Appendix B: Interview Transcripts

Appendix B.1: Cantell School

(M=Michelle, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Let’s begin with ‘how I see myself’. Can you just go through the pictures that you’ve
used and explain what pictures you’ve used and why you’ve used them?
M: Yeah. I’ve used this woman [Kelly Rowland] because she’s quite fashionable and I
see myself as a fashionable person. I’ve used a picture of a Liverpool football team
because I see myself as quite a supportive person towards the team. I put a love heart
because I’m quite a loving person. I also put a laptop because I like to explore things
and try new things.
I: What about the pictures of Kat, Alfie [EastEnders characters] and, is that Lemar?
M: Bow Wow.
I: Let’s start with Kat and Alfie, why have you used them?
M: Because Kat, erm Alfie’s quite cheery and he makes people smile sometimes so I just
like Alfie, and I also have a temper to so I put Kat.
I: And what about Bow Wow?
M: I put him because I like him (laughs).
I: So if you were going to sum up how you see yourself, what words would you use that
the pictures are trying to express?
M: Creative, fashionable, quite a happy person, quite tempered sometimes, powerful,
respectful.
I: OK, you said that you can have a temper//
M: //yeah//
I: //sometimes//
M: //yeah.
I: When you say get a temper do you mean you get angry?
M: Yeah.
I: What types of things make you angry?
M: My sister borrows stuff from me and, um, sometimes I don’t get things my own way.
I: Sometimes you don’t get things your own way.
M: Yeah.
I: Can you give me an example?
M: Like if I was quite tired and just don’t want anybody staying and something like that,
and I can’t go out late.
I: OK.
M: Yep.
I: Now on this side [how I think other people see me] you’ve used a picture of Cat
Deeley, a horse and the New Look logo and a phone. What are you trying to express
on this side?
M: I think other people see me as a trendy and fashionable person so they know that I
like to go and buy clothes and things like that.
I: So, you’ve got fashion on both sides//
M: //yeah//
I: //do you think though that there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how
you think other people see you?
M: There’s a few differences I think and there’s a few same, ’cause like some people
know I’m fashionable and some people don’t but I think some people see me as quite
a trendy person and like, I like different things.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 288
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I: How do you think other people see you differently to how you see yourself? You
said that there are some differences, so apart from the fashion, what else?
M: Some people think I’m quite a calm person but I can actually have quite a temper.
I: So they think you are quite calm?
M: Yeah but I didn’t actually find a picture for that yet. And like the horse actually, um
resembles me because I’m a kind person by whole.
I: OK, so it’s really the temper//
M: //yeah.
I: So if you were going to use a picture to represent temper, what would you use?
M: I would put either put a cat, I think also I’d put, um, maybe like some [inaudible].
I: And if you had more time, are there any other pictures that you would have put onto
your collage?
M: I would have put more on how I see myself and go into more details like my feelings
and that I can be quite an emotional person and friendly.
I: And what would you use to represent emotional and friendly?
M: Maybe two characters in quite a emotional scene or something.
I: Is there anyone that you think of in particular when you think of emotional?
M: Maybe Kat and Zoe [EastEnders characters] or somebody like that.
I: So, because of Kat and Zoe’s relationship?
M: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
M: Like I come from like all different backgrounds, different like, different types of
families.
I: But if I asked you what your ethnicity is, how would you describe yourself?
M: English.
I: You say English.
M: Yeah.
I: Do you ever say British?
M: No.
I: Do you know//
M: //I don’t know why.
I: So you just say English, you don’t know why.
M: Yeah. I just say English.
I: OK, that’s brilliant.

(S=Sapan, aged=13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve just done one collage yes [how I see myself]?
S: Yeah.
I: Can you just go through the images and words you’ve used and explain what you are
trying to express with them?
S: I’ve got a picture of this game [image of a computer game] because I really like
playing games a lot, and I’m a Hindu that’s why I put a symbol.
I: What is this a symbol of?
S: Hindu.
I: This says Hindu?
S: No it’s Ohm.
I: Ohm.
S: Yeah.
I: So you’ve got the word ‘Hindu’ and you’ve got the Ohm symbol, and you’ve also
got//
S: //the flag//
I: //the Indian flag.
S: Yeah.
I: What about Darth Vader [Star Wars character]?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 289
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S: I just like films a lot.
I: Why did you choose Darth Vader?
S: ’Cause that’s kind of like the films which I like, action films.
I: Action.
S: Yeah.
I: And who are these two people [image of Indian actors]?
S: They’re just like Indian actors.
I: And why have you used them there?
S: ’Cause I like often look at, watch Hindi films.
I: Hindi films.
S: Yeah.
I: Are these famous Hindi actors?
S: Yeah, they’re kind of like top.
I: What about this cricket bat?
S: I quite like sports and cricket.
I: So you like sports and cricket as well?
S: Yeah.
I: Now, going back to these actors, who is this guy?
S: I’ve forgot his name. That’s Ashwaria [image of Indian actress].
I: Now on this collage there is a lot about being Hindu and the fact that you are from
India. Is that very important? Are you trying to express that you feel more closely
connected to being Indian?
S: Yeah.
I: Could you explain a little?
S: I just quite like watching films actually and I’m Hindu.
I: Is your culture important to you?
S: Yeah.
I: It is.
S: Yeah.
I: Now on this side, ‘how I think other people see me’, you’ve not got any pictures. Is
that because you don’t think there is a difference or because you didn’t have time?
S: I didn’t have time and I didn’t kind of like know how other people see me.
I: Do you think that if you had more time to work on this and you had time to think
about it, do you think how you see yourself would be the same as how you think other
people see you?
S: No, it would be, they wouldn’t like kind of like see me as like playing games and into
films.
I: So what do you think they [other people] would see you as?
S: I don’t know.
I: What do you think people think when they see you? How do you think they see you?
S: Kind of like average not that much.
I: So average.
S: Yeah.
I: Do you think you’re average?
S: No, not that much.
I: No.
S: No.
I: Do you think you’re more than average?
S: Yeah.
I: So do you think if I took away the Indian flag and the Hindu symbol that the whole
collage would have a different meaning? (long pause) Were you born in this country?
S: Yeah.
I: But there is no British flag. So let’s say, for example with the flags, why did you
choose to use the Indian flag instead of the British one? Why did you choose to put
Hindu?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 290
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S: I would have put England as well but I didn’t have time, but Indian because my
parents come from that country.
I: So your parents come from India but you were born here?
S: Yeah.
I: So how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: Indian.
I: You’d say Indian?
S: Yeah.
I: So you’d say Indian even though you were born here [England]?
S: Yeah.
I: Yeah?
S: Yeah, well not exactly.
I: Why not exactly?
S: ’Cause like I was born from here but I’m still Indian.
I: Why are you still Indian?
S: Because my parents come from India and I often go there.
I: So do you identify more with being Indian than with British or English?
S: Yeah.
I: Is it important for you to let people know that you are Indian?
S: Not that much, but still kind of like would like people to know that I’m Indian so.
I: OK brilliant.

(J=Jason, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: So Jason, are these two separate collages or one?
J: They’re separate.
I: Shall we start with ‘how I see myself’?
J: Yeah.
I: Do you just want to go through the images and explain why you’ve used them, what
you are trying to express?
J: Well I’ve got the gun because I get really fiery and angry, I got like the calm [image
of a person in silhouette] because I like to be calm you know like at home, I chose
like the mini motor because I like being fast and rushing, I don’t like animal cruelty
that’s why I got the zebra, there’s some games I like [image of a wrestler] like
wrestling and I like Triple X, a good film like stuff I like, I like alcohol.
I: You like alcohol?
J: Yeah.
I: How old are you?
J: Thirteen.
I: But you like drinking?
J: Yeah not like//
I: //why do you like drinking?
J: ’Cause I just like, it’s just nice to have different drinks and it’s nice and I like the
taste.
I: How much do you drink?
J: Oh I drink one bottle a week, only like Bacardi Breezer one of them.
I: With your friends or with your family//
J: //with my mum.
I: With your mum//
J: //yeah with my mum’s permission.
I: OK, what about this picture of the boxer?
J: Because I like boxing and I’ve always wanted to be a boxer.
I: What is it about boxing that you like?
J: To just take all your anger out and like respond powerfully, it’s really good, and then
afterwards you’re really calm.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 291
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I: But is it taking your anger out on a person or just being able to take your anger out
that you like?
J: Just get my anger out that’s better.
I: Just get your anger out.
J: Yeah.
I: So we’ve got a mobile phone there//
J: Yeah ’cause I like keeping (mumbles).
I: You like?
J: Keeping up-to-date stuff on the phone.
I: OK and who is this [image of a wrestler]?
J: Yeah, I like him.
I: Who is he?
J: I don’t know his name I think its The Rock. ’Cause he’s like my wrestling hero, he’s
not a dirty fighter he’s a clean fighter that’s good.
I: So even within fighting there are still rules//
J: //yeah, some people like get a big chain and hammer and all that but he’s a really
clean fighter.
I: And what about Kat Slater [EastEnders character]?
J: Oh she, like she like, EastEnders if it didn’t have someone like Kat Slater it would be
really plain, like if I like didn’t have a lot of my friends around I think it would be
really plain and boring.
I: So you think Kat Slater is quite plain?
J: No, she’s really fiery and she’s really good ’cause I like that.
I: Oh, so she’s kind of similar to how you feel. She’s quite a fiery person//
J: //yeah, and like she’s not afraid to do anything.
I: So you like her assertiveness//
J: //yeah//
I: //and that she’s a bit//
J: //yeah, she’s not really quiet she’s not afraid to say anything she just comes out with
it.
I: And finally on this side you’ve used a flag of England.
J: Oh because that’s my home country.
I: Your home country. If you were going to use some words to describe the feelings
that you are trying to express in all these pictures, what words would you use?
J: Like really, that’s how I feel I am.
I: So what types of words would you use?
J: Like ambitious and I like get on with things and that.
I: You’re ambitious, you like to get on with things. You can be quite calm?
J: Yeah calm when I really want to be.
I: And quite angry?
J: Yeah.
I: What makes you angry?
J: Teachers.
I: Just teachers?
J: And people like, time is just sitting there going really slow and all that and it gets
really frustrating and I find that makes me really angry.
I: What about [image of a zebra]//
J: //oh, animal cruelty I hate that.
I: What is it about cruelty to animals that//
J: //they kill them to test them and like make-up and that, and I think that’s really
wrong.
I: Why is it wrong?
J: Because it’s not fair like that they’re dying and that just so we can get a lipstick like
what won’t last very long.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 292
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I: So do you think there can ever be a time where you can test on animals and it would
be alright?
J: Um, no I don’t think there can.
I: Not even for medicine?
J: For medicine that’s different, for make-up I//
I: //so for cosmetics//
J: //no, medical yeah I understand that, but make-up no.
I: OK let’s move onto how you think other people see you. Do you want to go through
the pictures again and//
J: //that big like devil because everyone says like I’m fiery or I can get really angry
loads and the little devil because the teachers say to me, Miss Staines will say she
always calls me a little devil.
I: You’ve also got a picture [image from animated film Madagascar] of//
J: //oh yeah, because I’m a family person.
I: So what’s that from?
J: Madagascar, yeah I like that film.
I: And you’ve also got pictures of sport, like the cars and the football.
J: Yeah ’cause I like my cars ’cause I love my cars and Man Utd and Saints and
England.
I: And what about the picture of this girl [how I think other people see me]?
J: Richard my best mate he says I’m obsessed by girls.
I: You’re obsessed?
J: Yeah he says.
I: And are you?
J: Um, I don’t know, I’m not sure.
I: So we’ve got fiery and angry and the devil which is here [how I see myself] as well,
but do you think that there is a difference between how you think other people see
you//
J: //yeah.
I: What’s the difference?
J: Because Samuel thinks I’m like that there [angry and fiery], so he thinks I’ve never
got a quiet side to me, but I have, I’ve got like a really quiet side to me and I’ve got a
really angry side.
I: So you think other people only see the angry side?
J: Yeah.
I: So why do you think other people don’t see the quiet side?
J: Because I get wound up really easy, you know I’m always annoyed.
I: You’re always annoyed//
J: //yeah//
I: //but you have got a quiet side?
J: Yeah, yeah.
I: Do you usually, when you’re at home//
J: //yeah, I’m really quiet and I just go and play PlayStation and listen to music.
I: What type of music?
J: R&B.
I: R&B.
J: Yeah and Eminem.
I: What is it about Eminem that you identify with?
J: Because he talks about his life and people and all that.
I: Why is that a good thing?
J: Because it makes me think what I do during the day.
I: It makes you think//
J: //what I done in the day, why I have done things and all that.
I: But do you think there is anything bad about Eminem?

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J: He is really because he sort of carries stuff around with him like he takes drugs and
that’s bad.
I: So you don’t agree with that//
J: //no I don’t agree with taking drugs and smoking, but I like his music.
I: But you like his music because he’s talking about his life//
J: //yeah he’s talking about life and all that//
I: And that makes you think about your own life//
J: //yeah all the things that I’ve done wrong and don’t want to do again.
I: If you had more time are there any extra pictures that you would have put on?
J: Yeah I would have like to have put some more calm pictures on because I do like to
be calm.
I: You would have like to have put more calm pictures on.
J: Yeah, because I do like being calm. I am calm at home a lot but when I’m at school I
get really angry, but at home I’m really calm and relaxed.
I: What do you think it is about outside that makes you angry? Is it just people?
J: Yeah it’s when people get in the way and that and like in school, and I just barge past,
I hate waiting around.
I: It’s the waiting around, you can’t stand it?
J: Yeah waiting around, like just get on with things.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
J: I’m not religious but I do believe in my country.
I: So would you say that you were British or English?
J: I’m English.
I: You would say you were English?
J: Yeah.
I: Why would you choose English over British?
J: Because British that’s a really big place, like I’m in England and I know it’s the
football team as well, ’cause British that’s Scottish as well.
I: So English is like//
J: //yeah my home//
I: //your home and more specific//
J: //yeah.
I: What does being English mean to you?
J: Like England’s got their own football team and all that, and England is just like a
separate name, your standard.
I: What do you mean your standard?
J: Because British is just like a totally different flag innit’, England and British totally
different flag. I find English means a lot more.
I: English means a lot more.
J: Yeah.
I: Why does it mean a lot more?
J: ’Cause we use it a lot more, it’s more common. British, that sounds wrong.
I: OK, that’s brilliant.

(M=Malcolm, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: OK Malcolm, are these two separate collages or are they one?
M: That one [how I see myself] is what I like doing, whereas that one [how I think other
people see me] is how I think people see me.
I: So let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you just want to go through the images and
explain why you’ve used each image, what you are what you are trying to express
with them?
M: I’ve used those two [images of a guitar and Gorillaz] because I like music and I look
up to them.
I: What is it about the Gorillaz that you look up to?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 294
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M: I think they’re a good band and also the singer, um//
I: //Damon Albarn.
M: Yes him, has lots of political views that I agree with.
I: Such as?
M: Stuff like the Live 8 thing he said they should have had more multicultural bands and
I agreed with that.
I: You agree with//
M: //his views about Live 8 and how that was run and everything.
I: What about his other political views?
M: I don’t know but I assume he’s good like that across most stuff that I don’t agree
with.
I: OK, I know you relate to Damon Albarn and his politics, but what is it about that the
music that you specifically like?
M: I think it’s different but still interesting and not sort of annoying it’s a, it’s cool but
it’s not annoying and you can listen to it anytime without it being annoying.
I: So it’s kind of like the fact that it’s not mainstream, run of the mill//
M: //yeah it’s relaxed and sort of guitar driven.
I: You’ve got a little picture of The Simpsons [cartoon] there.
M: Yeah, that’s just because I like The Simpsons really, it’s funny.
I: OK.
M: I’ve got two games because I like playing PlayStation ‘cause its fun. I’ve got a
picture of George Bush with a red line across his face because I disagree with the way
that he does things.
I: Such as?
M: Such as the war in Iraq for example.
I: Why do you disagree with that?
M: Because I don’t think its fair or the right way to go about things.
I: What//
M: //just violence you know what I mean.
I: So you don’t agree with war or violence?
M: No, and I don’t think that was the right time to use it either.
I: When would have been the right time to use it?
M: I don’t know, I think they were ill-informed and rushed into it.
I: OK, and who are these guys [image of a black model and Michael Jackson]?
M: Well that one [image of a black model] it’s because I think he looks pretty stylish and
chilled out, and I put in Michael Jackson because he’s an amazing dancer, he’s just
cool.
I: You think Michael Jackson is cool?
M: Not nowadays, but I think he was cool when he did all his amazing dancing and that’s
why he’s an icon, but not anymore.
I: So are you using him on the basis that he is cool?
M: Yeah.
I: So if you were going to use a few words to sum up what you are trying to express
with the images, like we’ve got cool, what other words would you add to that?
M: Relaxed and not popular in terms of mainstream what everybody likes, and not
unhappy because I’m always sort of grateful. I don’t like really miserable stuff.
I: So are you quite a content person?
M: Yeah, yeah I’m happy with my life kind of thing.
I: So let’s move on to how you think other people see you.
M: Well those two [image of a black man with scarf over mouth and a black and white
model] it’s about, I think people might see me as threatening when I’m walking down
the street with my friends and things ’cause we shout a lot and talk loudly and I sort
of like maybe look threatening to other people.
I: And you’ve also got the word ‘shifty’ there.
M: Yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 295
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I: Is that because you think people might think you are a bit of a shifty character?
M: Yeah, when we’re sort of walking down and sort of shouting and being loud and what
we’re doing and everything.
I: Because the people that represent threatening are the black guy with the Union Jack
around his mouth and, do you know who this person is [black and white image]?
M: No, but I just thought he was sort of//
I: //why does he look threatening?
M: Because he’s in black and white and he’s sort of standing there, he looks sort of like
he’s gonna, I don’t know he just looks like, like threatening and out there.
I: And what about this guy [image of a black man], why is he threatening?
M: ’Cause he’s got his arms crossed and he’s all sort of, um threatening looking.
I: OK, let’s move onto this man with flowers round his neck. What does he mean?
M: He’s like that because I’m meant to be laughing a lot of the time and he’s sort of
wearing bright clothes which I don’t normally wear bright clothes I sort of act in a
sort of happy, laughing, jolly sort of way which is how he’s dressed.
I: And what about these pictures of the skater and the t-shirt [‘if you see anyone else
wearing this t-shirt I must be dead’]?
M: Well I like skating and I like skating in public places although not much anymore, but
I still do it now and again and I thought that was a cool t-shirt.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
M: Yeah that’s much more, how I think other people see me is much more a sort of
outward appearance, whereas that [how I see myself] is what I like to do and how I
like to be.
I: So you said other people might see you as threatening, do you think you are
threatening?
M: I don’t personally think I am threatening but I must seem very loud and shouting and
things.
I: Right, so do you think when other people look at you they see you as somebody who
is interested in politics and who is quite relaxed and removed from the mainstream,
not part of the mainstream and who thinks a bit differently?
M: Yeah, yeah but only if they know me and everything.
I: But what if they don’t?
M: If they don’t know me they just think I’m another person that’s just being sort of
annoying and threatening and everything.
I: Does that annoy you, that fact that people think about you that way?
M: Sometimes but not really I just see it as, well I don’t really know them or anything so
it’s no big deal I suppose.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
M: I’d say I was British or English.
I: Which one of them do you usually use?
M: I’d use British because some of my family is from Wales.
I: So you’d use British because//
M: //it includes everyone in my family.
I: OK, brilliant.

