2011 Census

I received my copy of the 2011 Scottish Census the other day, and I was looking through the questions. I'm not sure how to answer the ethnic group question, and I was wondering how other "white Americans" are answering.

For the national identity question I'm clearly going to put American, but I don't feel 100% comfortable in putting American as an ethnicity (there are two separate questions). If this was the US census, I wouldn't put American. I would pick the German-American option was since that's where my family was from when they left Europe in the early 18th century. But I think this question on the Scottish census has a different connotation and that leans me towards putting American as that describes me best culturally. 

I always put American or US when confronted with this "White-Scottish, White-Irish, White-Other" question.  Since they're categorizing white people by country, I give them a country.   

That's what I did. Not worth overthinking it.

That's what I did. Not worth overthinking it.

I agree, not worth overthinking it, but I sort of enjoyed trying to do it right.  My great-grandparents came over from Russia / Poland and were Jews.  I put White--Ashkenazi Jew.  Didn't click that they were doing it by country, so they got a very specific answer. 

Yeah, I somehow think that my White-Scottish answer in America wouldn't really be what they mean here   

What are those who are dual citizens putting down?

Ha, definitely not an 'overthinking' kind of thing though.  I'm waiting for my census to come, I want to be counted!

What are those who are dual citizens putting down?

I haven't opened my envelope and looked at the form yet, so I'm not sure what my options are. "National identity" is an odd one. Do they mean for you to answer what you feel your identity is? The nation you identify with? It's a bit fuzzy! Or is there an explanation on the form?

I suppose my simple answer would be that I'm British. I was born here and live here now. Even though I hold US citizenship, nobody in my family has ever been American by birth ... so I probably wouldn't say that.

It's quite excited to be counted, isn't it?! I was born here just after a census, so missed getting counted back in the '60s. Then we moved away just before the next census. Missed again. And I moved back here not long after the last one. Missed again!

I agree, not worth overthinking it, but I sort of enjoyed trying to do it right.  My great-grandparents came over from Russia / Poland and were Jews.  I put White--Ashkenazi Jew.  Didn't click that they were doing it by country, so they got a very specific answer.  

That is what I will be doing. My grandparents came over from Poland.

If you are a secular/humanist/atheist/agnostic Jew, see:

http://the-attempts.blogspot.com/2011/03/uk-census-2011-tick-no-religion-if.html

I'm fascinated to read how others are interpreting this question. If I touched a nerve with the term "overthinking" it was not intentional. 

To me, the census is asking about my ethnicity, not my grandparents. I was born in the US, as were my parents and my grandparents. I have great grandparents from Hungary, and great great grandparents from England, Scotland, Germany and maybe somewhere else that I don't know about. To my mind, none of that makes me English, Hungarian etc. On every other form in the UK, I put white, other, so that is what I did on this form. I think the people at the census dept are wise enough to understand that a white american is most likely of mixed white origin. We are the melting pot after all!

This question seems to touch people differently as it's tied into a sense of identity. Put whatever makes you comfortable, but I doubt the British gov't expects anyone to lose any sleep over it. 

I agree, not worth overthinking it, but I sort of enjoyed trying to do it right.  My great-grandparents came over from Russia / Poland and were Jews.  I put White--Ashkenazi Jew.  Didn't click that they were doing it by country, so they got a very specific answer. 

I think what you answered makes sense.  It sounds like you have a strong background that transcends the "I'm part Irish/German/Italian/This/That/And-The-Other-Thing" that a lot of Americans have.  I think my family is so far removed from whatever our origins are that there's really nothing else to put except "American".  Plus, being of Jewish descent is considered as being part of a specific ethnic group genetically rather than just a religion.  It's kind of really interesting to think about. 

I haven't opened my envelope and looked at the form yet, so I'm not sure what my options are. "National identity" is an odd one. Do they mean for you to answer what you feel your identity is? The nation you identify with? It's a bit fuzzy! Or is there an explanation on the form?

I suppose my simple answer would be that I'm British. I was born here and live here now. Even though I hold US citizenship, nobody in my family has ever been American by birth ... so I probably wouldn't say that.

It's quite excited to be counted, isn't it?! I was born here just after a census, so missed getting counted back in the '60s. Then we moved away just before the next census. Missed again. And I moved back here not long after the last one. Missed again!

