the millennium. This analysis contributes to a broader understanding of how transgenerational memory and double diaspora influence cultural adaptation and identity formation within diasporic communities, reflecting wider sociocultural trends in contemporary Britain.

Barriers and Facilitators for Help-Seeking Behaviors in British South Asian Women Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence: A Qualitative Study

The aim of this study is to identify the barriers and facilitators for help-seeking behaviors among British South Asian (BSA) women. A cross-sectional qualitative method was applied, among 15 BSA women who have experienced domestic violence (DV). Five overarching themes emerged: survivors’ lack of recognition and realization of abuse, fear of the negative effects of abuse, informal help-seeking support and barriers, formal help-seeking support and barriers, and advice from survivors for developing help-seeking opportunities. These barriers and facilitators were linked to intersectional socialization, which have influenced the help-seeking behaviors of BSA women. This study can be helpful for researchers, policymakers, and service providers in understanding the complications in terms of help-seeking behaviors and facilitators for BSA women who experience DV and to develop culturally appropriate interventions to inspire effective help-seeking strategies for South Asian women who experience DV.

Between abolition and opium: civility and force across Asian and Caribbean British imperialisms

ABSTRACT This paper explores the relationship between Britian’s abolition of slavery in its Caribbean colonies in 1838 and its instigation of the First Opium War with China in 1840. In so doing, it works against the occlusion of this relationship in the study of British imperialism despite the centrality of these events to the birth of global systems of free trade and free labour. It draws on the parliamentary debates and correspondence of British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston to analyze Britain’s negotiation of anti-slavery efforts with Haiti and its trade of Indian opium with China. It argues that these negotiations position British masculine civility against less-civilized foreign others in ways that legitimate the use of maritime force. This logic of imperial civility produces contradictory effects by demanding an end to the brutality of African enslavement while condoning the devastation of Asian opium addiction enacted in the name of free trade.

Uptake of Digital Health Interventions for Cardiometabolic Disease in British South Asian Individuals: Think Aloud Study.

Digital health interventions (DHIs) could support prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease. However, those who may benefit most often experience barriers to awareness and adoption of these interventions. Among South Asian individuals, we evaluated user experience of DHIs for prevention and management of cardiometabolic disease, aiming to understand barriers and facilitators to initial and ongoing use. Among South Asian individuals recruited via primary care, community organizations, and snowball methods (n=18), we conducted "think-aloud" interviews using a reflective and reactive approach. Participants included nonusers, as well as those that used a range of DHIs as part of monitoring and improving their health. Participants were asked to think aloud while completing a task they routinely do in a familiar DHI, as well as while setting up and completing a search task in a novel DHI; they were encouraged to behave as if unobserved. Lack of cultural specificity was highlighted as reducing relevance and usability, particularly relating to dietary change. Preferred features reflected individual health beliefs and behaviors, digital skills, and trust in DHIs. For example, tracking blood glucose was considered by some to be positive, while for others it caused distress and anxiety. Similarly, some users found the novel DHI to be extremely simple to set up and use, and others grew frustrated navigating through initial interfaces. Many participants raised concerns about data privacy and needing to agree to terms and conditions that they did not understand. Participants expressed that with information and support from trusted sources, they would be interested in using DHIs as part of self-management. DHIs may support South Asians to prevent and manage cardiometabolic disease, but it is important to consider the needs of specific user groups in DHI development, design, and implementation. Despite motivation to make health changes, digital barriers are common. Cultural appropriateness and trusted sources (such as health care providers and community organizations) have roles in increasing awareness and enabling individuals to access and use DHIs.

Influence of Ethnicity and Deprivation on Occurrence of Paget’S Disease in Greater Manchester, UK

There is important variation in the occurrence of Paget’s disease in different regions and populations. There are though few data concerning the occurrence of clinically diagnosed disease in black and ethnic minority groups in the United Kingdom (UK). We undertook an anonymised search using an integrated primary and secondary care-based database in Greater Manchester, covering a population of over 3 million people. We looked also among those with a first positive COVID test, the influence of Paget’s disease on subsequent admission to hospital within 28 days. Within our database, there were 534,571 people aged 60 years and over alive on 1 January 2020. The majority were white (84%) with 4.7% identifying as Asian or Asian British, and 1.27% Black or Black British. There were 931 with clinically diagnosed Paget’s disease. Overall prevalence in the greater Manchester area was 0.174%. Prevalence was higher in men than women (0.195 vs 0.155%). Compared to the prevalence of Paget’s in whites (0.179%) the prevalence was lower among those identifying as Asian or Asian British (0.048%) and higher among those identifying as Black or Black British (0.344%). Prevalence increased with increasing deprivation. Clinically diagnosed Paget’s disease is uncommon affecting 0.174% of men and women aged 60 or more years. Within Greater Manchester, it was more common in those identifying as Black or Black British and less common in those identifying as Asian or Asian British.