(J=Joe, aged 14, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: So let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through the images you’ve
used and explain what you are trying to express with each of them?
J: There’s various music things like the MP3 player and the guitar and stuff because I’m
in a band and I like writing music a lot, I’m doing new songs all the time. There’s a
picture of Jimmy Carr because I think I’m quite funny. A mobile phone is there
because I’m in contact with my friends quite a lot, like quite outgoing. There’s a
picture of an eye because I’m a visual learner. I don’t like Tony Blair because he’s

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 296
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 bad because he went to war and all that. There is a comic book because I like comics
I like reading a lot. There’s a watch because I’m always on time.
I: Right, Tony Blair you said he’s a bad man.
J: Yeah.
I: Why is he a bad man?
J: Because he took us to war and I don’t think that was the right decision.
I: So you think it wasn’t the right decision. By making that statement do you see
yourself as quite a political person?
J: Yeah.
I: What other political issues do you feel quite strongly about?
J: Um, I’m not really sure really.
I: What is it about Tony Blair that really annoys you? Is it just the war thing or is there
anything else?
J: It’s mainly the way he goes about things, the way he does things.
I: And how does he//
J: //I don’t think he puts much thought into what he’s doing.
I: He doesn’t put much thought//
J: //no, he just goes ahead with what he thinks should happen and doesn’t think about it
long-term.
I: So he doesn’t think about the long-term and he doesn’t really listen to the public?
J: Yeah.
I: OK, the music, I’ve noticed that you’ve got Franz Ferdinand and Chris Martin from
Coldplay. Now I’m assuming that you really like these bands//
J: //yeah//
I: //but what is it about these bands that you identify with?
J: It’s their music mainly, it’s about how they like play music.
I: But what is it specifically, what is it that their music expresses that you can identify
with? Is it just the fact that they play their own instruments or is it more than that?
J: Yeah, yeah as I said they play their own instruments, they play what they want to play
like their emotions or what they were thinking about at the time when they make the
song.
I: So that’s important, that people are expressing their emotions and are what we call
real musicians?
J: Yeah.
I: Moving onto the eye, you said that you learn visually.
J: Yeah.
I: What do you mean by that?
J: I like looking at diagrams and like statistics and stuff like that rather than just reading
a book and, it’s like the same thing with the comics I like pictures with the words.
I: Right OK. And Jimmy Carr, you said that he’s quite funny and that you see yourself
as quite funny. Why do you see yourself as quite a funny person?
J: Because I think I’m quite laid back and quite open about things as well.
I: Let’s move onto ‘how I think other people see me’.
J: Well there’s the ‘fraud’ [word], for instance lots of older people think that they, you
know, like kids are like bad people, people who steal, people who do things like that.
I: Right.
J: And they think that we’re rebels, so we’re all rebels and we’re all out to cause trouble
and stuff.
I: And that’s how you think other people see you?
J: Yeah, yeah because people have said it to me before.
I: And what about the ‘suffering’ [word]?
J: Well that’s just wound up with the whole thing it’s like they [other people] see,
because lots of people live in council places and stuff like that and people think
they’re suffering and they’re feeling bad about themselves.
I: Do you live in a council estate?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 297
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J: Yeah my mum, with my mum I do.
I: And what about the red?
J: That’s just to represent anger.
I: So do you think that other people are justified to see you that way, or do you think
that is a completely incorrect image of how you see yourself?
J: I think that’s an absolute incorrect image ’cause I’m not like that, I’m not a bad
person.
I: So you think other people, because of your upbringing, see you as a bad person
because of living on a council estate?
J: Yeah.
I: So there’s a huge difference between how you see yourself and how you think other
people see you?
J: Yeah.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have added to your
collage?
J: On this side [how I think other people see me] I would probably put like black
rappers because most people think young people are into rap ’cause we’re all
gangsters and that.
I: So do you think that rappers represent violence and everything bad?
J: No, some are, but that’s ’cause that’s how they’re shown sometimes, but not all
rappers are bad you know.
I: Can you give me an example of a rapper who is bad though?
J: There was that guy from So Solid Crew he got done for having guns. It’s not cool for
kids to see that sort of thing, like their idols being put in prison, but they’re not all
like that you know.
I: And just finally, if someone asked you your ethnicity, what would you usually
describe yourself as?
J: British probably.
I: Would you say British or English?
J: I’d say British.
I: Why would you say British?
J: Because I’ve got a Welsh background and Scottish background as well.
I: So British is more inclusive?
J: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(F=Faiza, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one big collage or is it two?
F: It’s big one.
I: One big one?
F: Yes.
I: So do you want to go through the pictures and explain why you’ve used them?
F: First of all I’m talking about Somalia. I’m from Africa, my parents born there.
I: Were you born there?
F: No I’m born in Sweden.
I: In Sweden.
F: Yeah, and my parents and my cousins are from Somalian and I’m from Somalian.
I: But born in Sweden.
F: Yeah.
I: And how long have you been here [England]?
F: I’ve been here one year and seven months. That thingy shows real life, and real life
shows about my family, the lines that I come from, my cousins and lots of things.
I: OK.
F: This is a movie; this is like a new comedy that comes on.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 298
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I: That’s So Raven.
F: Yeah and I like that one because I watch twice movie. And this girl and boy it’s like
a family show, a friendship and that lot things.
I: OK.
F: And them two girls are like friends and I got in the middle the family.
I: You’ve got the family and why is this here [images if female boxers]?
F: Because they’re fighting about the family.
I: Is it fighting in the family or fighting over the family?
F: Fighting over the family.
I: Who is fighting over the family then?
F: Both of them.
I: Why are they fighting?
F: I’m just making an example.
I: Yes.
F: She’s like fighting for the baby, she’s fighting for the little girl and they’re like
family, and she wants the boy and she wants the girl. They’re fighting having fun,
that sort of thing.
I: OK.
F: Allah means like it’s my religion, it says Allah in Arabic. And Linda//
I: What is her name?
F: Linda I think.
I: Lindsey Lohan?
F: Yeah.
I: Why do you like her?
F: I like her dress and her hair.
I: You like her hair?
F: Yeah.
I: So you think she’s pretty?
F: Yeah.
I: And you’ve also got pictures of women with headscarves on, is that because that links
with the religion?
F: Yeah.
I: So what about this picture here [image of Chinese girls]?
F: It’s a presentation of China like the new phones like coming out, they’re like making
new phones like a camera phone.
I: So looking at this, the country that your parents come from is very important to you.
Is it important for you to say that I’m Somalian?
F: Yeah.
I: And also your religion is featured quite a lot. Is that very important to you?
F: Yeah, it’s very important for me.
I: Why is it so important?
F: I like to like say how it’s like, how important like my family is being like from
Somalia and Muslim, that’s more important to me, how my family thinks about
what’s important.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
F: Well if they like asked me where I come from I would say Somalian but I’m not born
there, I’m born in Sweden.
I: So what do you see yourself as? Do you see yourself as Somalian or Swedish?
F: Somalian.
I: But what about now you live in Britain? Do you feel British?
F: Yeah a bit.
I: So what one would you choose to describe yourself?
F: Somalian.
I: Why would you go for Somalian?
F: Because I like Somalian house I live there and every person I know lives there.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 299
available at [Link]
I: OK thanks.

(K=Kendra, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: OK Kendra, let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you just want to go through the
pictures and explain what you are trying to express?
K: OK I see myself as a family person [image of a family] ’cause like I’m always with
my family and that and then that one//
I: //little Mo [EastEnders character]//
K: //yeah sometimes like, well most of the time, I can be like all really angry.
I: Really angry?
K: Yeah.
I: Do you think Little Mo is angry?
K: Yeah.
I: OK.
K: And that one [image of a smile], don’t know like, like a joyful person and the phone
’cause I like keeping in contact with people.
I: What about, who is this person?
K: Warren.
I: Warren who?
K: I don’t know he’s the fella out of Coronation Street.
I: What are you trying to express with him?
K: That I’m sometimes happy.
I: That you’re sometimes happy.
K: Yeah.
I: And what about Lee Ryan?
K: Yeah I love singing.
I: So you love singing. Do you think Lee Ryan is a good singer?
K: Yeah.
I: And the cat I love cats, and perfume I like smelling really nice.
I: And what about, he’s another one from Coronation Street but I can’t remember his
name though?
K: Oh, Sean.
I: That’s it.
K: It’s another I just stuck him down.
I: So you just stuck him down?
K: Yeah.
I: Do you think he’s quite a happy person?
K: Yeah.
I: And what’s this here? You’ve got the word ‘art’ and you’ve got two girls playing//
K: //yeah ’cause I like playing sport and I like art.
I: So if you were going to use some words to describe what the pictures are trying to
express what type of words, like we’ve got happy, would you use that the pictures are
trying to express?
K: Kind, angry.
I: What makes you angry?
K: When people like pick on my family and me.
I: When people pick on your family. Let’s move across to how you think other people
see you. You’ve got a picture of Cat Deeley and another woman there, what do they
represent?
K: They are like both happy girls which means like I’m always happy and everything.
I: You’re always happy. And you’ve got the perfume, what does the perfume and the
car represent?
K: The car like, people say that I’m like a sporty person and I like sometimes like smell.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 300
available at [Link]
I: So do you think there is a difference between the two sides? Do you think there’s a
difference between how you think other people see you and how you see yourself?
K: Yeah.
I: What is the difference?
I: I think I’ve got angry and like people just think that I’m happy all the time.
I: Why do you think people don’t see the angry side of you?
K: ’Cause I don’t show it.
I: So when do you show it?
K: I just like sit there grumpy.
I: But do you do that in front of other people or do you do that maybe at home or on
your own?
K: At home.
I: What types of things make you angry? You said about your family being picked on,
what else?
K: When other people take the mickey out of me.
I: Take the mickey out of you.
K: Mmm.
I: Why don’t you get angry in front of them [other people]?
K: I don’t know, don’t know, well if I get angry or whatever and start shouting at them
I’ll get done by my teachers and other people.
I: So basically if you do it, then you know there’s going to be a consequence to your
actions?
K: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
K: British.
I: Why would you choose British over English?
K: Don’t know.
I: Where are your parents from?
K: England.
I: OK, that’s brilliant.

(R=Randeep, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve just done one collage [how I see myself]?
R: Yeah.
I: Do you want to go through the pictures and explain why you’ve used them?
R: I’ve used that//
I: //football//
R: //yeah ’cause I like playing sport and the Indian flag because my mum and dad’s from
India.
I: OK and you enjoy playing computer games because you’ve got pictures of cars from
games.
R: Yeah.
I: Who is this man?
R: Gurdas Maan.
I: Who is that?
R: He’s a famous Indian singer.
I: So why have you used him?
R: Because he’s part of Asia, he come to my dad’s wedding.
I: OK and you’ve also used the word ‘Asian’ and what’s this?
R: A symbol, a khanda.
I: Is that Sikh?
R: Yeah.
I: So you’re Sikh?
R: Yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 301
available at [Link]
I: So on ‘how I think other people see me’ you’ve not done any pictures.
R: Yeah.
I: Do you think, if you had more time, do you think how other people see you is the
same as how you see yourself?
R: Don’t know.
I: What type of person do you see yourself as?
R: Sporty.
I: What else, because you’ve done your religion and Asian, why have you used them?
R: To show that I’m a more religious person.
I: To show that you are religious.
R: Yeah.
I: So it’s an important part of your life. Is your religion important to you?
R: A bit.
I: A bit?
R: Yeah.
I: Why only a bit?
R: Because like Indian people go to the temple but I don’t go that much.
I: You don’t go that much, OK. What type of person would other people think you
were?
R: I’m just a normal boy.
I: Just a normal boy. And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
R: British and Asian.
I: British and Asian.
R: Yeah.
I: Do you always say British and Asian?
R: No.
I: So what do you usually say?
R: Indian.
I: So you describe yourself as Indian?
R: Yeah.
I: Were you born in this country?
R: Yeah.
I: But your parents are from India?
R: My dad and my mum’s from India.
I: But you still call yourself Indian. Do you think//
R: //both.
I: You’re both but you usually say Indian?
R: Yeah ’cause I have to speak you know like Punjabi at home with them.
I: Is it important for you that other people know where you are from?
R: Probably, ’cause like English people like think he’s an Asian so.
I: What do you mean by that//
R: //just ’cause I’m a coloured person so they would think as soon as they look at me
like I’m a religious person.
I: English people will look at you and think what?
R: Like ’cause I’m coloured they [other white people] would probably think that I’m a
religious person.
I: What type of religious person?
R: Everything, any like a Hindu or Muslim.
I: So you say Indian to make clear what you are?
R: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 302
available at [Link]
(P=Peter, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: You’ve only done this side, ‘how I see myself’, do you want to go through the
pictures and explain what you are trying to represent?
P: Er yeah (long pause), OK.
I: So let’s start with Arnold Schwarzenegger why have you used him?
P: Because he’s a gun man.
I: A gun man.
P: Yeah.
I: And what about the beaver?
P: Um calm.
I: Calm?
P: Yeah.
I: And what about, is that a trainer?
P: Yeah.
I: What is that for?
P: Um I don’t know, I don’t know I’ve forgotten what it is I did for running or
something.
I: OK and then you’ve got games, is that because you like computer games?
P: Yeah.
I: Now on this side [how I think other people see me] you haven’t done anything.
P: Yeah.
I: So you see yourself as quite a calm person but then you’ve got the gun to?
P: I think I’m both of them really.
I: But what are you trying to say with the guns? What do the guns represent?
P: Er (long pause), just see myself as it.
I: You just see yourself as it?
P: Yeah.
I: This is how you see yourself; do you think other people see you in the same way?
P: Don’t know.
I: And if I asked you your ethnicity, how would you usually describe yourself?
P: I’m British.
I: You’re British. Would you say British or English?
P: English.
I: Why would you say English?
P: I just say it.
I: You just say it.
P: Yeah.
I: OK thanks.

