How diverse is your social circle?
Discussion
It struck me today that I don't actually know any persons of colour. I don't know any Muslims, or Jews, or Sikhs, or Hindus. I have a few gay friends, and our vicar was trans, but most of my close friends are still the guys I was at school with, so broadly similar to myself in many ways. I have a few acquaintances who are a bit older or a bit younger, and many of my work colleagues are a lot younger than me. I know a couple of very posh types, but most are middle-class professionals. Growing up my brother and I were close friends with a couple of black children who lived a few doors down, which was probably slightly unusual in a provincial Northern town in the 1980s, seemed perfectly normal to me then. However, for the last 30 years or so, despite extensive world travel, I have been living in a bit of a bubble it seems.
If you consider your five or six closest friends, how diverse is that group in terms of race, sex, gender ID, sexuality, social background, education level, age, etc? Are you a token in another group? or part of a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds?
If you consider your five or six closest friends, how diverse is that group in terms of race, sex, gender ID, sexuality, social background, education level, age, etc? Are you a token in another group? or part of a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds?
I've worked mostly in London and my social group is mainly people I've become friends with through work. London is very diverse so my wider social group reflects that. At one of my semi regular meet ups I am the only white guy!
My closest 3 mates though are white middle aged blokes like me. Unsurprisingly it's probably because we have most in common (age, religion, background, outlook, occupation, family etc).
My closest 3 mates though are white middle aged blokes like me. Unsurprisingly it's probably because we have most in common (age, religion, background, outlook, occupation, family etc).
According to the ONS c87% of the UK population is white Caucasian, c4% is Black, slightly more of Asian heritage. ONS also says 89% of the UK population identifies as straight or hetrosexual, less than 2% gay or lesbian etc.....
The non-white population (for various reasons of history etc) exists in greater % in certain areas - London for example. Rural areas less so. So, the thing is that you are statistically less likely to have a diverse friendship group than not and even more so depending on where you live.
The non-white population (for various reasons of history etc) exists in greater % in certain areas - London for example. Rural areas less so. So, the thing is that you are statistically less likely to have a diverse friendship group than not and even more so depending on where you live.
I haven't had any issues with my social circle being diverse / not diverse enough. I don't pick friends to tick boxes for HR inside or outside of work. If I like them, I like them for them, not for their pronouns / ethnicity / height / gender choices etc etc.
I have diverse neighbours in our little cul de sac and get on with all of them if that counts for anything
I have diverse neighbours in our little cul de sac and get on with all of them if that counts for anything
A very difficult question to answer without making judgements about what type of diversity counts as important.
Does nationality count? I have worked in many places and for big companies so have friends from various countries but they are mainly white.
How about class? Although my friendship group is very diverse nationally and a mix of men and women, they are all highly educated and middle class so in that way very homogeneous.
I don’t have any black friends (I had one at school but not really any since). I did have one at work some years ago (but he died). Actually I did have another but we lost contact. But again she was highly educated and middle class (from Zimbabwe).
Does nationality count? I have worked in many places and for big companies so have friends from various countries but they are mainly white.
How about class? Although my friendship group is very diverse nationally and a mix of men and women, they are all highly educated and middle class so in that way very homogeneous.
I don’t have any black friends (I had one at school but not really any since). I did have one at work some years ago (but he died). Actually I did have another but we lost contact. But again she was highly educated and middle class (from Zimbabwe).
One of my sisters is married to a South African of Indian origin, the other sister is married to a caucasian English-speaking South African.
My Dad is married to an Afrikaans woman. My girlfriend is Slovakian.
One of my best friends is a homosexual male, the other a lesbian. My step-daughter identifies as non-binary.
My friends social circle ranges from people on a very low income in Portugal and South Africa to very wealthy in London and the USA.
The nationality diversity is English, SA, Danish, Australian, NZ, Israeli, Belgian, Portuguese and Brazilian.
My immediate family live in England, South Africa, USA, Denmark and Sweden.
Fairly diverse then.
My Dad is married to an Afrikaans woman. My girlfriend is Slovakian.
One of my best friends is a homosexual male, the other a lesbian. My step-daughter identifies as non-binary.
My friends social circle ranges from people on a very low income in Portugal and South Africa to very wealthy in London and the USA.
The nationality diversity is English, SA, Danish, Australian, NZ, Israeli, Belgian, Portuguese and Brazilian.
My immediate family live in England, South Africa, USA, Denmark and Sweden.
Fairly diverse then.
I'm quite surprised by the idea that you could have a non-diverse social circle these days. The UK is thankfully very diverse especially in the urban areas where most people live or work.
For me, I'm white, my wife is Asian and our kids are a combination of the two. My social circle includes plenty of different background and beliefs. The two areas that I guess I do lack diversity in are; age and economic status. Most of my friends are my age and in a broadly similar income bracket.