Chary, I found the identity bit interesting.  It seems to be partly about perception since besides the usual English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, it also listed British and asks you to just choose one. DH chose British for the census as he grew up all over (dad worked internationally) and although he's English, he has some Welsh heritage and we've made Wales our home. He tends to call himself British if asked.

I think you will find you can chose one and still have some of your mixed background reflected as it also asks which countries you have passports for--so that will show both your British and American sides.

Hee - we just filled ours out via the online method.

National identity - I ticked British and American (it said to tick what applies).

For ethnic background, I ticked White-Other-American.  I don't think there would have been room enough if I were going to list all the backgrounds of my ancestors...English Puritans, Dutch, French Huguenots, Germans, Danish... 

The question reads: What is your ethnic group? You are only allowed to choose one.

A. White
   English/Welsh/Scottish/N Irish?British
   Irish
   Gypsy or Irish Traveller
   Any other white background (write in)
B. Mixed/multiple ethnic groups
   White and Black Caribbean
   White and Black African
   White and Asian
   Any other mixed/multiple ethnic background (write in)
C. Asian/Asian British
   Indian
   Pakistani
   Bangladeshi
   Chinese
   Any other Asian (write in)
D. Black/African/Caribbean bkgrnd
   African
   Caribbean
   Any other Black/African/Caribbean bkgrnd (write in)
E. Other ethnic group
   Arab
   Any other ethnic group (write in)

See, I've wondered if mixed might not apply to my children--white, British and White, American.  I don't think that's what is meant by mixed, but it's an interesting thought.  I would tend to not put that as it gives a different picture than I think is meant.  I hate that they consider ethnicity to be somewhat different here than back home; it gets confusing.  I suspect that as they get older, they will just call themselves white-Welsh, but who knows?  They have an English father, US mother, and are growing up in Wales and will possibly go to Welsh school.  We're proud of being in Wales, so I think they will identify with that as they get older.

So here's another issue.  I have to admit that I never feel comfortable putting down "American" on official forms.  I'm a Spanish speaker and have lived with many from Latin American countries--enough to know that many from Latin America find it rather offensive that we have taken the American label to ourselves when someone from South America or Mexico is no less American.  I know that if I put American, people will assume USA, but it still isn't really just us that are Americans.  Likewise, we aren't the only United States.  Most Americans don't realize that Mexico is also a United States--they are the United States of Mexico officially.  I think for some of those census questions asking about my identity I put "American (USA)" just to satisfy the geek in me.

See, I've wondered if mixed might not apply to my children--white, British and White, American.  I don't think that's what is meant by mixed, but it's an interesting thought.  I would tend to not put that as it gives a different picture than I think is meant.  I hate that they consider ethnicity to be somewhat different here than back home; it gets confusing.  I suspect that as they get older, they will just call themselves white-Welsh, but who knows?  They have an English father, US mother, and are growing up in Wales and will possibly go to Welsh school.  We're proud of being in Wales, so I think they will identify with that as they get older.

So here's another issue.  I have to admit that I never feel comfortable putting down "American" on official forms.  I'm a Spanish speaker and have lived with many from Latin American countries--enough to know that many from Latin America find it rather offensive that we have taken the American label to ourselves when someone from South America or Mexico is no less American.  I know that if I put American, people will assume USA, but it still isn't really just us that are Americans.  Likewise, we aren't the only United States.  Most Americans don't realize that Mexico is also a United States--they are the United States of Mexico officially.  I think for some of those census questions asking about my identity I put "American (USA)" just to satisfy the geek in me.

I feel very similarly, except I feel that "American" is the label put on us more than the one we've usurped for ourselves. I tend to refer to myself as "US-ian" in writing and "US Citizen" aloud, which is only one sylable more than "American".

I notice that you implied that United States of Mexico citizens, who are commonly refered to as Mexicans, don't like that United States of America citizens are commonly refered to as Americans.  Refering to the USofA as "America" should be equally as valid as refering to the USofM as Mexico.

I notice that you implied that United States of Mexico citizens, who are commonly refered to as Mexicans, don't like that United States of America citizens are commonly refered to as Americans.  Refering to the USofA as "America" should be equally as valid as refering to the USofM as Mexico.

It's a fair comment in that context.  I have heard the complaint more from South and Central Americans than I have from Mexicans, but Mexicans are still Americans as much as any of us are.