(S=Samuel, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two separate collages, so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you just
want to go through the pictures and explain what you are trying to represent?
S: OK then yeah. Well I picked a Darth Vader and the Luke Skywalker [Star Wars
characters] theme because um, I thought was my step-dad was my dad and I just
found out from my mum who my real dad is, so I cut that out.
I: So you only just found out who your real dad was?
S: Yeah.
I: And somebody else has been raising you?
S: Yeah.
I: Right//
S: //and then I picked that [UK map] because I live in Britain and then picked them
[image of a Southampton footballer] because I live in Southampton and I like football
and I picked him because //

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 303
available at [Link]
I: //who is that?
S: That’s Freddie Ljungberg who plays for Arsenal and I picked him because well, I
didn’t really know myself when I found out who my real dad was so I thought well
Freddie Ljungberg he’s foreign and he plays for an English team and he’s like, he’s
been put down loads and loads of times by the press and all that so I thought like well
we’re kind of both outcasts so about the same ’cause we like (pause).
I: Go on.
S: Um, well I didn’t know myself at the time because I didn’t know who my real dad
was and all that because my mum said like your dad ain’t your dad and stuff like that
and I thought OK what’s going on, then I read in the newspaper that Freddie
Ljungberg was being put down by the press and he, and he was saying a lot that he
was sacked and hired, sacked and hired from the boss and it’s the same thing, that
loads of big surprises a big thing and what you can’t expect and what you should
expect.
I: Right OK.
S: And I got the car because um, because I really like driving because I go to Go-Karts a
lot and it’s a big hobby of mine.
I: So if you were going to use some words to express what the pictures are trying to say,
what words would you use?
S: For?
I: How you see yourself.
S: What, just for each picture?
I: Just in general. Like do you think you’re quite happy or sad or confused or//
S: //um, I’m kind of confused but happy about it.
I: Confused but happy about it//
S: //yeah ’cause I know that I’ll find out and I know that I won’t be confused for much
longer. Like just to say I’ll find out.
I: About?
S: About what I’m confused about.
I: And what is it that you’re confused about?
S: Um my dad and like what he’s like and he’s got kids and anything like that.
I: Right. So let’s move onto how you think other people see you. Now on this side
you’ve just got a picture of a zip over a mouth and then ‘what on god’s green earth’ in
words. What are you trying to express?
S: With the zip well I’m very talkative and people usually like to shut me up so I put the
zip over the mouth and what on god’s green earth is well um, I’ve got a reputation for
being really random and people usually say what’s he doing and things like that so
it’s usually just like a major question of what I am.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
S: Um no.
I: Do you think, like maybe do you think there are things here [how I see myself] that
other people don’t see, or do you think that there are maybe things that other people
might see that are not how you see yourself? Do you understand?
S: Yeah, yeah, because I am like very secretive I don’t talk about personal things I just
talk about what other people think and what’s just happened and the new stuff so I
don’t usually like tend to waste time talking about me ’cause I don’t really think it’s
relevant at any of the time. I don’t want to talk so I just think.
I: So, what I think you’re saying is that other people don’t really know the emotional
side of you?
S: No not really because, well like I don’t like to cry in public or anything like that so
that’s kind of an emotional secret, um I don’t like being hurt. It doesn’t matter if
somebody calls me a name because I’ll either take it, you know call them a name
back and, well, I don’t want them to know what hurts me ’cause I don’t want them to

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 304
available at [Link]
 see me cry or hurt so I don’t want them to like see me ’cause I just want to remain
random so.
I: So it’s easier because it’s like a defence//
S: //yeah//
I: //because you’re random and they don’t know your weak points, they can’t get to you,
they can’t hurt you.
S: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: Well um, I’ve heard that my dad is Irish so I’ll be in between English and Irish.
I: But if somebody asked you now, how would you usually describe your ethnicity,
what would you say?
S: I’d say I’m English.
I: You’d say you’re English, but would that change if your dad was Irish? What would
you say then?
S: Well I’d say, well I haven’t known him and he didn’t know that he was my dad so
that’s a massive revelation for both of us, and well he just wants to get on with his life
and I want to get on with my life but we want to know each other at the same time so
I don’t think we are going to inter-lock that well, I just think that we are going to be
friends.
I: OK//
S: //but not as far as like I would change my religion, which I don’t have, I’m like
heathen I don’t have a religion I don’t go by anything, so if he is Catholic I will just
say well OK my dad is Catholic I don’t care.
I: So it wouldn’t impact on you?
S: No.
I: OK brilliant.

(S=Scott, aged 14, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Are these two separate collages?
S: Yeah.
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through the images and
explain what you are trying to express with them?
S: Well this [drawing of a flag] is national identity, the Union Jack because I’m English,
and I used two people playing guitars because I like guitars.
I: OK so you like guitars. What sort of music do you like?
S: Um, well, um rock, indie.
I: What is about rock and indie that you like? Because here you’ve got Franz
Ferdinand, what is it about their music that you like?
S: I like the blend of hard and soft sounds with the bass and then you get guitars in
overdrive and then you get drums which are like a boom and then you cymbals as
well which are like shhh.
I: But don’t you get the same sounds in pop music?
S: Not really ’cause you get like synthesizers and things in music, pop music.
I: Let’s move onto the rabbit. What are you trying to express with that?
S: That’s how I think I act towards other people.
I: In what way?
S: Sort of like nice.
I: And what about that [image of a smiling mouth], is that happy?
S: Yeah.
I: And what is that?
S: That’s running ’cause I like athletics.
I: OK, let’s move onto ‘how I think other people see me’. Now this is significantly
different to the other side, so let’s start with [image of a woman with big hair]//
S: //bad hair. I had my hair cut at the weekend and that’s what I had, massive bad hair.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 305
available at [Link]
I: So what about B.A. Baracus, what is he there for?
S: Mr T, because um, you get people saying to me quite a lot you know because I’m big
and stuff, Mr T.
I: And you’ve got 50 Cent’s [how I think other people see me].
S: Yeah ’cause people say, they say like you’re naughty, robbery.
I: So he represents that you’re a bit of yob and you’re a bit of a thug//
S: //only people who don’t know me.
I: Do you think 50 Cent’s is a thug and a hoodlum?
S: No he’s playing at angry.
I: But do you think he’s a positive or negative role model?
S: A negative role model but I don’t know him that much I don’t know what he’s done
apart from in his videos, but he’s playing though, playing at ultra-macho.
I: And Mr Blair, why have you used him?
S: Because he wears suits and that represents to me nerdiness.
I: So you see yourself as a nerd?
S: Mmm.
I: So do you think that there is a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
S: Yeah.
I: What would you say is the biggest difference or biggest differences?
S: Um.
I: Like here [how I see myself] you’ve got happy and nice and that doesn’t feature on
how you think other people see you. Do you think that’s because other people just
don’t see that side of you?
S: No, not until they talk to me and get to know me//
I: //right//
S: //as myself rather than just as what they think I am.
I: So do you think that if people were just to look at you their assumptions would be
completely incorrect about you?
S: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: English.
I: Do you always say English?
S: Yeah.
I: Why do you say English, because you have got the British flag there?
S: I don’t know it’s just something I do by instinct.
I: It’s just something you do by instinct.
S: I come from England.
I: So it’s because you come from England it’s just instinctual to say I’m English?
S: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(N=Noah, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: These are two separate collages yes?
N: Yeah.
I: So we’ll start with ‘how I see myself’. Let’s start with Darth Vader [Star Wars
character], why have you used Darth Vader?
N: Not really sure of himself.
I: Not really sure of himself.
N: Mmm.
I: Why is Darth Vader not really sure of himself?
N: He’s stuck in-between two worlds.
I: What worlds are those?
N: Good and bad, like ours.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 306
available at [Link]
I: OK.
N: Er.
I: OK let’s go through these pictures.
N: Mmm.
I: Why have you used a picture of a dormouse?
N: Er, for fascination.
I: Fascination?
N: Fascination and cute, cuddly.
I: And the cute and cuddly, like the little tiger here?
N: Well that’s to show that I’m caring [image of a tiger] and I’ve got a gun.
I: You’re caring, OK, but why have you got a gun?
N: Well I can get a little bit violent.
I: You can get violent. What makes you violent?
N: Well my, my brother.
I: Your brother.
N: Yeah he’s annoying.
I: What is it about him that is annoying? (pause) Or is it just lots of things?
N: Yes many things.
I: OK and you’ve also got a picture of Jaws [film poster], what is that there for?
N: Shark, horror films, I like very gory horror films.
I: Why do you like gory horror films?
N: Not to sure.
I: Do you get scared when you watch them?
N: Sometimes.
I: Sometimes. So do you like being scared?
N: Mmm, it’s pretty fun.
I: It’s funny.
N: Mmm.
I: And you’ve also got a car and football boots; let’s start with the car what is that
expressing//
N: //I like driving; I like cars, fascination with cars.
I: And what about the football boots? Do you like sport?
N: I like sport and that’s why really.
I: And then on how you think other people see you, you’ve got football boots again and
then you’ve got a big flag of England. Why have you done that there, the picture of
the flag?
N: Well it’s just to show someone, well, part I like and, I just not really sure.
I: You’re not sure.
N: Mmm.
I: So if I//
N: //fascination of football.
I: OK so if I asked you how would you usually describe your ethnicity, what would you
say?
N: English.
I: OK thanks.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 307
available at [Link]
Appendix B.2: Kelmscott School
(K=Karen, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to just go through your collage [how I see myself] and explain what
pictures you’ve used and why you’ve used them?
K: The crossword is I think I’m intelligent, and the Alex Ferguson one ’cause he
demands a lot from the players to show that I’m demanding.
I: Right.
K: The Paris Hilton one ’cause I can imagine her to be quite selfish.
I: Paris Hilton?
K: Yeah so the phone that says I talk a lot.
I: OK.
K: And the woman [image of a woman wearing a tiara], I like people to run around for
me ’cause I don’t like to do a lot for myself.
I: Right and what about the D&G and the [perfume]//
K: //to show that I’m girlie and the biscuit is to show that I’m sweet.
I: Now you’ve not done anything on ‘how I think other people see me’, why//
K: //’cause I think they see me the same way, how I see myself.
I: So really this could be one big collage?
K: Yeah.
I: Do you think that there are any differences between how you see yourself and how
you think other people see you?
K: I think they might see me as quite quiet.
I: Do you think you’re quiet?
K: No.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have added to this
collage?
K: I might have done a few more on how other people see me.
I: Such as?
K: Crying and funny.
I: And what would you use to show that?
K: A timid person and um, I don’t know what else.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
K: White.
I: Do you always say white?
K: Yeah.
I: Ok that’s brilliant.

(A=Azhar, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two separate collages.
A: Yeah.
I: Do you want to start with ‘how I see myself’ and go through the pictures and explain
what they are and what you are representing with them?
A: Well this is how I see myself. I’ve got a England country because that’s where I’m
from and I’ve got a football player because I like to play football and sporty, I like
boxing and I’m sporty type of person, I like sports so I watch sports people. Here, I
also peaceful person [image of a boat on a river] and I see myself also as serious, so I
got political person here [image of George Bush] and I think I’m very loud [image of
a tiger] and I like serious stuff so I got guns here.
I: So you like serious stuff and you’ve used guns to represent that?
A: Yeah.

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I: I just want to go back to the sports people, you’ve used Amir Khan [how I see
myself], do you think there are any qualities about him that you share?
A: Yeah he’s Asian and a boxer and that’s what he does so, I like boxing yeah.
I: OK//
A: //I like him.
I: What is it about him that you like?
A: He’s a boxer and I like the way he fights so.
I: Now let’s move onto how you think other people see you. What do these pictures
mean?
A: Well I’ve used clothes to indicate that people see me that I like wearing clothes and
that, and people like me like wearing clothes like.
I: And what about this monkey and the game?
A: I’ve got the monkey because people sometimes think I’m a bit cheeky at times just
like a monkey and I like, people think I like games a lot so I put games on there.
I: Now on this side, on ‘how I think other people see me’, you’ve put down that people
think that you’re cheeky and that you like games and you like clothes.
A: Yeah.
I: But on how you see yourself you’ve put the politician and the guns that you say
represent the serious side of you. Do you think that other people see that side of you?
A: No, there are two sides of me, like sometimes I’m all serious and sometimes I’m
more funny and sometimes I see myself as all serious, but mostly I’m more like
cheeky and a funny character that’s why I put that there.
I: Do you think that there is a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
A: Yeah because like normally I’m serious to myself and not to other people, to other
people I’m funny and to myself I’m like more serious.
I: Why do you think that is?
A: Because I like to joke with other people and with myself I’m normal like.
I: But do you think other people see the serious side of you then? Do you think that
they understand that side of you?
A: I don’t think they really know that I’m that serious, that’s why I won’t put my
pictures there [how I think other people see me].
I: And what are you serious about?
A: Just like in life I’m serious like, whatever I do like at home or anything no joking
about, but with other people I joke around.
I: If you had more time are there any extra pictures that you would have put on?
A: Yeah over here I would put other pictures like//
I: //on how you think other people see you//
A: //yeah I would have put like, I would put more like peaceful stuff over here, maybe
other people see me more as a peaceful kind of person.
I: What would you use to represent peaceful?
A: I’d be like sea and, sea and waves and that with a beach and that, a river.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
A: I’d say I’m Asian British, that’s how I describe myself.
I: Do you always say Asian British to describe yourself?
A: Yeah.
I: You do?
A: Yeah.
I: Is that how you see yourself?
A: Yeah.
I: Is it important for you to say the British part?
A: Yeah it’s important that.
I: Why is it important?
A: Because I’m born in England and that’s my country.
I: So is it important for you to let people know that you were born in this country//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 309
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A: //yeah//
I: //that although you’re Asian//
A: //yeah it’s important to say that I’m British.
I: Why is it so important?
A: That’s where I was born, that’s my country so.
I: So that’s your country?
A: Yeah but I’m also Asian and loving my parents so I’m Asian British. Yeah, I see
myself as that.
I: OK, that’s brilliant.

(K=Kashif, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: If we start with ‘how I see myself’, can you go through the pictures and explain why
you’ve used them and what you are trying to represent with them?
K: I’ve used that George Bush picture because he stands out like, you know that’s how
people see him sort of like how he sees himself, yeah, he stands out more like me.
I: Can we go back to George Bush. What does George Bush represent, what are you
trying to express with George Bush?
K: It’s like his face looks like a bit angry.
I: So you see yourself as a bit angry?
K: Yeah that’s with him; he’s a bit angry like that.
I: OK, what about this person, who is he?
K: Gus in EastEnders.
I: Why have you used him?
K: Because he looks like a bit happy.
I: Happy?
K: Yeah he’s like a happy person.
I: So he represents that you see yourself as quite a happy person.
K: Yeah.
I: What about the pictures of the forest and the footballer?
K: The footballer looks like happy because he’s probably, like probably made a goal or
something, and the forest because, don’t look like the forest that much.
I: So basically, you see yourself as quite a happy person but you’re also quite angry//
K: //yeah.
I: Now on how you think other people see you you’ve just used a few pictures of
clothing. What do they represent?
K: Like how people see me like, like some people like, mmm like I can’t explain.
I: You can’t explain. Do you think there is a difference between how you see yourself
and how you think other people see you?
K: A little bit I think.
I: What’s the difference?
K: It’s like how people wear, like what sort of clothes do they wear, how they’re
looking.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
K: I’d say I’m like Pakistani.
I: You would say Pakistani?
K: Yeah.
I: Were you born in this country?
K: Yeah I was born over here; yeah I was born over here.
I: But you would say I’m Pakistani?
K: I would say that.
I: Would you ever call yourself British or do you usually say Pakistani?
K: I’d say British or Pakistani.
I: What one do you think that you identify with more? What one do you think describes
who you are more?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 310
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K: Pakistani.
I: Pakistani. OK that’s brilliant.

(Z=Zakirah, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two separate collages yes?
Z: Yeah.
I: Can we start with ‘how I see myself’?
Z: Yeah.
I: Do you want to go through each of the images that you’ve used and explain why
you’ve used them and what you are trying to express?
Z: With the award picture what I tried to express was that how I’m always like winning
awards and stuff. With the apple I tried to express how I was eating healthily and
keeping to good diet and stuff. With the watch I was trying to express how organised
I was, everyday. With the mirror I was trying to express how obsessive sometimes I
can be.
I: Obsessive about?
Z: Like my hair and stuff.
I: So your looks or is it everything?
Z: Just my looks.
I: OK.
Z: With the clothes I was trying to express like how creative I can be and stuff.
I: What about the guy who is reading Touch [image of a man reading a magazine]?
Z: Yeah I was trying to express how good I can read and that I like, enjoy reading
everyday.
I: OK.
Z: With the spider like how, how like tall I feel and stuff.
I: How?
Z: Tall like I feel.
I: How does the spider represent//
Z: //spiders like long legs, that’s how I feel with long arms and legs.
I: Right.
Z: And with the coffee bit how hyper sometimes I can get, and this woman [image of a
black woman] trying to express how long my hair can be.
I: So let’s move onto how you think other people see you. You’ve used a picture of a
girl in a long coat and a pretty model, what do they represent?
Z: How tall she is and how tall I feel, the girl wearing the coat.
I: And who is that guy [image of a black man]?
Z: He’s a famous rapster.
I: Why have you used him?
Z: Because he looks serious and that’s how I think people see me.
I: And what’s this thing above it? Is that hair?
Z: Um yeah hair. Like how beautiful people like see my hair is.
I: So do you think other people see you as beautiful?
Z: Um sometimes.
I: Do you see yourself as beautiful?
Z: Yeah.
I: You do.
Z: Yeah.
I: Do you think there is a difference between how you think other people see you and
how you see yourself? Because here on this side [how I see myself] you’ve got
creativity and you like reading and about the awards and the achievements, but that’s
not on that side [how I think other people see me]. Do you think other people see that
side of you?
Z: Yeah sometimes they do.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 311
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I: When would they?
Z: When I’ve been like, when I receive letters at home and stuff saying that I’ve
achieved good in some lessons, like when I’m in class and stuff and I’ve been doing
good work and the teacher like says it across the class then that’s nice.
I: Do you think there are any differences between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
Z: Um not really, not that much difference.
I: If there’s not that much what is the difference? What do you think the biggest
difference is?
Z: The biggest difference is about the serious, how serious people see me.
I: So you think people see you as a lot//
Z: //yeah//
I: //more serious than you are. Why do you think that is?
Z: Because of how I act like everyday I come to school and stuff, they see probably the
serious side of me and they just think, they just judge me like the way I look.
I: If there was more time, are there any other pictures that you would have put on your
collage?
Z: Yeah on how other people see me.
I: What would you put?
Z: Think I’d put more serious faces there.
I: More serious faces?
Z: Yeah ’cause that’s the impression that people see of me.
I: And you don’t think that’s the right impression?
Z: No not really.
I: And just finally, how you would usually describe your ethnicity? What do you
usually say?
Z: Mixed race.
I: Mixed race?
Z: Yeah.
I: Do you always say mixed race?
Z: Um yeah, I use that.
I: Were you born in this country?
Z: Yes.
I: Do you ever say I’m British or I’m English, or do you usually say I’m mixed race?
Z: Usually I say that I’m mixed race, some people know that I was born in this country
so that makes me English.
I: But you don’t//
Z: //no//
I: //you don’t say English?
Z: I just say that I’m mixed race.
I: Brilliant. Thank you.