Using the Candidacy Framework to understand individual, interpersonal, and system level factors driving inequities in women with breast cancer: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPersistent inequities in breast cancer outcomes exist. Understanding women’s experiences along the care pathway is the first step to finding solutions to tackle these inequities.MethodsSecondary data analysis of the 2017/2018 English National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (n = 25,408) using logistic regression to explore inequities in care experience by sociodemographic factors (age, ethnicity, socioeconomic position, sexual orientation) across 59 survey questions. We used the Candidacy Framework to interpret and organise our findings.ResultsCompared to older (65–74) and White British women, young (35-44, OR = 0.55 [0.44, 0.69]), Asian (OR = 0.52 [0.41, 0.67]), Black (OR = 0.67 [0.46, 0.97]) and White Other (OR = 0.63 [0.49, 0.81]) women were more likely to rate their overall care experience less positively, respectively. Similar findings were observed along all domains of the cancer pathway. Through a candidacy lens, we identified multilevel factors related to this variation including prolonged help-seeking behaviours (individual), poor patient-provider communication (interpersonal), and variation in access to healthcare professionals and resources (system level).ConclusionMultilevel factors influence inequities in the experience of care along the breast cancer pathway for young women and women from minoritised groups. Interventions are necessary to ensure cancer care systems are responsive to women’s health needs and provide equity of care to all patients.

Genetic architecture of routinely acquired blood tests in a British South Asian cohort

Understanding the genetic basis of routinely-acquired blood tests can provide insights into several aspects of human physiology. We report a genome-wide association study of 42 quantitative blood test traits defined using Electronic Healthcare Records (EHRs) of ~50,000 British Bangladeshi and British Pakistani adults. We demonstrate a causal variant within the PIEZO1 locus which was associated with alterations in red cell traits and glycated haemoglobin. Conditional analysis and within-ancestry fine mapping confirmed that this signal is driven by a missense variant - chr16-88716656-G-TT - which is common in South Asian ancestries (MAF 3.9%) but ultra-rare in other ancestries. Carriers of the T allele had lower mean HbA1c values, lower HbA1c values for a given level of random or fasting glucose, and delayed diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Our results shed light on the genetic basis of clinically-relevant traits in an under-represented population, and emphasise the importance of ancestral diversity in genetic studies.

Exploring breed differences in discrimination, reversal learning, and resistance to extinction in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)

Learning is crucial for shaping domestic dogs’ behaviour through life experiences, yet not all breeds exhibit the same learning aptitude towards a particular task. The current study’s objective was to identify differences in behaviour and learning performance across and within five breed clades and elucidate the underlying factors contributing into these variations. Dogs (n = 111) from five breed clades (UK Rural, Retrievers, Asian Spitz, European Mastiff, and New World) participated in a virtual learning task with their owners. Owners completed validated questionnaires of Impulsivity and Reward Responsiveness. The learning task comprised of reinforcing an arbitrary behaviour (hand-touch) through multiple sessions of Acquisition (reinforcing the hand-touch), Discrimination (reinforcing the hand-touch on one of two hands) and Reversal Learning (reinforcing the hand-touch on the opposite hand), followed by a single session of Extinction (hand-touch not reinforced). Results showed notable differences across the studied breed clades in certain learning and behavioural components. However, the observed disparities may not be entirely attributed to inherent cognitive differences among the breed clades but rather potentially influenced by contextual factors such as the human-dog communication dynamics associated with breeds’ cooperativity. Furthermore, breed clades differed in the contributing factors predicting individual learning performances, which could highlight the potential effect of breeds’ historical function.

British South Asian and Muslim Community's Perceptions and Experiences of Addiction and Traditional Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services.

