THE CONSTRUCTION OF ETHNIC CATEGORIES - DISCOURSES OF ETHNICITY IN THE NETHERLANDS

This article is concerned with the way ethnic and racial categories ar e achieved and sustained in daily talk. We argue against the notion of social categories as immanent cognitive structures whose existence an d significance can be taken for granted. It is emphasized that categor ies are constructed in discourse. The construction and representation of ethnic categories are studied by analysing discussions held by some ethnically Dutch inhabitants of an inner-city quarter in Rotterdam. T here were two discussion groups (six and five participants respectivel y) and each group met one evening a week in a row in the local communi ty centre for four weeks. All eight sessions were taped and transcribe d and each session lasted approximately two and a half hours. Our goal is to describe in detail some of the discourses that are being used t o achieve and sustain specific categorical representations. First, the nature of the different categorical constructs used is analysed. It i s shown that people use different criteria for constructing 'us-them' distinctions and that this multiplicity is rhetorically;useful. Second , the ways in which categorical constructions are represented and vary in discourse are identified and outlined. Subsequently, the means by which these representations are achieved and sustained is examined. At tention is focued on comparisons that are being made, on the use of me taphors, and on the process of concretization. Third, some of the cult ural values drawn upon in legitimizing the representations are explore d. It is shown how the taken-for-granted notions of freedom, merit, eq uality and tolerance are used to construct and legitimize ethnic repre sentations. Finally, it is argued that a discourse approach can provid e important additional insights into issues concerning ethnic relation s and racism. For one thing it can help to develop strategies for reco nstructing the predominant distinction between 'us' and 'them'.