(E=Emily, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve just done one collage yes?
E: Yeah.
I: Is this just how you see yourself or is it all one?
E: How I see myself, yeah.
I: Do you want to go through the images and explain why you’ve used them and what
you are trying to represent with them?
E: Babies ’cause I like, I like babies yeah and the t-shirt because it has two people
hugging and I’m caring at times.
I: It has two people arguing?
E: Hugging.
I: Hugging oh and you’re caring sometimes.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 312
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E: Yeah. 50 Cent’s ’cause his swearing and I swear to a lot can’t help it, and them two
people at the bottom ’cause I’m quite laid back at times and, yeah that one with the
baby because sometimes I talk rubbish yeah and babies talk rubbish and phones
because I’m really chatty yeah.
I: Who is this woman?
E: Um I forgot her name, I can’t remember, but Kanye West is my idol because he like
speaks his mind and I speak my mind.
I: Now you’ve not done anything on how you think other people see you.
E: Yeah.
I: Do you think then that how you see yourself is the same, or did you not do that
because you didn’t know how to or that there wasn’t enough time?
E: ’Cause there wasn’t enough time.
I: If you were going to do that side, do you think there is a difference between how you
see yourself and how you think other people see you?
E: Not really.
I: No. Do you think there are any differences?
E: A bit.
I: Like?
E: I don’t think there is actually.
I: So you think that how you see yourself is//
E: //yeah//
I: //that’s how other people would see you//
E: //yeah.
I: If you had more time and there were any other pictures you could add, what types of
pictures would you have added?
E: I don’t think I would add anymore, I don’t think I would. A funny person maybe
’cause I find myself funny, that’s about it.
I: I’ve also noticed that you’ve used a lot of images of black people.
E: Yeah.
I: Now, for example, if I changed these pictures so they weren’t images of black people
and I maybe used white people or Asian looking people or Chinese//
E: //yeah//
I: // would it still have the same meaning?
E: Yeah, I don’t think the colour matters so much.
I: You don’t think so.
E: No, but for him [Kanye West], like some of the things he says, the way he sings about
like life I don’t think that could be a white man.
I: I don’t know what Kanye West sings about.
E: I can’t explain it like.
I: What do you mean?
E: Right he sings for black people sometimes but the rest of them if you changed them I
think it would work, yeah it would work.
I: It would work except for Kanye West?
E: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how you would usually describe your ethnicity? What do you
usually say?
E: Well if you asked me I would say my mum’s from St. Lucia and my dad’s Jamaican,
but if you ask me about me I say I’m Caribbean.
I: You would say you were Caribbean?
E: Yeah.
I: Were you born in this country?
E: Yeah.
I: Why do you choose to say Caribbean over maybe British or English?
E: I don’t know ’cause it’s, all of my family is Caribbean, my mum was born there my
dad was born in the Caribbean so.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 313
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I: So that’s what you identify with?
E: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(M=Maryum, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one collage [how I see myself]?
M: Yeah.
I: OK can you go through the images and explain why you’ve used the images and what
they mean to you, what you are trying to express with them?
M: The two people [image of two men] is for friendship, that is for calm [image of a man
sitting] sitting there is for calm, that’s for kind [image of a man’s face], that’s for
gentle [image of a man’s face], that’s for quiet [image of a man with head tilting], and
that’s a little cat for cute, that’s for princess [word], that’s for gentle [image of
Winnie the Pooh], that’s for pretty [image of a toy duck], that’s for angel baby
[word], and that’s another one for cute [image of a kitten], that’s for angel and that’s
for cuddly [image of a care bear].
I: OK you’ve got Amir Khan. Why have you used him?
M: For a boxer, because I’m into fighting a little bit as well.
I: And you’ve got//
M: //this is a spaceship [image of Dhoom poster], and that’s because I like motorbikes so
that’s like all my mates like motorbikes as well that’s a motorbike, and that [image of
a man and woman] is for a person that I like.
I: You’ve not done anything on the other side [how I think other people see me], so do
you think how you see yourself is the same as how you think other people see you?
M: A little bit.
I: Where is the difference?
M: It’s like maybe they see a little bit more difference.
I: In what way?
M: About, I see myself as pretty and like maybe they don’t.
I: So you see yourself as pretty and you think other people maybe don’t.
M: Yeah.
I: I’ve also noticed on your collage that you’ve used a lot of Asian people.
M: Yeah.
I: Why is that? (pause) Let’s say, for example, if I changed these pictures and put white
or black people, would it still have the same meaning for you?
M: Yeah.
I: It would?
M: Yeah.
I: But why did you choose Asian people instead of//
M: //because people had cut out everything when I was looking and that.
I: So it’s got nothing more to do with you identifying more with Asian//
M: //no nothing to do with that. I would have used white people, I just couldn’t find the
meaning behind them.
I: So you couldn’t find the meaning behind the images of white people but you could
find the meaning of//
M: //like if I did find them they didn’t have nothing to do with friendship or something
like that.
I: But what I mean is, you couldn’t find the meaning with white images but you could
see the meanings in the images of the Asian people?
M: Yes.
I: So the meaning, what you wanted to express, were they clearer in the pictures of//
M: //yes//
I: //the Asian people that you looked at?
M: They was.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 314
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I: And you couldn’t find them same meanings in the images of//
M: //if I could I did, but then other people took those as well, but other people took those
images that I wanted and stuff like that.
I: OK. So you feel no type of connection with pictures of the Asian people?
M: No.
I: Why do you think the other people picked the images of the white people?
M: ’Cause then they’d have something linked to like, to link it with them.
I: Like?
M: Like they maybe want something to do with kind or meaning behind it so they took it.
I: But why would they take the pictures of the white people? Like you’ve got
friendship there, why do you think that they wouldn’t be able to use that for
friendship?
M: They wouldn’t. It’s just that if whoever finds it you take it quick innit.
I: Er//
M: //like my other mate she did take it and she got some like that as well but she mostly
got white as well and we shared some and she goes to me just take what you get.
I: And how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
M: Asian.
I: Do you say Asian?
M: Pakistani.
I: Pakistani. Do you ever describe yourself as English or British?
M: I would say I’m Asian British.
I: But do you say Asian British or Pakistani?
M: Because I’m Pakistani as well, but if they [other people] proper wanting details then
I’m Pakistani and British.
I: But what do you usually say?
M: Pakistani.
I: So you usually say Pakistani?
M: Yeah.
I: So you don’t usually say British?
M: No ’cause I’m Pakistani.
I: Why do you say Pakistani rather than British or English?
M: Because my family is Pakistani and my background is here I say Pakistani, and if they
say where were you born then I say British I’m London, I was born in London.
I: So do you identify more, do you see yourself more as Pakistani than//
M: //British no. I say as much as I’m British, I’m British ’cause I was born here and I’m
Pakistani ’cause my mum and dad are Pakistani.
I: But what I mean is, why do you call yourself Pakistani when people ask you?
M: Because that’s what I am.
I: You’re Pakistani?
M: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(N=Nasif, aged 14, male; I=interviewer)

(I=interviewer)
I: You’ve just done one collage haven’t you [how I see myself]?
N: Yeah.
I: Do you just want to go through the pictures and explain what they represent?
N: OK the first picture is of a man that is, because he seems like gets something I really
like doing it, and the picture of the motorbike is because I like driving.
I: You like driving?
N: Yeah. And the picture of these two video games ’cause I like playing video games,
and the footballs because I like football, and the phone is because I have many
friends, and the gun that’s to shoot right down because I really like shooting.
I: You like shooting?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 315
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N: Because I’ve got a pellet gun at home.
I: You’ve got a pellet gun?
N: Yeah.
I: If you were going to use some words to describe yourself, what words would you
use?
N: Interesting and a good footballer.
I: Do you think you’re violent?
N: No not that much.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you//
N: //no not really.
I: So you think this could be one collage?
N: Yeah.
I: No differences?
N: No I don’t think so.
I: So you think what you see is what you get?
N: Yeah.
I: Do you think that there’s anything about you that other people don’t see?
N: Like driving, driving cars.
I: OK and just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
N: I’d say I’m Asian British.
I: Do you always say I’m Asian British?
N: Mmm.
I: Where are your parents from?
N: Pakistan.
I: But you say Asian British?
N: Yeah ’cause I was born here.
I: So it’s important for you to say that you’re British?
N: Yeah.
I: Do you ever call yourself Pakistani?
N: Yeah sometimes.
I: Like when?
N: Mmm I don’t know, can’t really remember but sometimes I do.
I: Not all the time?
N: No, not all the time.
I: So what do you call yourself//
N: //I normally call myself Asian British.
I: OK that’s brilliant. Thanks.

(M=Malik, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: So Malik is this one collage or two collages?
M: Two collages.
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to explain what you are trying to
represent with each picture?
M: The monkey, I see myself as a cheeky person and I act a bit silly and I use light guns
and explosions and everything [image of a man firing a gun], and the football, I like
football I like playing it, the football and the ball are together, and I see myself as a
good football player. The car well I would dream of having a very big car so that’s
how I see myself.
I: Now under how you think other people see you you’ve just used a lion//
M: //yeah//
I: //what does that mean?

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M: ’Cause people see me as a really like happy and kind person and everybody says that
to me as well and like in this case the lion looks happy so it represent me, how other
people see myself, how other people see me.
I: So you think people see you//
M: //yeah, yeah//
I: //as a happy and kind person//
M: //yeah.
I: Do you think there are any differences between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
M: Not exactly, well there are a bit.
I: Like?
M: I wear like kind of rap style clothes but I don’t see myself as a gangster, but then
other people do because of the clothes I wear and I don’t really want them to think
that because it’s a difference there.
I: So you think that when people see you wearing them clothes they make the
assumption that you’re a gangster?
M: Mmm but I don’t see myself as a gangster, but other people do because of the clothes
I wear.
I: OK, if you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have added
onto this?
M: Well I would have added like other happy pictures because, as I told you, people see
me as a happy person and, yeah I would have added things like football and cars and
stuff because I’m kind of chatty I chat a lot I’m very talkative, and yeah all those
things.
I: Do you think that there is anything about how you see yourself that other people
don’t see?
M: No.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
M: Asian British.
I: Do you always say Asian British?
M: Most of the time.
I: What would you say if you didn’t say that?
M: Pakistani.
I: Pakistani. What one do you use more often?
M: Asian British because I’m Asian and I was born in Britain.
I: When do you say Pakistani then?
M: I don’t usually say it because I’m half half, I’m Gujaraati and half Pakistani. I’m
Asian and I’m British born so I regard myself as Asian British. If you’re born in
Pakistan or other places then people would regard them as Pakistani.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(J=Joyce, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Shall we start with ‘how I see myself’? Do you just want to go through each of the
images that you’ve used and explain why you’ve used them, what you are trying to
represent, what you are trying to express? So let’s start with the picture of the car.
J: I’ve used the car because I can um (long pause).
I: What are you trying to say? (pause) OK let’s move on, let’s go onto Peggy Mitchell
[EastEnders character].
J: I don’t like her because sometimes I’m grumpy and she’s always grumpy.
I: And what about [image of a rat]//
J: //that when I’m at home I can like be really rude and stressful and everything.
I: And what about this picture of the girl with the baby?
J: ’Cause I like babies a lot.
I: And what about this girl [image of a boxer]?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 317
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J: ’Cause I like boxing and everything like that.
I: OK so let’s move onto how you think other people see you. You’ve only put two
pictures there. You’ve got one picture of Demi [EastEnders character] and then
you’ve got a picture of a little girl. What are you trying to say with them?
J: Well, shy.
I: You look shy?
J: Yeah.
I: So you think other people see you as shy. Is that how you see yourself?
J: Sometimes, it depends who I’m around.
I: It depends on who you’re around?
J: Yeah.
I: Do you think then there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
J: Yeah.
I: What’s the difference?
J: When I see myself, I’m really rude and when other people see me they see I’m kind
and shy.
I: You see yourself as rude?
J: Yeah.
I: Why do you see yourself as rude?
J Because my friends and me are like rude yeah and, it’s just a bit, it just carries around
with me.
I: And if you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have put on?
J: Yeah.
I: Like?
J: That side [how I think other people see me] I don’t know.
I: You don’t know.
J: No I’m not sure.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
J: I’m half English and half Irish.
I: So do you always say half?
J: Yeah.
I: Do you ever say I’m English and that’s it?
J: No.
I: Why do you always say I’m half Irish and half English?
J: Because some people they um, some people think that if you speak their language it
sounds like you’re boring because you say you’re English you’re boring.
I: Ok that’s brilliant.

(Z=Zak, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s go through the pictures on ‘how I see myself’, do you want to explain what you
are trying to represent with them. What you are trying to express about how you see
yourself?
Z: Well over there [image of trainers]//
I: //the trainers//
Z: //yeah I’m trying to express that I’m a sporty kind of person, I love sports (pointing to
image of a football).
I: What about the mobile phone?
Z: I like talk a lot on the phone and stuff.
I: So you’re quite a chatty person?
Z: Yeah.
I: And what about this [image of a car]?
Z: I just love cars.
I: You just love cars.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 318
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Z: Yeah.
I: So on this side [how I think other people see me], is this a collage?
Z: Yeah, ‘talk to the hand’ [words].
I: What does that mean?
Z: Other people think I’m kind of rude.
I: Other people think you’re rude. Do you think you’re rude?
Z: Sometimes.
I: Like when would you be rude?
Z: Like, just like if I’m mucking about with my mates I might say a rude thing or a
couple.
I: Do you think that there is a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
Z: Um not that much.
I: Not that much. So where is the difference?
Z: Er (long pause).
I: Like where might they differ?
Z: I’m not sure.
I You’re not sure. So do you think how you see yourself is how other people see you?
Do you think that both sides are the same?
Z: Um yeah.
I: But you’re not sure?
Z: I’m not sure.
I: And just finally how you would usually describe your ethnicity? (pause) You’ve
written India here//
Z: //yeah//
I: //but how would you describe yourself if somebody asked you?
Z: Asian British.
I: Would you always say Asian British?
Z: No, it’s like if some old man come up to me maybe.
I: So when would you use that and when wouldn’t you use that?
Z: With friends and stuff.
I: What would you say with friends?
Z: Paki.
I: You’d describe yourself as a Pakistani?
Z: Yeah, with friends then innit.
I: So when you’re with friends or with Asian people//
Z: //everyone thinks I’m Paki.
I: So is that why you just say//
Z: //no they just assume it.
I: But what would you call yourself?
Z: Asian British or say I’m from England.
I: You would say that you’re Asian British?
Z: Yeah.
I: But when you’re with your friends you describe yourself as Pakistani?
Z: No, they just think I’m Paki I don’t describe myself, if they ask me I’ll say Asian
British.
I: Why wouldn’t you say I’m Indian?
Z: I don’t know, just.
I: What you identify with more, the Asian or the British?
Z: Both.
I: You see yourself as both?
Z: Yeah.
I: OK that’s great.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 319
available at [Link]
(Balqis, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to just go through the pictures and
explain why you’ve used them and what you’re trying to express? So let’s start with
this flag.
B: I draw it because, er, I Pakistani and my parents and stuff like that.
I: And you’ve got a cricket player here//
B: //because I like cricket.
I: You like cricket.
B: Yeah that’s why.
I: What about this woman here [image of a Muslim woman]?
B: Wear hijab, because I wear hijab and that meant I cover me.
I: So you’ve got the woman to show you wear a hijab [head scarf]. What about this, the
woman [image of a model]?
B: Because I like going out and shopping ’cause I’m like fashionable and I like jewellery
and I like, I like being me.
I: Let’s go onto how you think other people see you. You’ve put ‘angry’, ‘quiet’ and
‘funny’ [words]. Why have you used these here?
B: Because sometimes I might be angry at home and outside and just quiet at school and
funny at home that’s why I put it here.
I: Is this how you see yourself though?
B: Er.
I: Do you see yourself as angry?
B: Yeah a little bit, but I don’t think I’m angry every time but other people think I’m
angry.
I: And you’ve put Allah in the middle//
B: //because I’m Muslim and I want to put it there that’s why.
I: So that’s important for how you see yourself and//
B: //yeah.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between the two sides?
B: Yeah a little bit because I think I’m like quiet and funny but other people think I’m
rude and this thing but just at school because, because you know like I’m new in this
country?
I: Yeah.
B: And then other people bully me and that’s why I a bit angry.
I: So because they bully you?
B: Yeah.
I: Why do they bully you?
B: Because I can’t speak properly English and I’m Pakistani, many people like think that
I’m Muslim and Pakistani and that’s why they curse me.
I: OK and just finally I asked you what your ethnicity is and you said Pakistani. You
were born in Pakistan?
B: Yeah.
I: How long have you been in England?
B: Twelve months.
I: Twelve months. Would you ever call yourself British?
B: I don’t, I don’t want to because I don’t like this country that’s why.
I: You don’t like this country?
B: Yeah.
I: Do you think there is a difference between Pakistani people like you who were born
over there, and Pakistani people who were born over here?
B: Yes bit different because in this country some people, er, know like don’t care about
religion, in Pakistan it’s been this way but in some cities like very hard, very religious
people in Pakistan that’s why.
I: So you think the Pakistani’s here, you don’t have anything in common?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 320
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B: Many things are common but like, er, you know in this country the children don’t like
respect teachers and parents but in Pakistan it’s very big thing, we respect people and
teachers and parents, we have to, don’t act with no good people who think like this.
I: OK and even the Pakistani people here you think don’t//
B: //no, many people do that but many people don’t care about it.
I: Many people don’t care about it.
B: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(J=Jamila, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to explain what you are trying to
express and represent with the images?
J: Yeah I’ve done the heart yeah which represents loving and I’ve done the little baby
that represents caring, and I done Islamic writing, Arabic writing, which represents
I’m a Muslim, and I done a lady like happy ’cause I’m always happy and clothes
which represents I’m fashionable and individual and like to do my own thing.
I: OK, and what about how you think other people see you? You’ve got a parrot, a
butterfly and a little child who looks happy. What are trying to express with them?
J: Well I done a parrot ’cause most people think I’m a bit chatty with them, and
butterfly which like I always fly around I’m always in different places at once yeah,
and I done a little kid smiling which I’m always joking.
I: OK, now on how you see yourself you’ve got religion because you’ve used text from
the Quran//
J: //yeah//
I: //but on how you think other people see you you’ve not done that. Do you think that
other people see you as religious?
J: No.
I: Why not?
J: I don’t know just, I don’t know because mostly people don’t think I’m Muslim
because I look different, they think I’m Indian or something, Hindu.
I: Do you think there’s a difference then between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
J: A bit.
I: What is the difference?
J: The fluttering around and the chatty, I don’t think I’m that talkative but most people
think I talk a lot.
I: Most people do.
J: Yeah.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have put on?
J: Er, I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
J: Yeah I would have put a Hindu symbol which might represent other people thinking
I’m Hindu ’cause mostly when I come here everyone asks if I’m Hindu first.
I: Does that bother you?
J: No they think they, like when they know me and stuff like.
I: So it’s not that big a deal?
J: No.
I: OK and just finally how you would usually describe your ethnicity? What would you
usually say?
J: Asian British.
I: Do you always say you’re Asian British?
J: No, mostly I’m Bengali.
I: Bengali.
J: Yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 321
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I: So you don’t say Asian British you usually say Bengali//
J: //sometimes.
I: But do you usually say Bengali//
J: //yeah.
I: Why is it important for you to say I’m Bengali?
J: ’Cause that’s what I am.
I: So that’s what you identify with//
J: //yeah//
I: //more//
J: //yeah.
I: Is it more important for you to say I’m Bengali than it is for you to say I’m British?
J: Er.
I: Is it more important for you to express to people that you’re Bengali?
J: No it’s not that important.
I: But if it’s not that important then why is it important for you to say I’m Bengali?
J: Um, tricky question, um.
I: Why do you even say I’m Bengali?
I: Um.
I: There’s no right or wrong answer.
J: So other people know where I’m from and what I am.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(J=Jasmine, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve just done one collage yes [how I see myself]?
J: Yeah.
I: Can you explain to me why you’ve used these pictures and what they represent? So
can we start with the flower?
J: I like to smell flowers so that’s why I put the picture there, and I have ‘respect’
[word]. I think I’m pretty.
I: You’ve used Mariah Carey for that?
J: Yeah.
I: Do you think Mariah Carey is pretty?
J: Yeah.
I: And what about the lips?
J: I like make-up.
I: You like make-up.
J: Yeah.
I: Now you’ve not anything on how you think other people see you, why is that?
J: I didn’t have time to finish it.
I: If you did have time more time to work on it, do you think that both sides would be
the same or do you think that they would be different?
J: Not the same.
I: What type of differences would there be? (pause) Like what types of things do you
think other people might see you as that you think, that isn’t how I really am//
J: //quiet.
I: Quiet.
J: Yeah.
I: What else? (long pause, Jasmine shrugs) You can’t think.
J: Mmm.
I: You’ve put Mariah Carey there do you think other people think you’re pretty?
J: Some people.
I: Like who?
J: Um (long pause, no response given).