Within traditional drug and alcohol (D&A) treatment services, the majority of those accessing support are of white ethnicity, with only a small percentage of people from the British South Asian (BSA) and Muslim community engaging in treatment services. This paper aims to explore perceived barriers to accessing traditional D&A services within the British South Asian and Muslim communities, based on qualitative data from interviews with family members and a practitioner. Qualitative data were obtained via 11 semi-structured interviews involving a practitioner (n = 1), and family and friends (n = 10) of those with historic and current D&A use in the community. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four themes: (1) awareness of drug and alcohol use in the community, (2) drug and alcohol use as a taboo topic and the impact of admitting use, (3) knowledge of services for treatment, (4) how to increase awareness and accessibility of treatment. There was an increasing awareness of D&A use in the BSA and Muslim community. Despite this, limited conversations and misconceptions around D&A use and recovery led to those using D&A and their family members feeling stigmatised within their community and unable to seek support. This paper concludes by recommending increased communication between the BSA and Muslim communities and D&A treatment services to ensure accessibility of treatment by improving cultural competency.

Anokha emerging: The Asian Underground, new ethnicities, and diversity conservatism

This article tracks the relationship between Britain’s ‘Asian Underground’ music scene and reconfigurations of Britishness in the mid- to late-1990s, through to the more contemporary tightening of border regimes and draconian policies around immigration in the United Kingdom. It examines the role that a small, British-Asian weekly London club night, Anokha, played in the precipitation of an ‘emergent structure of feeling’ that would ultimately shift national conversations about what Britishness signified at the turn of the last millennium. The article places British-Asian club and music aesthetics in a broader terrain of avant-garde cultural production and representational politics that helped to incorporate Britain’s second generation of South Asians inside the national narrative and polity. The article goes on to speculate on the role this proliferation has played in facilitating forms of political closure with respect to migration, race and bordering that have emerged from a generation of conservative British South Asian (and second-generation immigrant) politicians enabled by these forms of incorporation.

Book notes: The Evolution of British Asian Radio in England by Gloria Khamkar

Book notes: <i>The Evolution of British Asian Radio in England</i> by Gloria Khamkar

“Marry somebody who’s here”: negotiating hostile political discourse on arranged marriage

ABSTRACT Arranged marriage is associated in Western political discourse with “forced”, “sham” and transnational. Such discourse holds it to be an anachronistic practice in which parents are portrayed as misguidedly clinging on to “traditional customs” and understood to be premising ethnic and religious cultural reproduction above the needs and happiness of their children. Based on 18 months of ethnographic fieldwork including 44 semi-structured interviews, this paper analyses how an understudied yet implicated “group”, Somali Muslim parents, talk about spouse selection of/for their children. Building on the substantial scholarship on the marital practices of British Asians, this paper provides evidence which contradicts and complicates political assumptions and academic conclusions about the role of religion, “tradition”, and ethnic and cultural reproduction in arranged marriages, and brings into focus and problematizes the ongoing operation of “groupism” in relation to both ethnicity and religion.

Exploring the Impact of Cognitive Dysfunction During Recurrent Depression in a Sample of Mid-to-Older Age British South Asians: A Qualitative Study.

Depression is a major public health issue, increasing the risk of comorbidities. Some people with depression experience cognitive dysfunction, which can persist even after symptomatic recovery. British South Asians are at greater risk of developing depression and are less likely to seek treatment. It is important to understand their experience of subjective cognitive dysfunction in depression and how best to support them. This study explored subjective experience of cognitive dysfunction during recurrent depression, in a sample of 12 British South Asians aged between 45 and 60 years. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore cognitive dysfunction during recurrent depression. We analysed the data using thematic analysis. Difficulties in attention and concentration resulted in lower quality of social relationships, including not feeling present and social isolation. Learning new information was difficult, thus impacting productivity. Participants found it difficult to engage in enjoyable activities that promoted brain health. The emotional, physical and spiritual impact negatively impacted on quality of life. Cognitive strategies used in therapies could improve brain health and functional recovery in people living with depression. Mental health nurses play a pivotal role in providing culturally appropriate information and strategies for managing cognitive dysfunction in recurrent depression.

‘Going through the motions’; a rich account of the complexity of the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction pathway, a UK qualitative study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to understand the lived experiences of patients on the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) pathway up to 3 months before, 3 months after and 1 year after...

