2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
A Comparative Study of Racial and Ethnic Classifications in Censuses
| Project/Area Number |
11410087
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
文化人類学(含民族学・民俗学)
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| Research Institution | Ibaraki Christian University |
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Principal Investigator |
AOYAGI Machiko Ibaraki Christian Univ., College of Literature, Prof., 文学部, 教授 (00089278)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
GODA Toh Kobe Univ., Faculty of Cross-cultural Studies, Prof., 国際文化学部, 教授 (00106593)
UEHASHI Nahoko Kawamura Women's Univ., Faculty of Educ., Lect., 教育学部, 専任講師 (60255916)
ISHII Hiroshi Tokyo Univ. of Foreign Studies, ILCAA. Prof., AA研, 教授 (90014513)
SASAKI Shiro National Museum of Ethnology, Associate Prof., 民族学研究開発, 助教授 (70178648)
SEGAWA Masahisa Tohoku University, CNEAS, Prof., 東北アジア研究センター, 教授 (00187832)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1999 – 2001
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| Keywords | Census / Law / Race / Ethnicity / Language / Indigenous People / Migrants / Multi-racial / ethnic Society |
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| Research Abstract |
This is a comparative study of racial/ethnic classifications in censuses of twenty-two nations. The classification of race and ethnic groups is essentially one way of classifying peoples; 'we' and 'others', and must have been considerably flexible and situational. Yet flexible and situational definitions tend to assume fixed and rigid characteristics through historical or institutional procedures. In this comparative study, each member has studied one or two nations' censuses and examined particularly how such censuses divided peoples from the early or colonial period to the present.
It was found generally that the racial/ethnic classification was quite different in each nation. Method of taking census has changed from time to time and at present self-declaration seems to be common in many nations. By self-declaration it is meant that persons can choose a racial/ethnic group to identify themselves regardless of their blood quantum and in case of multi-racial/ethnic nations each racial/ethnic group tries to increase its members for competing each other to acquire the limited resources. Consequently, census taking in these cases assumes a political struggle. Besides, a new classification was contrived in some nations: USA Census 2000 permitted a person affiliating to multiple groups and Census 2001 of Great Britain additionally listed a 'mixed' category. Our study has revealed nature of race and ethnicity as social construction more clearly and widely.
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