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 322
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I: OK, and just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity? What would
you usually say?
J: I’m Indian.
I: Were you born in this country though?
J: Yeah.
I: But you’d say I’m Indian?
J: Yeah.
I: Always?
J: Yeah.
I: Do you ever say I’m British or do you ever say that I’m British Asian or do you
always say I’m Indian?
J: Indian.
I: You say you’re Indian. Is it important for you to let people know that you are Indian?
Like do you get annoyed if people call you Pakistani?
J: Yeah.
I: Why?
J: I don’t know.
I: OK, thanks.

(G=Ghazal, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two little collages, so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want
to explain what images you’ve used and why you’ve used them?
G: Yeah I used a dog and a person and a person holding a dog because like to show that
I’m kind of caring like that, I’ve done a chocolate I’ve done that ’cause I love
chocolate.
I: OK.
G: I’ve done McDonald’s like chips and burger for McDonald’s, I like going to
McDonald’s and eating their burgers, and I’ve done a lady with a big smile I done
this because that shows I’m always happy.
I: So let’s go onto how you think other people see you. You’ve just used a picture again
of a lady smiling. Is that the same, because people see you’re happy//
G: //yeah people see me as happy.
I: And what about the watch, what does that represent?
G: When I went through the magazine I found this watch then I thought that’s a bit
fashionable.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
G: Not that much.
I: So where would the differences be?
G: Um.
I: Like do you think there’s anything about how you see yourself that you think other
people just don’t see//
G: //no not really.
I: So you don’t think there’s a difference?
G: No.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
G: Whenever they [other people] ask me I say Turkish ’cause my parents are from
Turkey and I don’t really say British or something like that.
I: So were you born over here?
G: Yeah.
I: You were born over here but you say//
G: //I say I’m Turkish.
I: Why is it important for you to say I’m Turkish instead of saying I’m British or I’m
English?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 323
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G: So that people can exactly know where I’m from and like what place of the world I’m
from and that’s all.
I: So do you identify more with being English or with being Turkish?
G: Turkish.
I: Turkish.
G: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(D=Daniya, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two collages so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Can you just explain
what the images mean to you, what you’re trying to express with them?
D: Well that one, the top one//
I: //the baby//
D: //the baby means that I’m caring. The ring and watch means that I like shopping for
things that suit me and I’m fashionable and yet I’m also into fashion, and the make-up
I like wearing make-up kind of thing. The girl who is like smiling looks like she’s
shy so sometimes I’m shy and stuff, and that one’s [image of a brown haired woman]
happy I’m mostly happy.
I: OK and what about on how you think other people see you because you’ve just used a
picture of one lady and a bird.
D: The bird makes you feel like I’m really, you know birds they fly off everywhere innit
and they’re adventurous and like people think I’m really adventurous just like my
friends think that and like, like I don’t know how to explain but like they think I’m
loud like I speak a lot I say all my feelings out.
I: Who is this lady?
D: It’s just a lady who, who’s like, she’s sticking her head out kind of like, she’s like, I
can’t explain it well.
I: She’s quite proud//
D: //proud, yeah confident, confident.
I: And that’s how you think other people see you//
D: //other people see me.
I: But do you feel proud and confident and like you can speak your own mind?
D: No.
I: But you think other people see you as quite a confident person?
D: Yeah.
I: So do you think that there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
D: Yeah ’cause I’m not really adventurous like going off to places and, and.
I: And other people think you’re a lot more confident and assertive//
D: //yeah//
I: //and maybe a stronger person than you actually feel that you are//
D: //yeah, yeah, I’m like shy and quiet.
I: OK and just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
D: I would describe myself as Pakistani like.
I: You would say Pakistani?
D: Yeah ’cause that’s my culture and like my parents were brought up there like I was
brought up here but still I respect my faith.
I: So is it important to you to say I’m Pakistani?
D: Not really.
I: But then why do you say it?
D: ’Cause, ’cause when people see me they think that I’m Pakistani ’cause I look
Pakistani yeah and stuff but I call myself like both like British and Pakistani, ’cause
like I was brought up here and I speak this language, but also for one or two years I
was brought up there and speak that language so.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 324
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I: But when people ask you, you do usually say I’m Pakistani?
D: Yeah.
I: You do?
D: Yeah.
I: Is there one that you feel more than the other? Do you feel more British than
Pakistani or more Pakistani than British//
D: //more Pakistani.
I: You feel more Pakistani than British?
D: Yeah.
I: OK thanks.

(A=Amira, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: OK Amira you’ve done two collages, so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you
want to explain what pictures you’ve used and why you’ve used them?
A: I’ve used that [image of blue colour] ’cause I think I’m a bit, I’m in a good mood at
times and the grey like I can be a bit horrible when I’m in the mood.
I: OK.
A: And there’s a heart because I’m caring and that is [image of a bank] because I like the
music and, I don’t know.
I: What about that, is it a rapper?
A: Yeah, Snoop Dog.
I: Why have you used Snoop Doggy Dog?
A: He’s good at rap and stuff and I’m always writing and always like thinking about new
stuff to write.
I: Let’s move onto how you think other people see you. You’ve just used the word
‘glamorous’ and a picture of a baby, what do they//
A: //people think of me like cute and glamorous and I look nice and I can be caring at
times.
I: OK//
A: //but I also look like an ordinary person and happy.
I: You’ve just said that you think you look like an ordinary person, but it is also very
obvious that you are religious because you are wearing a headscarf//
A: //yeah//
I: //do you think that people think about that when they see you? Do you think they
might look at you and think she’s Muslim or do you think that isn’t what they see
first? What do you think that they see?
A: Yeah I think they do see that I’m Muslim because of my headscarf and the way I look
and that but I’m not really sure.
I: Do you think when people look at you then that they see the headscarf as a good thing
or a bad thing?
A: They see it as a good thing ’cause they know that I’m religious and you’re part of
your religion and you know what your religion is about.
I: So you think that when people see that that’s a positive thing?
A: Yeah.
I: Do you think there are any differences between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
A: Um.
I: Not just from what you’ve done but what you think.
A: Um (long pause), I don’t know. How do you mean, how other people think of me?
I: Yes. (pause) Do you think they have an impression of you, like when they see you,
that is maybe not how you see yourself?
A: Yeah, but they might have a different opinion to me as in that I can be horrible at
times but other people might think that I can’t be because I’m Pakistani but I can be
kind and caring and stuff like that, that’s what I think.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 325
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I: And just going back to ‘how I see myself’. Your religion is obviously important to
you because you do wear the headscarf, but you’ve not put anything about that under
how you see yourself.
A: I don’t really see myself ’cause, I don’t really see myself as religious ’cause I don’t
really do I always have stuff yeah.
I: So it’s just so normal, who you are, you don’t think about it?
A: Yeah I don’t really think about it ’cause I don’t, OK it is important to me like that. I
don’t think of what others, not like one of the main that I think about it a lot.
I: Right. And just finally how you would usually describe your ethnicity?
A: Asian or Pakistani.
I: What one would you usually use?
A: I’d say Asian, I’m an Asian.
I: You would say Asian, or Pakistani sometimes?
A: Yeah.
I: So when would you say Pakistani and when would you say Asian?
A: If people ask me as in like where do your parents come from and like what culture
you are I always say yeah I’m Pakistani but like if somebody, like if people look at
me and say what type of race and stuff are you I say that I’m Asian and stuff.
I: Were you born over here though?
A: Yeah I’m British Asian.
I: But do you always say British Asian?
A: No I don’t.
I: Do you identify with British or do you identify with being Asian?
A: I would say Asian, I’m just an Asian.
I: That’s what you identify with most?
A: Yeah.
I: Yeah?
A: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(H=Henry, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve just done one collage yes//
H: //yeah//
I: //‘how I see myself’. Do you just want to explain to me why you’ve used each of the
pictures, what you are trying to express about yourself with them? So let’s start with
the mobile, why did you use the mobile?
H: Because I, I like it.
I: You like the mobile.
H: Yeah.
I: OK and what about, you’ve got pictures of cars. Why did you use pictures of cars?
H: Because I like cars and I like racing.
I: So if I was going to use some words to describe the type of person that you see
yourself as, how you see yourself, what words would you use?
H: Um.
I: Like do you think you’re loud, angry, fun or hard-working or, how do you see
yourself?
H: I think like hard-working and not loud.
I: Not loud.
H: No.
I: So quiet.
H: Yeah.
I: Now you didn’t do anything on the other side, do you think that when other people
see you//
H: //yeah//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 326
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I: //do you think the way they see you is the same way as how you see yourself? (pause)
Like when they look at you do you think that they see someone who is quiet?
H: Yeah.
I: You do.
H: Yeah.
I: Do you think that other people might think something, like they might think
something about what type of person you are that you don’t feel you are?
H: Yeah.
I: Like what?
H: I don’t know.
I: And just finally I asked you about your ethnicity and you said Bulgarian.
H: Yeah.
I: Were you born here or were you born in Bulgaria?
H: In Bulgaria.
I: You were born in Bulgaria.
H: Yeah.
I: So how long have you been here? How many years or months?
H: One and seven.
I: Nearly two years?
H: Yeah.
I: Do you say you are Bulgarian or do you think that you are British? What one do you
feel more?
H: Bulgarian and British.
I: You feel both?
H: Yeah.
I: What are the differences, do you think there is a difference between being Bulgarian
and British?
H: Yeah.
I: What’s the difference?
H: I like my country more, and I like it more here.
I: So do you miss your country?
H: No not that much.
I: You don’t miss your country that much, but it’s important for you to say you are from
Bulgaria so people know where you are from?
H: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 327
available at [Link]
Appendix B.3: Millbrook Community School
(D=David, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: So let’s start with your collage David. Do you want to just explain what pictures
you’ve used on the ‘how I see myself’ side and what they mean to you, what they
represent?
D: OK I’ve got a picture of Gordon Brown who is like the Prime Ministers PA or
whatever it is, and he wants someone dead he wants to be//
I: //he wants who dead?
D: Tony Blair.
I: OK.
D: I’ve got a picture of Tony Blair because he’s like all powerful like me.
I: In what way do you think you’re powerful?
D: My voice. I’m very opinionated.
I: Why?
D: Because, because//
I: //do you think Tony Blair is opinionated?
D: Sort of, but he lies a lot as well.
I: He lies a lot.
D: Yeah.
I: About?
D: Policies.
I: So do you think he’s a good figure or a bad figure?
D: Probably a bad one.
I: But that’s part of how you see yourself?
D: Yeah. And this little assassination guy here has some, load of guns, I’m gonna grow
up to be a murderer.
I: A murderer?
D: Mmm.
I: What about the puppy though and the heart and the penguin, because they’re quite
soft compared to the other images?
D: The penguin is just my favourite animal so.
I: Why is it your favourite animal?
D: Don’t know, just is. And the little ‘break my heart’ [words] thing, I don’t know why I
put it on there I just kind of stuck it on there.
I: Does it mean anything to you?
D: No. And the little puppy just, that’s just I’ve got dogs.
I: That you’ve got dogs?
D: Mmm.
I: And what about the ‘touch’ [word]?
D: It’s all shiny and stuff like that so, yeah it’s kind of loud.
I: Loud?
D: Yeah.
I: Does the word touch represent anything for you? Is there a reason why you chose
that word?
D: No.
I: So it was the shininess?
D: Yeah.
I: Let’s move onto ‘how I think other people see me’. Let’s start off with the image of
the tiger, the fly and the eagle. What do they mean?
D: The little tiger means, I don’t know, free and loud and you know do what you want to
do. And the crazy wacky fly thing represents madness and freaky looking.
I: Freaky looking?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 328
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D: Yeah, and mad.
I: What about the eagle?
D: The eagle represents freedom.
I: Freedom?
D: Yeah and you know same as the tiger really.
I: OK and what’s this image [image of a little monkey] here?
D: It’s a monkey.
I: A monkey. What does a monkey mean to you?
D: It represents my Chinese year, monkey, the year of the monkey.
I: And we’ve got Dracula here.
D: Dracula represents kind of like evil.
I: What was that?
D: Evil.
I: Evil in what way?
D: Because I can be really sound, but then if someone gets on the wrong side of me I can
be nasty and evil.
I: You can be sound but//
D: //yeah, but then if they get on the wrong side of me I can be evil.
I: You’ve also got the word ‘wild’ here four times why is that?
D: I don’t know, just wild, it just wild. More wild.
I: Now I’ve noticed on this side, on how you think other people see you, you’ve
actually used quite a lot of images from nature, like animals. Why is that?
D: I’ve just always liked nature so you know, like animals have a lot in common with
people really don’t they personality wise.
I: Animals have a lot in common with people personality wise?
D: Yeah.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you think other people see you and
how you see yourself?
D: A bit yeah but then//
I: //in what way?
D: Because like, I don’t know really just, I don’t know.
I: Because here [how I think other people see me] you’ve put down evil and quite
freaky and wild. Do you think they are positives, that they are good things that
people see in you, or do you think that people see them as bad things?
D: People, some people may see them as bad things and some people may see them as
good because like maybe like the teachers and stuff see me, you know, like as wild or
something like that, see me as bad and stuff like that but really I’m just a kid trying to
have some fun and they don’t understand that so.
I: If you had more time are there any extra pictures that you would have put on your
collage?
D: Yeah.
I: Like?
D: Loads.
I: Such as?
D: Just some different pictures of, maybe some more animals and stuff like that.
I: And just one more thing, I noticed on how you see yourself you’ve put down a
picture that you said represented murder.
D: Yeah.
I: Why do you see that as part of how you see yourself?
D: Because, like, because sometimes I get really angry and stuff like that and I feel like
killing people like Richard [pupil].
I: OK, just one more question, how would you describe your ethnicity?
D: British.
I: Is that how you always describe your ethnicity?
D: Yeah.