Aarti Ratna, A Nation of Family and Friends? Sport and the Leisure Cultures of British Asian Girls and Women

Aarti Ratna, <i>A Nation of Family and Friends? Sport and the Leisure Cultures of British Asian Girls and Women</i>

Consuming and retailing fashion: South Asian diaspora negotiating clothing practices, identities and community making in Glasgow

ABSTRACT This article explores South Asian diasporic fashion retail spaces and sartorial practices in Glasgow. Drawing on ten months of ethnographic research, it investigates how fashion and clothing contribute to identity construction, community building, and cultural blending among British South Asians. Utilising patchwork ethnography and city walking, the article presents the lived experiences of shopkeepers and consumers, demonstrating the interplay of gender, migration, spaces, and religion in sartorial practices. The findings reveal that fashion and sartorial practices are not merely about personal expression but also about negotiating hybrid and multiple identities and fostering community solidarity amidst the challenges of migration and cultural preservation. The article also contributes to the broader discourse on transnational fashion, advocating for a decolonial perspective that addresses ethical, moral, and environmental sustainability within diverse fashion systems.

Differential effects of positive versus negative contact: The importance of distinguishing valence from intensity

More and more research is considering the effects of both positive and negative intergroup contact on intergroup attitudes. To date, little is known about what factors may differentially influence these effects. We propose that differentiating not only between positive and negative contact (i.e., its valence), but also considering the intensity (i.e., low or high positivity/negativity) of contact valence is critical to understanding contact effects. We predicted that intensifying positivity in the realm of positive contact would have a stronger effect on outgroup attitudes than intensifying negativity. We report evidence supporting this hypothesis from three experiments which manipulated the quality of feedback given during a cooperation task by a confederate who acted as a member of a student outgroup (two online: N = 87, N = 169; one in person: N = 78), summarized in an internal meta-analysis and a large survey of White British majority and Asian British minority members ( N = 2,994). Our results suggest that intensity of valenced intergroup contact may be a key factor for resolving inconsistencies in the current literature on valenced intergroup contact.

Gender more than ethnicity or disability influences the choice of a career in cardiothoracic surgery by United Kingdom medical students

ObjectivesCardiothoracic surgery has reported poor equality, diversity, and inclusion amongst its faculty [1–3]. We explored how gender, ethnicity, and disability influence medical students’ interest in cardiothoracic surgery as a career choice, as well as overall exposure to cardiothoracic surgery in the undergraduate curriculum. MethodsWe distributed a 26-item Google Forms online survey to student members of a medical education group from all 37 UK medical schools via social media. Respondents were asked to rank different ‘factors of interest’ on a 1–5 Likert scale (1 ​= ​not important at all, 5 ​= ​very important) and were encouraged to add free-text comments. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS. ResultsThere were 258 respondents, 62% identifying as female and 38% male. Respondents' ethnicities were 45% White, 44% Asian or Asian British, and 11% from other ethnic groups. 11% of respondents confirmed ‘long-standing illness or disability’.Men were almost twice as likely to consider a career in cardiothoracic surgery than women (33% vs 19%; p ​< ​0.001). Women were more likely than men to feel that their gender, lack of a similarly gendered mentor, and long working hours were important factors when considering cardiothoracic surgery as a career.Ethnicity of the respondent did not appear to affect how they perceived the challenges of a career in cardiothoracic surgery. Interestingly, ‘long-standing illness or disability’ did not significantly affect the decision making to consider this specialty as a career.Overall, 73% of respondents reported not having adequate exposure to cardiothoracic surgery at medical school and agreed they would benefit from more time. ConclusionsFemale medical students felt their gender, lack of same-sex role models, and perceived long working hours were barriers in considering cardiothoracic surgery as a career. All students felt the need for more exposure to Cardiothoracic Surgery in the undergraduate curriculum.

