What_Can_You_Say_About_the_Identities_of_People_of_Blaenau_Gwent_Based_on_the_Evidence_in_Tables_1,2,3,4_and_5.

Part 1 What can you say about the identities of people of Blaenau Gwent based on the evidence in Tables 1,2,3,4 and 5. Blaenau Gwent rural county in the south of Wales, 2.5% people in Wales lived in Blaenau Gwent in 1991. It’s population has decreased from 1991-2001 by 3.3% however, the population in Wales has increased. (Table 1, Assignment Booklet DD101 2010, p.22) This shows that people are moving away from the area looking for better jobs or even a better education. In Blaenau Gwent three in ten people aged 16-75 work in manufacturing whereas in the whole of Wales only two in ten people are similarly employed. This shows that there is a greater demand for unqualified people to work in factories in Blaenau Gwent. (Table 3, Assignment Booklet DD101 2010, p.23) This reflected by the fact that almost half of the population has no formal qualification. (Table 5, Assignment Booklet DD101 2010, p.24) The next highest source of employment in Blaenau Gwent is the wholesale and retail at 14.98% compared to 32.63% for factory work which is more than double. It is an important sector for Blaenau Gwent because of its relationship with the manufacturing industry. The employment rate for full time and time work in Wales is 47.49% compared to 45.94% in Blaenau Gwent this shows that the level of employment in Blaenau Gwent is comparable to the whole of Wales. Arguably if people wish to create their own business they would have better prospects by moving out of Blaenau Gwent where only 3.73% of people have their own business, this is 3.96% lower than in the whole of Wales. The permanently sick or disabled is 4.57% higher in Blaenau Gwent than Wales, this is partly due to the fact that the majority of the population have manual job because of their low education, thereby being subject to medical risk and accident compared to people working in an office. (Table 2, Assignment Booklet DD101 2010, p.23) Blaenau Gwent is a town with a good social structure based on personal connections that are maintained from one generation to another. In this community people continue to live in the same house as their parents, furthermore they continue to follow in the family business or trade as their forefathers and thereby reaching the same milestones. (Giddens, Making social lives p.188) This is possibly the reason why the community has decreased in number compare to the overall population in Wales. The relatively close social network makes it difficult to attract new comers and the only way for young local inhabitanst to achieve change is to move away from this close social network. References Source: Census 2001 key statistics for Wales http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ KS_LA_E&W_part1.pdf (Accessed 29 June 2010) Source: Census 2001 key statistics for Wales http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ KS_LA_E&W_part1.pdf (Accessed 29 June 2010) Source: Census 2001 key statistics for Wales http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ KS_LA_E&W_part1.pdf (Accessed 29 June 2010) Giddens, A. (1991) Modernity and Self-Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age, Cambridge, Polity. Source: Census 2001 key statistics for Wales http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ KS_LA_E&W_part2.pdf (Accessed 29 June 2010) Source: Census 2001 Key statistics for Wales http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ KS_LA_E&W_part2.pdf (Accessed 29 June 2010) Part 2 Using the material in text and photograph, taken from the Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council website, what kinds of identity work are taking place here' Blaenau Gwent County is a place of very traditional ways. The land use is predominantly rural. The county is a dream and enables the urban dweller to escape from their everyday work and enjoy the beautiful and desolate mountaintops which divide and watch over the counties vibrant, bustling valleys. (Assignment Booklet DD101 2010 p.26) The passages on pages 25-26 portray Blaenau Gwent as a place that is trying to recreate itself but still has much regeneration to do. Although it is proud to redevelop old industries, it is also moving with the times by becoming a modern green economically dynamic region. Blaenau Gwent strongly contrasts a busy urban environment with the beautiful and spectacular forests, mountains and valleys. The picture above the passage on page 25 gives you a quick glimpse of Blaenau Gwent showing its beauty and rural appearance, there are no roads, just peace portrayed by farmland, it gives the impression of times past where there was minimal rush to achieve anything and a strong community spirit where everyone knew everyone’s business. Blaenau Gwent is a place where the identity of the place was created generations ago by people immigrating into the area to work in the coal mines and steelworks sites, thus creating a close knit community which would exist for many generations. The same trades would be handed down within the family through the years. The country people of Blaenau also continue in family trades, on the farm where they are paid a minimal wage they do not face competition for jobs between one and other, unlike the urban dweller who faces constant competition for better paid jobs. People in this society do earn less money, but life is much cheaper and perhaps happier. Looking at the photograph of Blaenau Gwent, there is a feeling of peace which is very much characterized throughout its beauty and variety of scenery. The population identifies itself in valuing its heritage and is trying to secure a promising future. Their more relaxed attitude towards life is a gift. Regenerating the town with major projects like reopening the Ebbw Valleys railways and redeveloping its former Corus steelwork, the inhabitants of Blaenau Gwent are retracing their identities, making sure to have some continuity in the family trade. Because of their somewhat conservative approach to life which is a result of their long tradition of mining, farming and manufacture their change of emphasis to a more rural and more tourist friendly region is remarkable. Their privileged geographical situation provides a physical and mental well being to its population making Blaenau Gwent an ideal place to live in or visit. Their well being is not to be exchanged for a life in a prosperous city. The bustle of a major high street has no comparison to the beauty of their quiet country side. It is the determination of the people of Blaenau Gwent to preserve their heritage and open it to the outside world that makes this area more desirable. In enhancing their county richness at all levels, historically, scenery and wildlife they gain an everlasting sense of pride and importance. There is a high level of permanently sick or disabled at 13.79% (Table 2, Assignment Booklet DD101 2010, p.23) in this community they may find it more difficult to cope with their problems in such a working-class society they would be the marked, the negative value to a situation where normal would be the working (unmarked). Some of these people would not have the ability to get help from the government or family and will possibly end up out on the streets. The situation is similar to the homeless people Raban wrote about in New York. This does not only include the sick and disabled it also includes crack addicts, thieves, alcoholics, hobos, the temporarily jobless (Raban, 1991, p. 78). These people in our society are labeled in to a group identity, but these people are not necessarily choosing to position themselves into this identity. This passage has been written in an attempt to increase tourism by describing the beauty and traditional ways of the country. It has also been written to encourage more businesses to invest in the county. As explained on page 25 assignment booklet DD101 2010 improved rail and road links are required to enhance the commercial opportunities of the future, and by heritage and community to its roots. Judging by the figures Blaenau Gwent remains a place where people still wish to live, work and stay. Although education is not at the top of their list, they regard their county as very desirable. They consider themselves privileged to be living in such beautiful surroundings at the same time attempting to forget their high rate of sickness and disabilities related to their manual jobs. The good social structure of Blaenau Gwent has up to now given them the strength to move on and carry on making the necessary changes to follow the trend of rural modernization retaining at the same time a valued social network. References Source: amended from http://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/environment/198.asp Source: Census 2001 key statistics for Wales http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ KS_LA_E&W_part1.pdf (Accessed 29 June 2010) Raban, J. (1991) Hunting Mister Heartbreak, London, Pan.