RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND WHITE-COLLAR WORKERS IN BRITAIN

In: Race: the journal of the Institute of Race Relations, Heft 4, S. 397-418

Abstract

An introduction by Simon Abbott is followed by a Discrimination Study carried out in Britain in 1969 by the Instit of Race Relations in cooperation with UN Instit for Training & res. The aims, methods, & results of the study are outlined. The degree of job discrimination in white-collar employment was tested in 4 areas of high immigrant concentration: Nottingham/Derby/ Leicester; Reading/Windsor/Slough; Birmingham/Wolverhampton; & Greater London. The study took the form of matched written applications in reply to advertised job vacancies. Findings were then compared with those of earlier studies. 5 profile variables were neutralized between matched applicants: age, marital status, present & previous employer, salary, & date of sending applications. 6 other variables were included as test variables: country of Sch'ing, level of qualification & experience, country of origin, job type, & letter of application. A variance analysis was carried out on the scores so that mean/average diff's between each of the 5 test variables could be identified & their signif determined. Only `country of origin' emerged as signif out of the 5. The diff between British-born & West Indian or Cypriot success rates was not signif; however, the diff between British-born & Asian success rates was signif at the 1% level. Samples of replies to British, Indian, & West Indian applicants are given. Australians suffered no discrimination in relation to their British counterparts. Findings differ from previous ones in that Asians rather than West Indians appear to be the main target for discrimination in applications for white-collar employment. Asian immigrants will have to face the fact that their country of origin is frequently the only signif qualification taken into account. 3 Tables; Appendix: Standard Letters of Application, & 1 Table. M. Maxfield.