Exposure to Air Pollution, Genetic Susceptibility, and Psoriasis Risk in the UK

Psoriasis is a common autoinflammatory disease influenced by complex interactions between environmental and genetic factors. The influence of long-term air pollution exposure on psoriasis remains underexplored. To examine the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and psoriasis and the interaction between air pollution and genetic susceptibility for incident psoriasis. This prospective cohort study used data from the UK Biobank. The analysis sample included individuals who were psoriasis free at baseline and had available data on air pollution exposure. Genetic analyses were restricted to White participants. Data were analyzed between November 1 and December 10, 2023. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), fine particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 µm (PM10) and genetic susceptibility for psoriasis. To ascertain the association of long-term exposure to NO2, NOx, PM2.5, and PM10 with the risk of psoriasis, a Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying air pollution exposure was used. Cox models were also used to explore the potential interplay between air pollutant exposure and genetic susceptibility for the risk of psoriasis incidence. A total of 474 055 individuals were included, with a mean (SD) age of 56.54 (8.09) years and 257 686 (54.36%) female participants. There were 9186 participants (1.94%) identified as Asian or Asian British, 7542 (1.59%) as Black or Black British, and 446 637 (94.22%) as White European. During a median (IQR) follow-up of 11.91 (11.21-12.59) years, 4031 incident psoriasis events were recorded. There was a positive association between the risk of psoriasis and air pollutant exposure. For every IQR increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and NOx, the hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.41 (95% CI, 1.35-1.46), 1.47 (95% CI, 1.41-1.52), 1.28 (95% CI, 1.23-1.33), and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.14-1.24), respectively. When comparing individuals in the lowest exposure quartile (Q1) with those in the highest exposure quartile (Q4), the multivariate-adjusted HRs were 2.01 (95% CI, 1.83-2.20) for PM2.5, 2.21 (95% CI, 2.02-2.43) for PM10, 1.64 (95% CI, 1.49-1.80) for NO2, and 1.34 (95% CI, 1.22-1.47) for NOx. Moreover, significant interactions between air pollution and genetic predisposition for incident psoriasis were observed. In the subset of 446 637 White individuals, the findings indicated a substantial risk of psoriasis development in participants exposed to the highest quartile of air pollution levels concomitant with high genetic risk compared with those in the lowest quartile of air pollution levels with low genetic risk (PM2.5: HR, 4.11; 95% CI, 3.46-4.90; PM10: HR, 4.29; 95% CI, 3.61-5.08; NO2: HR, 2.95; 95% CI, 2.49-3.50; NOx: HR, 2.44; 95% CI, 2.08-2.87). In this prospective cohort study of the association between air pollution and psoriasis, long-term exposure to air pollution was associated with increased psoriasis risk. There was an interaction between air pollution and genetic susceptibility on psoriasis risk.

Reflections on co-producing an obesity-prevention toolkit for Islamic Religious Settings: a qualitative process evaluation

BackgroundIslamic leaders, staff, and Muslim parents in the UK are supportive of healthy lifestyle intervention delivery through Islamic Religious Settings. Such interventions are necessary given high obesity rates in British South Asian (40%) compared to White British (32%) children of equivalent age. Co-production can facilitate the development of culturally appropriate health interventions, however it can be theoretically and practically challenging, and evaluation of co-production within an Islamic Religious Setting context is lacking. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of taking a co-production approach to develop an obesity-prevention toolkit for Islamic Religious Settings.MethodsAn obesity-prevention toolkit for use in Islamic Religious Settings, incorporating physical activity, healthy diet, and organisational change, has been co-produced to be evidence-informed and contextually relevant. A qualitative process evaluation was employed to examine experiences of co-production. Semi-structured interviews (n = 15) and a focus group (n = 5) were conducted with toolkit co-production stakeholders, e.g., subject experts, an Islamic scholar, and Islamic Religious Setting staff. Transcripts were analysed inductively using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsThe analysis revealed four major themes regarding stakeholders' experiences of co-producing a childhood obesity-prevention toolkit for Islamic Religious Settings. These themes are: (1) attitudes towards obesity-prevention through Islamic Religious Settings, (2) benefits of co-production including capacity building and ownership (3) negotiating involvement, power, and perspectives within the co-production process, and (4) the complexities of effective communication in co-production.ConclusionThis study adds to the evidence-base in support of delivering health promotion through faith settings. Taking a co-production approach to develop an obesity-prevention toolkit for Islamic Religious Settings provided benefit to the toolkit product and local stakeholders. The toolkit is currently being implemented across Bradford, UK and there is potential to adapt the toolkit to other geographical contexts, and for evaluating effectiveness for preventing obesity in British Muslim families.