For me, I'm white, my wife is Asian and our kids are a combination of the two. My social circle includes plenty of different background and beliefs. The two areas that I guess I do lack diversity in are; age and economic status. Most of my friends are my age and in a broadly similar income bracket.
As I've lived in the outer London area for 30+ years, and worked in several London boroughs, both North and South London (although now retired), I'd say pretty diverse.
Pinball group includes English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Afro-Carribean, African, Chinese, Spanish. Mix of roughly 30% female to 70% male, ages from 5 to 60+. Backrounds from working class to high level FTSE100 senior management.
Cricket club a mix of 50% white, and 50% Indian and Pakistani and an Albanian guy. Ages from 20 to 60+
Kayak club mainly white English, but also Indian, Hong Kong, New Zealand. 40-60 female to male.
Table Tennis club as a whole is very mixed. My current team is 2x Indian, Pakistani, English lady, and I.
Close neighbours (who we get on well with) - Indian, Iranian, English, Czeck, Sri Lankan, Romanian.
Of the above groups, several people are gay, although the majority are heterosexual.
I'm white and from God's own country and Mrs CnC is Indian.
Pinball group includes English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Afro-Carribean, African, Chinese, Spanish. Mix of roughly 30% female to 70% male, ages from 5 to 60+. Backrounds from working class to high level FTSE100 senior management.
Cricket club a mix of 50% white, and 50% Indian and Pakistani and an Albanian guy. Ages from 20 to 60+
Kayak club mainly white English, but also Indian, Hong Kong, New Zealand. 40-60 female to male.
Table Tennis club as a whole is very mixed. My current team is 2x Indian, Pakistani, English lady, and I.
Close neighbours (who we get on well with) - Indian, Iranian, English, Czeck, Sri Lankan, Romanian.
Of the above groups, several people are gay, although the majority are heterosexual.
I'm white and from God's own country and Mrs CnC is Indian.
Jonathan27 said:
I'm quite surprised by the idea that you could have a non-diverse social circle these days.
I don't think it's particularly unusual or wrong to see groups of mates drawn from the same socio economic demographic group, including race. Geography plays a part too. I live in rural mid-Essex which has a BAME demographic of less than 0.5% so it stands to reason the mates and social circle I've amassed over the years is white British. My daughter is married to a half-Algerian muslim and they live in South London. Their circle is the full rainbow!It also rather depends on the definition of 'Social Circle'. Whilst my close mates are all white, I have plenty of people I enjoy time with who aren't.
Lived in Dubai 12yrs working across Latam, Africa and Asia.
Mine is extremely diverse. I know multi millionaires, people who grew up in slums, all ages/races/nationalities. Have Jewish friends here, even gay and lesbian. Dated probably a dozen or more nationalities in my time, including seriously with a Canadian Hindu, an Aussie Sikh and a Russian Muslim.
I am the token Yorkshireman although I even know a guy here who is from the next village back home.
Out of the 7 of us who shared student accommodation (all small town Brits), 5 of us emigrated - them to US, Taiwan, & France and me to UAE.
Now I think about it, I don’t know any Inuits.
Mine is extremely diverse. I know multi millionaires, people who grew up in slums, all ages/races/nationalities. Have Jewish friends here, even gay and lesbian. Dated probably a dozen or more nationalities in my time, including seriously with a Canadian Hindu, an Aussie Sikh and a Russian Muslim.
I am the token Yorkshireman although I even know a guy here who is from the next village back home.
Out of the 7 of us who shared student accommodation (all small town Brits), 5 of us emigrated - them to US, Taiwan, & France and me to UAE.
Now I think about it, I don’t know any Inuits.
InitialDave said:
I'd say mine's very diverse, wide ranging selection of nationalities, ethnicities, ages, genders, sexual orientations etc.
My closest friends are very close to my age and the same straight white male grouping, though.
Similar for me. I live very close to where I grew up on the edge of SE London and didn't go to university. So my close friends are the same people I knew when I was at secondary school which was very white.My closest friends are very close to my age and the same straight white male grouping, though.
But I've been a civil servant working in central London for 39 years so I'm acquainted with a big mix of people. And I'd go so far as to say that a number of those people are "friends".
Lived in Africa for a long time, married a Ugandan and have 2 children. Back in the UK since 2005.
I have two circles.
Lotus Owners: All white, 30s to 70s.
Hockey Club: very diverse heritage - white, Indian sub continent, Caribbean, African - complete mix.
I'm discounting work as they are all mainly older white males and I'm being made redundant on 12/12. I don't really know anyone in my town, apart from neighbors either side.
I have two circles.
Lotus Owners: All white, 30s to 70s.
Hockey Club: very diverse heritage - white, Indian sub continent, Caribbean, African - complete mix.
I'm discounting work as they are all mainly older white males and I'm being made redundant on 12/12. I don't really know anyone in my town, apart from neighbors either side.
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