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I: That’s excellent. Thank you.

(R=Richard, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Richard, let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to discuss the images
you’ve chosen?
R: I have an image of some fashionable people because to myself I think I’m very
fashionable. I also have a picture of something saying ‘I want a f***ing baby’
[words] because it’s funny and I see myself as a humorous person (laughter in room).
I: What about the Brad Pitt head?
R: I think I resemble Brad Pitt in many ways and the body that I have there I think is
exactly the same except mine has a few more packs on there (laughter in room).
I: Right. Thinking about this side, about how you see yourself, now I know you’ve
been laughing but are these things that you genuinely think you are, or are they things
that you aspire to, that you want to be like that?
R: Well David [pupil] told me to say yes to that I think I am, but I think I aspire.
I: You aspire to//
R: //except that one.
I: Except the humorous one.
R: Yes.
I: So inside you aspire to be fashionable and have a body like that and look like Brad
Pitt?
R: Yes.
I: OK let’s move onto this side ‘how I think other people see me’. Would you like to go
through the images here?
R: Well I have a picture of Matt Lucas on one of his sketches of Andy [Little Britain
character] the matey in the wheelchair because I think people find me quite funny at
times. Also have some words saying ‘lots on his plate’ because I think people see me
as fat. I also have a picture of Dafydd Thomas [Little Britain character] because he’s
gay and people sometimes see me as gay. I have a picture of Kat Slater [EastEnders
character] because she’s feisty and people think I’m feisty, and then I have a picture
of Hitler because people think I am cruel at times to certain people.
I: And you’ve also written in the middle. What does this say?
R: ‘Me, myself and I’ and ‘King Richard’.
I: Now looking at your collage there’s quite a difference between this side [how I think
other people see me] and how I see myself. What do you think on the whole people
see you as?
R: Um.
I: Do you think they have a high opinion of you or a negative opinion?
R: A bit of both, it depends on who it is. Some people have a low opinion.
I: Such as who?
R: People like Prateech, Hannah Pond [pupils] and people I don’t like, and some people
such as David [pupil] has a positive image about me.
I: And you’ve also used images of women to show fashionable [how I see myself].
R: Yeah.
I: Why did you choose to women and not images of men?
R: Because I couldn’t find any men that looked fashionable.
I: You couldn’t find any men that looked fashionable?
R: No. Not like that anyway (laughing).
I: Also the Hitler image and ‘cruel at times’ [words], when can you be cruel? Or do you
feel you’re a cruel person?
R: Sometimes to Hannah Pond [pupil] yes because we don’t get along so I quite a lot
cruel to her and she’s cruel back. To Prateech [pupil], I admit I will admit I am a bit
racial to him at times I have been.
I: Why are you racist to him?

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R: I don’t know I’ve just been like, if I’ve been sat next to him I’ve said to David [pupil]
before he smells or curry or something just mucking around which, if you think about
it you know it is out of order but at the time it was just a funny thing to say but it
doesn’t mean anything.
I: OK. If you had more time to work on your collage are there anymore pictures that
you would have liked to have put on there?
R: Yes, I would have put a picture of Martin Luther King.
I: Why?
R: He was a hero because he stood up for what he believed is right.
I: And which side [of the collage] would you have put that on?
R: In the middle.
I: In the middle?
R: Yes.
I: And what else?
R: I cannot think at the moment, I can only think of Martin Luther King.
I: Also, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
R: Richard come from China (mimicking Chinese accent).
I: Why do you say Chinese?
R: Because it’s funny (mimicking Chinese accent) .
I: Where are your parents from?
R: British, Britain (mimicking Chinese accent).
I: They are both British?
R: Yeah (mimicking Chinese accent).
I: But you say Chinese?
R: Yeah (mimicking Chinese accent).
I: And you say Chinese because?
R: It’s funny (mimicking Chinese accent).
I: It’s funny?
R: Yeah (mimicking Chinese accent).
I: So you regard being Chinese as being funny? You think being Chinese is funny?
R: I think if teachers say where come from I’ll always say Chinese and put on an accent
because I think it’s funny at the time.
I. OK, thank you.

(D=Dan, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: So Dan, could you start with ‘how I see myself’ and just explain what images you’ve
used and why?
D: I’ve used, um//
I: //what’s this an image of?
D: PlayStation portable because I like playing like games and on PlayStation.
I: And you’ve also got an image of an eagle there.
D: Because I’m not like, I don’t really talk much but I normally just watch so.
I: So you don’t really talk much and you just observe//
D: //yeah.
I: So is that why you’ve got the word ‘quiet’ there?
D: Yeah, quiet.
I: Now let’s go onto ‘how I think other people see me’. You’ve not used any images
you’ve only got the words ‘quiet’ and ‘tall’. Why is that?
D: Because probably people don’t really know me that much because I don’t speak
(pause).
I: Let’s move back to ‘how I see myself’. If you could have put more images on this to
express how you see yourself what types of things, if you had more time, would types
of things would you have put down?
D: Um (long pause), I don’t know.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 331
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I: Because so far all I can see is that you like PlayStation and that you’re quiet and that
you observe. Is there any more to how you see yourself?
D: (long pause) I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
D: (long pause) No.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
D: English.
I: OK, thanks Dan.

(S=Sean, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Sean, would you like to start with ‘how I see myself’ and just go through the pictures
please?
S: I’ve got pictures of PSP and controllers because I like gaming.
I: PSP and//
S: //controllers .
I: Controllers. Because?
S: Because I like gaming and things like that.
I: Gaming?
S: Yeah.
I: OK.
S: And I’ve got pictures of cars and the word ‘Porsche’ because cars runs in my family
and I like cars. I’ve got a picture of Morrissey because I like his music and I like that
type of music and things and I’ve got the colour black because that’s my favourite
colour.
I: Let’s go back to the picture of Morrissey. What exactly is it about Morrissey and his
music that you like?
S: I like the way he, the way he writes and how it means things to him, that’s important
for me.
I: And are there any particular songs or albums or messages that you get from
Morrissey that really stand out for you?
S: Yeah there is like one of them Meat is Murder that is getting cross about killing
animals and things, it’s not very nice and things and that’s what made most people
become vegetarians.
I: Are you a vegetarian?
S: No.
I: So you’re not vegetarian but you respect//
S: //I respect his view of it.
I: What is it about Morrissey’s character that you like?
S: I like the fact that he keeps himself to himself and he keeps himself as a mysterious
and private person.
I: As a mysterious person.
S: Yeah.
I: And do you think that is a good quality or bad quality?
S: Good quality because you don’t want anyone to know anything about you.
I: Do you feel you share that in common with Morrissey?
S: Kind of.
I: In what way?
S: In sometimes I keep myself to myself and am private but not always, but mainly yes
so it’s kind of the same thing.
I: When wouldn’t you?
S: When I’m trying to get to know people and things like that I suppose.
I: OK let’s move over to ‘how I think other people see me’. Can you just explain what
is there for me please?

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S: I put the word ‘queen’ because some people say I’m posh because to do with my
family and everything.
I: And what’s the ‘evil’ [word] there for?
S: Well some people say that I’m evil sometimes so.
I: In what way? Or do you understand why they say that?
S: Yeah I understand why they say it but they’re just messing about sometimes.
I: So they are usually saying it just because they are messing about?
S: Yeah, or they are annoyed at me.
I: So it’s just a sort of a form of abuse that they are throwing at you, like a name that
they are calling you?
S: Yeah.
I: What about this little picture here [image of flies]?
S: Well most people say I’m annoying so I put pictures of flies because people find them
annoying.
I: Do you think you are annoying?
S: Sometimes, not always though.
I: If you had more time to work on this collage are there any other images that you
would have liked to have put down?
S: Yeah pictures of animals and things like that.
I: Pictures of animals and things like that. What types of animals?
S: Not sure about that.
I: What would the animals mean and which side would they go on?
S: They’d go on both sides.
I: And what would they be used to express, why would you be using them?
S: Just need to express the way I am.
I: Can you give me an example?
S: Intelligent and things.
I: Intelligent and things.
S: Yeah.
I: I’ve also noticed that, apart from Morrissey, you haven’t used many images of media
celebrities or films or programmes. Why is that?
S: Because I don’t tend to watch things like that, I’m not interested.
I: So is Morrissey the only person who you feel you can relate to and expresses part of
you?
S: Yeah and other singers like that.
I: Such as?
S: Nick Cave.
I: Nick Cave. So if you had an image of Nick Cave you’d have maybe put an image of
him next to Morrissey?
S: Yeah.
I: Just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: British.
I: Do you always say British?
S: Yeah.
I: That’s brilliant. Just one more question about ‘posh’ [how I think other people see
me], do you think when other people see you as posh that’s a positive or a negative?
S: I’m not sure, it depends how they aim it at me.
I: How they aim it at you?
S: Yeah, the sound when they’re angry you know or something or they’re just messing
about.
I: So it depends on the context, when they say it and how they say it to you?
S: Yeah.
I: Do you see yourself as posh?
S: Not really.
I: No?

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S: No.
I: OK that’s brilliant. Thanks.

(D=Dean, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve got a few images under ‘how I see myself’. Could you explain these ones
first please?
D: I’ve got the PSP, I’m into gaming. ‘Loud but quiet’ [words] because I’m quite loud,
sometimes quiet. Blue is my favourite colour.
I: I’ve noticed in the middle you’ve got a picture of, I think he’s a Chinese man. Why
have you used that?
D: People sort of normally call me Chinese.
I: People//
D: //Chinese. They call me Chinese.
I: They call you Chinese. Why do you think they call you Chinese?
D: Because of my Asian background.
I: You’ve got an Asian background?
D: Yeah.
I: Do you think when people call you Chinese that they are saying it in a positive or a
negative way?
D: I’m not sure. More like they’re just asking.
I: They’re just asking?
D: Yeah.
I: So what else does that picture represent [image of a Chinese man]? What are you
expressing with that?
D: I’m not sure.
I: You’re not sure?
D: Yeah.
I: Does that picture reflect how you see yourself?
D: Yeah. Long hair, glasses, Asian.
I: Long hair, glasses, Asian. What about his dress?
D: Normally wear shirts, I used to wear a tie a lot and jacket//
I: //and a?
D: There’s a jacket.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
D: British, but I have a lot of Asian background.
I: In what way do you have an Asian background?
D: I’m not sure what it is.
I: You’re not sure of//
D: //yeah.
I: But you always call yourself British?
D: Yeah.
I: Would you ever feel, in a situation, you might use the word Asian to describe
yourself?
D: No, not unless I was talking about my parents or something like that.
I: So when you’re talking about your parents you use the word Asian, but when you talk
about yourself you say British?
D: Yeah.
I: That’s excellent. Thank you very much.

(J=Jane, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Now you’ve done two different collages here. Can we start with ‘how I see myself’?
Can you just explain what these pictures are and why you chose them, what they
mean to you?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 334
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J: Because they’re my favourite animals really.
I: Right, so you’ve used a picture of a tiger, a cheetah and some wolves, but why are
they your favourite animals? What is it about them that you like?
J: Just nice (laughs).
I: They’re just nice?
J: Yeah.
I: Do you think the animals represent anything, any type of qualities that you like?
J: Cheetah’s fast, I like that.
I: Cheetahs are fast.
J: Yeah.
I: What I’m trying to say is are there any qualities that these animals have that you can
also see in yourself? Like you just said you think Cheetahs are fast//
J: //yeah, I’m a fast runner.
I: You’re a fast runner.
J: Yeah.
I: Is there anything else about these animals//
J: No.
I: OK, let’s move onto ‘how I think other people see me’. Would you just like to
explain what we have here?
J: Most people think I’m fun and stuff.
I: Most people think//
J: //think I’m fun and everything.
I: And you’ve got the word ‘fun’ here. You’ve also got this picture here [cartoon]
which looks like it’s been taken from a Chinese or Japanese cartoon. Why have you
used this picture?
J: Because I draw like that. That’s how I draw.
I: So you feel that other people see you as quite an arty-type of person?
J: Yeah.
I: You’ve also got the word ‘calm’ here. Why do you think other people see you as
calm?
J: Because I don’t get stressed sort of really.
I: You don’t get stressed?
J: No.
I; And you’ve written down that you’re a ‘good friend’ [words]. Now in amongst the
arty and the good friend and the calm and the fun, you’ve also written [word
‘weird’]//
J: //because people think I’m weird.
I: Because people think you’re weird?
J: Yeah.
I: Why do you think people think you are weird?
J: Well because like, I do stuff differently.
I: What do you mean by stuff?
J: Act different.
I: Act different. Do you think that you act differently?
J: Yeah, to most people yeah.
I: But do you think that you’re acting differently is weird?
J: Not to me no.
I: Not to you?
J: No.
I: You just said that if you act differently people think you are weird. Now do you think
on the whole that if people behave like that, say I have a group of people and one
person is acting differently//
J: //they wouldn’t call me weird no, but they just do think I’m weird.
I: OK. If you had more time are there anymore pictures that you would have put down?
J: Yeah.

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I: Such as?
J: I don’t know I couldn’t find any.
I: But is there anything else you would have liked to have expressed about how you see
yourself, because here you’ve got your favourite animals. Is that all as you see
yourself as?
J: No.
I: So what else would you have liked to have put there?
J: Kind and nice so.
I: Kind and nice?
J: Yeah but I couldn’t find anything.
I: If you could, can you think of any images that you would have used to represent kind
and nice?
J: No, I couldn’t think of anything that I could put for that sort of thing.
I: I’ve also noticed on your collage that you’ve not used any pictures of films or famous
people. Is there a reason for that?
J: No.
I: No?
J: I just didn’t.
I: You just didn’t.
J: No I couldn’t find any.
I: You couldn’t find any you liked?
J: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how do you describe your ethnicity? (pause) You wrote British, is
British how you always usually describe yourself?
J: Yeah I come from here so I just say that.
I: You were born in England?
J: Yeah.
I: So you call yourself British?
J: Yeah.
I: Where are your parents from?
J: My dad is from Singapore and my mum is from here.
I: Your dad is from Singapore and your mum is from here.
J: Yeah.
I: So your dad has an Asian background.
J: Yeah.
I: Do you ever call yourself Asian?
J: Don’t think it. No, I do know I’ve got sort of like Asian sort of, but don’t like to
describe myself as it.
I: You don’t describe yourself as that you describe yourself//
J: //no I just say one thing.
I: Say one thing?
J: Yeah.
I: British?
J: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant. Thanks.

(N=Natalie, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two collages here. Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’, would you like to
just talk through the images?
N: I like that picture [image of a dove] most of all because//
I: //the picture of the dove//
N: //yeah because I’m a free spirit so I like doing and saying wild things.
I: Wild things.
N: Trying new stuff.

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I: OK and what about the squirrel there?
N: I like animals.
I: You like animals?
N: Yeah and I like nature.
I: What about the picture of Charlotte Church?
N: She’s a famous person and some people have their like an idol to look up to.
I: Do you identify with Charlotte Church?
N: Yeah. I don’t agree with the stuff in the press it’s just//
I: //with what stuff in the press?
N: Like they say that she’s bad and I just like Charlotte Church.
I: What is it about her that you identify with and look up to?
N: Her singing.
I: Just her singing? What about her fashion and the way she looks?
N: Yeah, she doesn’t look exactly like a pop star I think she just looks like herself she
just doesn’t make herself look like what anyone wants her to. Yeah, she doesn’t want
to act like anyone else.
I: Is that a quality that you like about Charlotte Church? Is that what you see in
yourself?
N: Yeah. I’m not told to do what anyone else I just do what I want to do.
I: OK let’s move onto this image of a little black girl. Why have you used this here?
N: Because it’s a little kid and I like, I don’t know I just thought it was cute and I think
I’m cute.
I: And you’ve also got the words//
N: //’saucy’//
I: //‘saucy’ and ‘pussycat’. Why are these words here?
N: I don’t know I just I saw them in the paper and they, they kind of stand out from the
rest of the writing.
I: So//
N: //I like things that stand out like I stand out.
I: So it’s not so much the words and what they mean//
N: //no. They’re the words that are big and bold and they make it stand out.
I: And that follows through I assume in the mobiles and the ‘loud and proud’ [words]?
N: Yeah.
I: What are you trying to say with loud and//
N: //I’m very loud and I don’t care about if I’m quiet it’s just that I’m very, Jane [pupil]
will tell you I’m loud.
I: What was that?
N: I’m loud.
I: You’re loud?
N: Yeah and I don’t mind people saying you have to be quiet, I can be quiet sometimes
but I prefer being loud and out with what I think with other people.
I: OK let’s move onto this side; how you think other people see you. Now it’s
interesting because you’ve not used any pictures you’ve just used words, so would
you like to go through the words?
N: I think I’m sometimes calm, I’m not always I’m normally very angry sometimes.
Sometimes I feel mental and I can be wicked and I can just make all my friends laugh
if they’re grumpy. I’m spoilt sometimes, sometimes like my friends spoil me and my
parents, I’m a brat to them and I can really care for people if they’re really upset I can
help them.
I: So you’re loving?
N: Yeah.
I: On this side [how I think other people see me] if there were any pictures that you
could have used here, what pictures would you have used?
N: Something that stands out, like other people standing in the background and someone
standing right in the middle looking really unusual.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 337
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I: I’ve also noticed apart from Charlotte Church you’ve not used any other pictures of
famous people. Why is that?
N: I’m not really into famous people. I don’t look at the gossip, I just like sometimes
being quiet with the gossip.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you.
N: A little bit of difference yeah.
I: What is the difference?
N: Um.
I: What would you say is the difference?
N: About the famous people?
I: No, just overall//
N: //I don’t know, there’s not much difference.
I: So do you think there is not that much of a difference?
N: I don’t think there’s not a lot of difference they’re the same kind of yeah, I think that
both sides are nearly the same.
I: Both sides are nearly the same?
N: Yeah.
I: Is that how you feel, that both sides are the same? Or do you think that there are
differences that maybe there are things in how you see yourself that other people
don’t see, or that there are things that other people see that you don’t see in yourself?
N: No I think other people see me as I don’t see myself, sometimes I don’t see or hear
what other people think of me.
I: Sometimes you don’t?
N: I don’t know what other people think of me.
I: Does that bother you//
N: //not really. I don’t care what other people think sometimes.
I: Sometimes, you keep saying sometimes. When would you care?
N: When I most care like, when you’re asking what your friends think and they’re not
giving you an honest opinion and they think it’s a joke or if you really ask them if
they do care.
I: OK and just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
N: British.
I: British.
N: Yeah.
I: You always describe yourself as British?
N: Yeah.
I: Just so I know, what does being British mean to you? What is British?
N: I don’t know, it’s just I think where you’re born that’s where you must put your
ethnicity.
I: So it’s where you are born?
N: Yeah.
I: And?
N: I don’t know it’s just where you’re born and where you grow up and I’ve been
brought up in Britain.
I: OK that’s excellent. Thank you.

