title: Fragmented life courses: the changing profile of Britain's ethnic populations.
abstract: This article describes the potential of the Longitudinal Study to analyse different ethnic groups by broad period of entry. This is illustrated with the use of one variable (childlessness), but could be the basis for further analytical work on other variables. Each group has a unique demographic profile, which is largely explained by its migration history. Migration influences important life course transitions. Differences between more established residents (present in 1981 and 1991) and less established residents (present in 1991 only) imply that generalisations for the entire ethnic group or future generations should not be made.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blackwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D019352:Censuses; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005190:Family / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D011158:Population Growth; D044469:Racial Groups; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012922:Social Change; D006113:United Kingdom