Ethnicity, Religion & Citizenship among the Children of Immigrants in the UK and USA

Lead Research Organisation: University of Roehampton
Department Name: Geography

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description Research funded through this grant has discovered:
a) the Jain tradition provides a resource for young Jains to deal with risks and uncertainties in modern societies, young Jains are reconstructing a Jain identity through dietary practices, for young Jains in the USA Jain principles inform commitments to formal politics and civic engagement.
b) my research challenges dominant notions of suburbia as secular and homogenous, and diasporic faith groups draw on distinctive elements of their suburban locations to create religious spaces.
c) my book on second-generation Laotians in the USA has found that citizenship as social practice is not just an adult experience, and ethnicity is a durable force in the political and social identities of second-generation Laotians in the USA.
Exploitation Route Findings from research on young Jains in the UK and USA have informed the development of an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for an oral history project on the British Jain community. This application will be submitted by an non-academic stakeholder and I am acting as a consultant on the application and potential project.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
 
Description Gender convergence in contemporary religious practice among second-generation Jain women and men in the UK and USA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Presentation led to request for information from a PhD student at Edinburgh University

No known notable impacts
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Spirituality, moral codes and dietary rules : ways of being Jain among second-generation Jains in the USA and UK 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact In this presentation at the Jain Diaspora Conference organised by the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, I presented my findings on how young Jains interpret Jain dharma, and what aspects of the religion they emphasize.

This talk led to the development of a workshop carried out at a Young Jains of America conference
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Spirituality, moral codes and dietary rules : ways of being and belonging for second-generation jains in USA 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Talk led to discussion on ways in which religion can create a sense of belonging for new immigrant groups

No known impacts
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description The Chai party : getting involved in politics 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact I ran this workshop at the Young Jains of America Convention, to facilitiate discussion among 14 to 19 year olds about whether they can be Jain through their politics.

Participants stated that they gained an increased understanding of how Jain ethics can help them take a position on a range of social issues in American society
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010