(L=Lisa, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two separate collages here. Can we just start with ‘how I see myself’
and can you just explain what pictures you’ve used and why you’ve used them?
L: Well I’ve used these two pictures to explain what type of music I’m into.
I: Who are they?
L: That’s 50 Cent and that’s The Game.
I: The Game?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 338
available at [Link]
L: Yeah.
I: OK.
L: And a love heart to show that like I care and I’m loving and everything and a candle
to show that I can relax and like I’m really peaceful.
I: Yes, peaceful.
L: And a little tiger as well, animals and Man United as well they’re my favourite team.
I: Is it tigers specifically that you like or is it//
L: //it’s like every animal but tigers just show its like, I don’t know, just tigers.
I: What is it about tigers that you like?
L: That how they’re so vicious but they look so cute at the same time.
I: Do you think that there are any qualities about a tiger that reflect how you see
yourself? Have they got any characteristics or qualities that you think you share?
L: Well everyone thinks I can be nasty when I wanna be and practically I won’t change.
I: Now just going back to 50 Cent and The Game, what type of music is it that you are
into?
L: I like rap music and R&B and everything like that.
I: Rap music and R&B.
L: Yeah.
I: If you could have put anymore pictures onto this side [how I see myself], what
pictures would you have used?
L: Um.
I: Or are there any that you would have used?
L: Not really.
I: No?
L: No.
I: OK we’ll move onto this side, ‘how I think other people see me’. I’d like to start off
with this picture of the young black girl. Why is that there?
L: Because I love little kids and just like little babies and everything and it just shows
that I care about all the younger ones.
I: And why did you use that picture of that girl in particular?
L: Because she just caught my eye and she’s like very pretty and everything so.
I: And we’ve also got Britney Spears. Why is Britney Spears there?
L: Well one of my friends said that whenever she listens to Britney Spears I just come
into her head so I thought well if that’s what she sees me as and I put it there.
I: What do you think it is about Britney Spears that makes your friend think about you?
L: Well I like singing and Britney Spears altogether so.
I: Do you think that’s a good thing being thought of as Britney Spears?
L: Yeah.
I: What characteristics does she have that you think are good, so you don’t mind if
people see you as//
L: She’s pretty and like she’s famous and she just like, she’s good at acting good at
singing and everything like that so.
I: You’ve also got the words ‘loud’ and ‘funny’. Why do you think other people see
you as loud and funny?
L: Because I’m always laughing at like everything I say and like joke about everything
and I’m always shouting a lot as well so.
I: Do you think that there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
L: Yeah.
I: What are the differences?
L: Well, I’m loud and thing but they [other people] just don’t see the side of me that my
family does.
I: Because here [how I see myself] I noticed that you’ve got the candle and you’ve got
the heart so that’s actually quite, as you said, quite calming and relaxing and loving,

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 339
available at [Link]
 and that doesn’t seem to feature on this side [how I think other people see me]. Do
you think that that’s the biggest difference?
L: Yeah.
I: Does it ever bother you that other people don’t see that?
L: Sometimes.
I: When would it bother you?
L: Sometimes I just think about it and realise that no-one else can see it. It makes me
think.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe ethnicity?
L: English.
I: On your form you wrote British, but which one would you usually use?
L: English.
I: You’d say English.
L: Yeah.
I: Why would you use English as opposed to British?
L: I don’t know it’s just, I think it’s easier to say because British sounds posh.
I: British sounds posh?
L: Yeah.
I: And English?
L: I don’t know.
I: What does being English mean to you?
L: That I’m alright with that.
I: That you’re//
L: //I’m alright with that but//
I: // you’re alright with that?
L: Yeah, but I’ve got Welsh in me as well.
I: But you don’t mention that?
L: No I don’t want anybody to know I’m Welsh.
I: Why not?
L: Because of their reputation?
I: What is their reputation?
L: Um (laughter).
I: So you call yourself English?
L: Yeah.
I: That’s excellent.

(S=Sarah, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to talk through some of the pictures
that you’ve used? Let’s start with Mariah Carey.
S: I have a picture of her because I like her music and stuff like that, her voice and
listening to music.
I: You’ve also got a flower and a heart there. What do they mean?
S: Like the heart is for a lot of loving, and that’s [image of flowers] that’s like loving
for, that’s like loving.
I: OK so the flower is also for loving?
S: Yeah.
I: Who is that [image of Nikki Sanderson]?
S: Candice.
I: Candice from Coronation Street.
S: Yes.
I: Why did you use a picture of her?
S: To show that I’m, I think I’m quite trendy in clothes that I wear and she’s got trendy
clothes on.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 340
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I: Let’s go back to Mariah Carey. Now you said you like her music, is there anything
else about her as a person that you like?
S: Pretty, I don’t know.
I: When you see her in interviews or you see her talk, do you think that she’s a nice
person?
S: Yeah.
I: Why do you think she’s a nice person?
S: I don’t know.
I: So you just like her, you like her music. Do you like her fashion?
S: Yeah.
I: So is there part of you that sees yourself as identifying with Mariah Carey, or do you
see her as somebody that you look up to and aspire to be like?
S: Aspire to be like.
I: In what ways?
S: Just like pretty and a singer and things like that.
I: Pretty and singing.
S: Yeah.
I: OK let’s move onto ‘how I think other people see me’. You’ve used a picture of a
little baby, a black child, a little boy. Why is that there?
S: Just to show I’m caring and I love children and other people think that I’m good with
children.
I: Other people think you’re good with children.
S: Yeah they think I’m caring.
I: You’re caring.
S: Yeah.
I: We’ve also got a butterfly here and some more flowers. What do these mean?
S: I’ve put more flowers ’cause other people think I’m loving and a butterfly because
I’m quiet out with my mates most of the time I’m quiet.
I: You’re quiet?
S: Yeah.
I: Let’s go to Sharon Osbourne.
S: People say I can be cheeky sometimes and I think Sharon’s quite cheeky so I put a
picture of her.
I: And we’ve got Jordan as well. Is it Jordan here or Katie Price that you think other
people see you as?
S: Katie. People think that I’m pretty and I, I just put a picture of her because I think
she’s quite pretty.
I: Is there anything else about her, any other characteristics that her or Sharon Osbourne
have, like anything about their personality, that you think people look at you and
they see that in your personality as well?
S: Don’t know.
I: Because I’ve noticed here you’ve used a picture of Sharon Osbourne. Now Sharon
Osbourne can be quite loud but you’ve got the picture of a butterfly and//
S: //yeah that’s from I’m quiet when I’m with my mates and that, but then sometimes I
can be cheeky and I thought Sharon’s quite cheeky.
I: Right and you’ve also, in the middle, you’ve got words explaining what all the
images mean. Now do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself
and how other people see you?
S: I don’t know.
I: Because I’ve noticed here you’ve got loving on both sides, we’ve got pretty on both
sides, we’ve not got the fashionable on how you think other people see you. Do you
think other people see you as fashionable?
S: Yeah.
I: You do?
S: Yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 341
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I: But we’ve not got the relaxing?
S: Because like when I’m at home alone and that I’m a lot relaxed and when I’m with
my mates and things like that I’m not like it, I don’t relax and stuff.
I: So do you think that other people don’t see that side of you?
S: No.
I: They don’t.
S: No.
I: Is that because you don’t want them to or because//
S: //I don’t know, I just prefer to be on my own.
I: You just//
S: //prefer to be on my own when I’m like relaxing.
I: If you could add any more pictures to this what pictures would you add and why?
S: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
S: No.
I: Just finally, how do you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: English.
I: English. Do you always say English?
S: Yeah.
I: Do you ever describe yourself as British?
S: No.
I: Why not?
S: I just don’t.
I: You just don’t.
S: English comes into my head first.
I: OK that’s brilliant thanks.

(L=Laura, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to start with ‘how I see myself’?
L: Yeah.
I: What do the images mean?
L: Well I’ve got like the cat and the bird because sometimes, you know I get a little you
know, don’t feel as you know as happy as you normally do. If I get upset about
something I sometimes take it out on other people.
I: So that’s the cat and the bird. You’ve also got some more pictures of nature like the
bears and the wolves and the other little cat and the beaver, what do they all
represent?
L: Well the bear was like have babies and things it’s I, I do like being in a group and if
I’m with my friends and that I just I’m more socialised with family and that, more
comfortable being in a group.
I: And what about the wolves?
L: Sometimes like a wolf will sometimes go by itself and I like to be alone, I don’t feel
as tatty and that, you’d rather just sit by yourself.
I: What about these pictures, is that Orlando Bloom?
L: Yeah.
I: What does Orlando Bloom mean?
L: I don’t know, I just like him (laughs).
I: What about this image [image of Kelly Clarkson]? Who is it?
L: Kelly Clarkson I think.
I: Why have you put there?
L: I just like, I like her singing and most of her songs are like basically what she does
and things.
I: What she does?
L: Just singing and everything.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 342
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I: OK and what about her [image of Catherine Tate]?
L: Don’t know what her name is but she does a comedy sort of thing so//
I: //am I bothered [catchphrase of comedian]?
L: Yeah (laughing). Sometimes I sort of feel as though I could be quite funny and then
other times you know.
I: What does this mean [image of a man kissing another man on cheek]?
L: I sort of, I care about my friends and everything.
I: What about this pot of yoghurt?
L: I don’t know, I can’t remember, I had a reason I can’t remember now.
I: Let’s just move to this side [how I think other people see me]. We’ve got Jennifer
Aniston, why is she there?
L: It’s not really because of her it’s because of the face she’s making, like because I
thought sometimes people can see me as quite moody sometimes and like you know
one minute you’re happy and the next minute your like nah//
I: Quite moody?
L: Yeah.
I: Right. What about the girl in the middle [image of Raven Baxter]?
L: Oh she does like a humour thing as well. I just thought people can see me as funny
sometimes.
I: Do you think she’s pulling a funny expression there, do you think that’s a funny face
that she’s pulling?
L: I don’t know, not really, but she has this show that’s funny so.
I: She has this?
L: Show.
I: Who is it?
L: I don’t know what her name is, I think yeah, I don’t know what her real name is but
she has this show called//
I: //That’s So Raven.
L: Yeah.
I: What about the cat again on this side?
L: Well I like cats and like all animals as well but, some people said to me I don’t know
why that I remind them of a cat for some reason and I thought oh well I might as well
put it down.
I: What do you think it is about a cat//
L: //I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
L: No.
I: If there were any more pictures you could have put on this side [how I think other
people see me], what would you have put?
L: I’d have put, sometimes people can see me as all caring sometimes.
I: Caring?
L: Yeah and I don’t know.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
L: No.
I: You don’t?
L: No.
I: So you maybe would have had similar images on both sides?
L: Yeah.
I: So it could have been one big collage?
L: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how do you describe your ethnicity?
L: I normally go full detail about what I’m half this or something.
I: OK but what would you usually say?
L: I’d usually say that, I’d go into a big story about it.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 343
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I: You put English on your sheet.
L: No I put Irish on the sheet.
I: You ticked White Irish, but you put that you describe yourself as English.
L: Yeah.
I: Now if somebody asked you your ethnicity, would you usually just say I’m English?
L: Yes I’d have to whether I just say the whole story without that I just say nah I say
England.
I: But do you see yourself as English?
L: No.
I: What do you see yourself as?
L: Irish mainly.
I: Irish mainly.
L: Yeah.
I: So why do you just say English?
L: Well I think if you’re Irish it’s easier to say you’re English ’cause you live in England
so.
I: So it’s just easier for you?
L: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant. Thank you.

(J=Jackie, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Can we start with ‘how I see myself’? Would you like to explain what pictures you
have used and why?
J: I used Lethal Bizall ’cause he’s loud and everyone says I’m loud and that’s how I see
myself and then gobby.
I: What about Eminem?
J: Just like his music.
I: You just like his music. Is there anything about him that you think//
J: No.
J: No?
J: I used a phone because I always talk.
I: Who is this [image of Sarah Michelle Gellar]?
J: Sarah Michelle Gellar because she’s skinny.
I: Because she’s skinny. And we’ve also got 50 Cent and ‘love’ [word], what are you
trying to say here?
J: I just like 50 Cent’s music and love for loving.
I: OK and what is ‘Beattie’ [word]?
J: A football player.
I: And what is it about him?
J: I just like him.
I: OK let’s move onto ‘how I think other people see me’. Who is this?
J: That’s her [Sarah Michelle Gellar] again.
I: Sarah Michelle Gellar//
J: //yeah because skinny.
I: And what about these things here, you’ve got the words ‘dancing’ and ‘girl’ and
‘cheeky’, is that how you think other people see you? What do you mean by the
‘dancing’?
J: I don’t know.
I: We’ve also got a picture of an eye here, why did you use that?
J: I just thought other people see you and I just thought I’d do that.
I: And what does the//
J: //make-up.
I: Make-up. Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how
you think other people see you?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 344
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J: No.
I: If you had more time are there anymore pictures that you would have liked to put on?
J: I would have liked to have put some more pictures on there [how I think other people
see me] but I don’t know which ones.
I: But would they be different to how you see yourself?
J: Some of them probably.
I: And what areas would that be?
J: People probably think I’m shy, I don’t know the way I talk or something.
I: Are you shy?
J: No.
I: But you think other people think you are shy?
J: Yeah.
I: Just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
J: British.
I: Do you always say British?
J: English.
I: English. Which one, English or British?
J: English.
I: English. Why would you say English and not British?
J: Just England.
I: What do you mean?
J: Um (laughter and pause).
I: You would just say English?
J: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(J=Jack, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: I notice on how you see yourself you have a big tiger here. What does the tiger
mean?
J: Laziness because it looks like he’s laying down.
I: Laziness?
J: Mmm.
I: What about these other pictures?
J: I used a fox as sly as I’m kind of sly sometimes and the crocodile has got a big
mouth, sometimes I’m big mouthed.
I: Sometimes you’re big mouthed?
J: Yeah.
I: You’ve also got loving here, is loving on this side [how I see myself]?
J: Yeah.
I: So you see yourself as//
J: //loving, and I’ve got a hurricane ’cause hurricanes are destructive and when I’m
angry I’m like a destructive path, like kick everything out like.
I: You kick everything out of your way?
J: Yeah I punch it and that lot.
I: You punch it?
J: Yeah go mental.
I: You go mental. Right, so let’s move onto this side, how you think other people see
you. Would you like to explain what these images are?
J: I’ve got a dinosaur ’cause they’re quite loud and I think people see me as quite loud.
I’ve got ‘geeky’ because I like to read and people think people who like to read are
geeky.
I: OK.
J: And I’ve got the seven dwarfs because the film’s funny and people think I’m funny.
I: People think you’re funny.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 345
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J: Mmm.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you think other people see you and
how you see yourself?
J: Yeah.
I: What is the difference?
J: I think I see myself as almost perfect in that kind of way.
I: Do you think that these [images on how I see myself] are almost perfect though?
J: Some of them are.
I: Such as?
J: The sly and the loving.
I: Why is sly perfect?
J: Because sly, it’s like you can get away with things and not many people can do that.
I: OK so you think that’s a good quality?
J: Mmm.
I: If you had more time are there any pictures that you would like to add?
J: Yeah.
I: What ones?
J: I’d like to add on this side [how I see myself] say a book.
I: A book.
J: Yeah.
I: Do you think that people are right to call you geeky?
J: Yeah.
I: They are?
J: Because I like to read.
I: So you think reading is geeky?
J: No I don’t think reading is geeky, I think it’s for smart people.
I: OK so you would have liked to have put a book on how you see yourself, what about
on this side [how I think other people see me]?
J: No I don’t think so.
I: No?
J: No.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
J: English.
I: Do you always say English?
J: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(J=Josh, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with how you see yourself. What pictures have you used and why?
J: I use this [image of a beach pagoda] because I like fresh place, the beach.
I: OK and you’ve got a trainer.
J: Yeah because I think people won’t go into the town without using their shoes.
I: People?
J: Won’t go into town without using their shoes.
I: Won’t go to town without their shoes. And you’ve also got a singer here. Do you
know who this singer is [image of Jamiroquai]?
J: No.
I: Are there any singers that reflect how you see yourself, which you can identify with?
J: Yeah but these are Filipino.
I: So Filipino singers, there is no-one in the charts here//
J: //no.
I: And you also see yourself as loving and there’s caring and friendly and you like your
food.
J: Yeah, I love my food.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 346
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I: OK let’s move onto this side, on how you think other people see you you’ve just used
words and we’ve got ‘serious’, ‘highbrow’, ‘friendly’ and ‘shy’. Why didn’t you use
pictures here?
J: Because I can’t explain much more in pictures I think I can explain it in words.
I: Do you think that how you think other people see you is how you see yourself?
J: Not really.
I: What’s the difference?
J: Because I see myself as loving, caring, friendly and here I think they see me as shy,
serious, highbrows.
I: Why do you think that is?
J: Because I’m shy really, I’m shy.
I: You’re shy?
J: Yeah but sometimes I’m highbrows.
I: Highbrow?
J: Yeah.
I: What do you mean by highbrow?
J: I think sometimes I have a greater knowledge than the other people.
I: Greater knowledge than the other people.
J: Yeah.
I: If there were anymore pictures you could put on, what pictures would you use?
J: No, no, I think I’ve put it, I have put it on.
I: You have put on everything?
J: Yeah.
I: And you describe yourself ethnicity as//
J: //Filipino.
I: Were you born in the Philippines?
J: Yeah. I was born there.
I: OK that’s brilliant, thank you.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 347
available at [Link]
Appendix B.4: Oaklands Community School
(D=Darren, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Are these two separate collages or are they one?
D: They’re separate.
I: OK, so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to talk through what pictures
you’ve used and why you’ve used them, what they mean to you?
D: Yeah. People think I’m good at football [images of football players].
I: Who is that [picture of a football player]?
D: Fowler.
I: Robbie?
D: Yeah, yeah.
I: And he plays for?
D: The man plays for Man City.
I: Is that a team you support?
D: No.
I: Why have you chosen Robbie Fowler?
D: ’Cause he’s a good football player.
I: Are there any qualities that he has as a person that you share//
D: //he’s got good skills.
I: What skills?
D: The best football skills.
I: Right let’s move onto this picture [image of a Japanese footballer], who is he?
D: A Japannie.
I: A Japannie?
D: Yeah.
I: And why have you used him?
D: ’Cause, ’cause I like laughing.
I: Because?
D: I like laughing (laughing).
I: You like laughing?
D: Yeah.
I: But he’s got a football top on as well, so is he a good footballer?
D: Yeah//
I: //he is//
D: //he plays for a team.
I: So why did you use him? Is it more to do with the football or is it to do with the
laughing//
D: //laughing.
I: OK and what about this [image of a headless footballer]?
D: I support Manchester United.
I: Because you like, they’re your favourite team?
D: Yeah, yeah.
I: And you’ve got this picture of [image of a car]//
D: //a rally car.
I: Why have you used that?
D: Because I like rally cars and I like watching it.
I: OK, so if you were going to sum up//
D: //yeah//
I: //how you see yourself, if you were going to use words to describe what these pictures
are trying to express, what words would you use?
D: How I see myself really.
I: But how is that? What type of person do you think you are?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 348
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D: A funny person.
I: Funny//
D: //and like sports person.
I: Sports person.
D: Yeah.
I: So sports are really important to you?
D: Yeah.
I: Why are sports so important to you?
D: Because I like watching it all the time, I like football.
I: What is it about sports that you like, is it//
D: //football, it’s interesting.
I: Is it just the game though or do you respect the fact that they have to work hard to
become good footballers?
D: They have to work hard to get to be good football players.
I: OK, let’s move onto how you think other people see you. You’ve just used a picture
of Science here from Big Brother, why have you used a picture of him, what are you
trying to say?
D: Because he always acts funny.
I: Because he always acts funny?
D: Yeah.
I: So you think other people see you as quite a funny person?
D: Yeah.
I: Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing?
D: Good thing, well, don’t know really people can find it annoying.
I: People find it annoying sometimes?
D: Yeah.
I: When would they find it annoying?
D: When I keep being funny, the thing is it carries on, I carry on being funny then it
carries on then they get annoyed with me.
I: If you had more time are there any pictures that you would add to either collage?
D: No.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
D: I’m half Scottish.
I: But when people ask you, do you say I’m half Scottish or I’m British?
D: I’m half Scottish.
I: You always say I’m half Scottish because your mum is from Scotland?
D: Yeah.
I: OK that’s great.

(M=Mark, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Which side do you want to start with?
M: That one [how I see myself].
I: OK so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through each of the
pictures and explain why you’ve chosen them, what they represent?
M: I’ve used this goalie ’cause every sees me as a goalie and I’m good and this one
[image of a goalkeeper attempting to save a shot] is another goalie because I’m good
at saving penalties. That [image of Amir Khan] because I, I always fight.
I: So you fight a lot?
M: Not a lot but sometimes.
I: So you see yourself as a fighter?
M: Not really but I fight sometimes.
I: Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing//
M: //bad thing.
I: Why is it a bad thing? (long pause) Why do you fight?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 349
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M: Because people pick on me.
I: So you//
M: //they try and bully me and think I won’t do nothing.
I: So you don’t fight if it’s not provoked, you fight if somebody is bullying you?
M: Yeah yeah.
I: What about that picture of the fish?
M: Because I like fishing and that’s how I see myself, as a fisherman.
I: What is it about fishing that you like?
M: Catching big fish and it’s peaceful.
I: It’s peaceful.
M: Yeah you can just, you can just sit there.
I: What about the//
M: //mini motor because I’ve got one and I like them.
I: And you’ve got some basketball players there//
M: //because I like basketball and like another reason of how I see myself too good, not
quite good.
I: Quite good at?
M: Basketball.
I: And you’ve got the word ‘sexy’ and the picture of the woman//
M: //don’t know just put it there.
I: You just put it there. So if you were going to use some words to describe//
M: //I think I’m sexy, that’s how I see myself, as sexy boy (laughing).
I: So if you were going to use some words to describe how you see yourself, what
words would you use apart from sexy?
M: I don’t know (laughing).
I: What type of person do you think you are? How do you see yourself?
M: Don’t know (laughing).
I: Because here you’ve got fighting//
M: //I love myself.
I: You?
M: Love myself.
I: OK, because here you’ve got two quite different things. You’ve got the fighter and
the violence, but you’ve also got that next to fishing and you said fishing is peaceful.
Do you think you’ve got a calm side and an aggressive side as well?
M: Mmm.
I: OK let’s move onto how you think other people see you. You’ve got a picture of a
footballer there//
M: //yeah that’s because it’s the team I support.
I: Which team is that?
M: Celtic.
I: And what about the picture of the car and the football?
M: I like football including goals.
I: Do you think other people see you as good at football?
M: Yeah.
I: And what about, you’ve put ‘music’ [word] down, why is that there?
M: Because I always listen to music, whenever my mates come round I always put my
music on.
I: So do you think that could have all been one collage?
M: Yeah.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures you would have put on?
M: Yeah.
I: Like?
M: A rugby player, a foot on a ball.
I: So it’s more sport?
M: I’d have put a rugby ball on there.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 350
available at [Link]
I: So sport is quite important to you?
M: Yeah.
I: What is it about sports people and sport that you like?
M: That there’s good rugby players, good football players, good boxers and good
hardcore singers.
I: What makes something good for you though?
M: Practice.
I: Practice. Do you think that’s part of who you are? If you practice at something
you’ve got to be quite hard-working//
M: //yeah//
I: //and determined, do you think that that’s how you see yourself?
M: Yeah.
I: Do you think that that’s how other people see you as well?
M: Yeah a bit.
I: When wouldn’t they? What type of people wouldn’t see you as hard-working?
M: Not many people.
I: Who wouldn’t?
M: Some teachers, some people, some students.
I: But do you think you’re hard-working?
M: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
M: White British.
I: Do you always say you’re white British?
M: Yeah ’cause I’m white and I’m British.
I: Do you ever say English?
M: Yeah sometimes. Well mainly most of the time.
I: You say English more than you say British?
M: Yeah.
I: So would you say white English or English?
M: White English.
I: Is it important for you to say the white?
M: No, I’d just say English.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(R=Robert, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two separate collages yes?
R: Yeah.
I: Let’s start with how you see yourself.
R: I started the day just colouring some red area surrounded by some blue colouring. I
think that shows that I bundle up loads of anger inside of me but I don’t actually
shout or use it or get angry.
I: Right.
R: I just got a PSP because most people probably see me like geeky and clever and stuff
’cause I like computers and stuff like that.
I: OK.
R: I’ve got a Max Power Great White [car] which is, I think it shows that I can, well I
like building stuff and making things, it shows that I can customise and think about
things and can create new stuff.
I: OK.
R: I’ve got a Coke can because I think Coke is something that go round on their own.
They don’t go round, you can get single can or multi-pack can’t you?
I: Yes.
R: And I think I’d just be like a single can just on my own and no-one else around me
really.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 351
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I: Right.
R: I’ve got loads of business men in a bank, I think that shows, well it shows that I’m
kind of like boring, it shows that I’m not interesting to most people.
I: So you see yourself as boring//
R: //yeah. I’ve got lights because mostly inside I feel bubbly and happy but like that
shows how it can change because it can just, it can’t just be sticky all the time, it can
change.
I: So you’ve left it [the picture] part unstuck to the paper because although you feel
bubbly it’s not secure?
R: Yeah.
I: So if you were going to use some words to describe how you see yourself, what
words would you use?
R: Boring.
I: Why do you see yourself as boring?
R: Because I, people have fun in class and people talk about stuff, I just get on with my
work.
I: And do you think that’s boring?
R: Yeah.
I: If you’re talking about being in a classroom situation, do you think being boring then
is a good thing or a bad thing?
R: Well if you’re not boring you can make friends and have fun, if you don’t you just get
on with your work and that’s it really. Nothing good comes out of just getting on
with my work yet so.
I: Nothing good has?
R: No.
I: But you do still//
R: //yeah//
I: //get on with your work?
R: Yeah.
I: OK let’s move onto how you think other people see you.
R: Well at first I’ve got loads grey round the side to show boring and stuff. I’ve got
politicians because that’s a possible thing that probably people, when I’m older
people will probably see me as a kind of political person.
I: Why would they see you as a political person?
R: Because with the grey I’ll come out with some job where I wear a suit and stuff and
they probably think I was a political person, interesting person just from the image.
I: OK.
R: The street planner and coordinator that’s what, it’s really weird but I think that’s what
people think going on in my head, that’s what people think.
I: What do you mean street planner and coordinator going on in your head?
R: It’s like really busy stuff all the time, I think that’s what people think.
I: That there’s a lot going on in your head?
R: Yeah always a lot because now I’m mumbling and it shows that I think about a lot of
things.
I: OK.
R: That one [image of a politician] I don’t know who, but it’s just that one again, the
politician guy. Chatterbox, I never shut up [images of mobile phones]. I get on with
my work and stuff like that, I get on with my work and settle down but out of lesson
time I just talk and talk and talk I don’t shut up.
I: OK.
R: The area in London, Trafalgar Square?
I: Piccadilly Circus.
R: Yeah shows busy, really really busy.
I: Your head is busy?
R: Yeah, just stuff going through it all the time. Can’t stop thinking about anything.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 352
available at [Link]
I: What don’t you stop thinking about?
R: Doing homework, work, school, everything. I just think about all the time for some
reason.
I: Is that a good thing or a bad thing//
R: //bad thing.
I: Why is it a bad thing?
R: Because I can’t just think about one thing, it just won’t clear out of my head.
I: So what do you want to be able to think about?
R: I want to think about what I’m doing. Sometimes I think about what I’m going to
plan, so in D.T. [design and technology] I think about what plan I do, a 3D model of
it in my head, then I think about one point of it then it just carries on continuously and
it’s just like my head hurts thinking about loads of other things.
I: So do you worry a lot?
R: Yeah.
I: And do you think other people see you as a worrier?
R: Yeah.
I: And you think that’s a negative?
R: Yeah.
I: Do you think that that could ever be a positive?
R: No because I think about it all the time and most times I forget things as well.
I: You forget things?
R: I like, I think about it too much.
I: So what about these two pictures here [image of a newspaper and careers exhibition
advertisement]?
R: I’m very good at English, I like English, I like it a lot a lot so showed newspaper and
just writing and stuff like that.
I: Do other people see you as a writer?
R: Yeah yeah. Jobs and careers and prospects that’s the one thing that, my teacher has
been going really on at me about thinking about my jobs and careers and stuffs and
prospects and I think that other people see me as someone who really thinks about
jobs, careers and prospects, about the future.
I: So other people see you as//
R: //what it is is every picture starting from the first collage and the second collage just
shows I think a lot, in my head I’m always thinking about it.
I: Do you think much about your future//
R: //yeah yeah.
I: In what sense?
R: Well what I’m gonna be when I’m older what I’m gonna do when I’m older.
I: Do you worry about that?
R: Sometimes.
I: Why do you worry?
R: Because, well I just worry about it, no reason, I just worry.
I: Do you know what you want to do?
R: Yeah.
I: What do you want to do?
R: I want to be a lawyer.
I: Why do you want to be a lawyer?
R: It has really good pay and it’s got loads of industries involved with to do with it.
I: So what words would you use to describe how you think other people see you?
R: A boffin.
I: A boffin?
R: Yeah.
I: Do you think that there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
R: Yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 353
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I: What’s the difference?
R: Because people don’t see me, people can’t see me think and I don’t think they think I
can be creative and stuff.
I: So why don’t you think they see that side of you?
R: Because I don’t show it really, I’m only always working and just mainly working all
the time.
I: Why don’t you show it to other people?
R: Because I haven’t had the chance.
I: You haven’t had the chance?
R: It just doesn’t get any chance, you can’t really see. I customise things in my head and
I build things, that don’t sound right.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have put on either
side of the collage?
R: No.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
R: British.
I: Do you always say British or do you say English?
R: Well when I say what I really am I’m quarter English, an eighth Spanish, an eighth
American and quarter Turkish Cypriot and a quarter Irish.
I: OK so why do you say British?
R: Because I’m in Britain and it’s a quarter equals most other things.
I: So you see yourself as British?
R: Yeah I’m in Britain and it’s a quarter of what makes up my identity along with other
things.
I: So it’s easier for you to say you’re British?
R: Yeah.
I: OK thank you.

(C=Claire, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one big collage or is it two?
C: Two.
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’ then. Do you just want to go through each of the
pictures and explain what you’re trying to express with them?
C: I’ve always liked horse-riding and stuff to do with horses and my cousin has got a
horse and we go and see it and I just love horses and next year I might be getting one.
I: What is it about horses that you like?
C: It’s sort of my hobby really, I just enjoy like leading them and stuff because I haven’t
been that keen on riding but I’ve ridden twice before I went to a riding school but I’ve
always liked looking after them.
I: What about this picture of lots of magazines?
C: Yeah every time I go shopping I have to buy a magazine especially the soap ones.
I: What is it about the soap ones that you like? Why are soaps so important to you?
C: I don’t know really I just like soaps, I like watching them and seeing what’s
happening in them.
I: What’s your favourite soap?
C: They all are, EastEnders would be probably but all of them really.
I: Have you got a favourite character that you identify with?
C: What I’m more really actually doing is I see the young like girls my age on the
programmes and I’d like to be fashionable like them sort of thing.
I: So you’d like to be fashionable. Do you think that you are fashionable?
C: Some of my stuff is but not really.
I: Not really?
C: Yeah some of it is.
I: Some of it.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 354
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C: Yeah.
I: What about this little picture here, you’ve got R. Kelly?
C: Oh yeah I love R. Kelly.
I: What is it about R. Kelly that you like?
C: His music really.
I: Is there anything about him as a person that you identify with?
C: I don’t know really.
I: OK let’s move onto the other side, on how you think other people see you, you’ve got
a picture of some t-shirts.
C: It’s not like, my friends said to me I asked them how they see me and they said very
fashionable and yeah just like wearing fashionable clothes really.
I: So you think other people see you as fashionable, and although you’ve put
fashionable on how you see yourself, you don’t think that you maybe are as
fashionable as//
C: //other people//
I: //other people see you.
C: That’s because I’ve got some nicer clothes in how other people see me but I see
myself as a bit dull really.
I: So you see yourself as a bit dull?
C: Yeah.
I: Why do you see yourself as a bit dull?
C: I don’t know really, because all my friends, I don’t know but, the reason is I don’t
really want to say it actually but, yeah.
I: OK that’s fine. So if there were any more pictures you could add to these collages,
what pictures would they be?
C: Yeah. How other people see me I’d probably add a few to that.
I: Like?
C: More on quiet and caring and stuff.
I: Do you think you’re quiet and caring?
C: Caring yeah.
I: But not quiet?
C: No. I’m more quieter at school than I am at home.
I: So do you think you people see a different side of who you are, and your family see a
different side?
C: Yeah I think.
I: Do you wish you were not-so-quiet around other people?
C: Not really I quite like being quiet really but, you know, and then I’ve got some pink
here and I just love pink and with the clothes and things.
I: So pink is your favourite colour?
C: Yeah pink and lilac.
I: Why do you like pink and lilac?
C: That’s what goes, I just like them really.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity? (pause) You wrote
British but do you always say British//
C: //no English.
I: You always say English?
C: Yeah.
I: Why do you choose English instead of British?
C: It’s probably because I’m used to England because it’s our country so that’s why I
just say English because I come from England.
I: So it’s English because you come from England?
C: Yeah.
I: OK that’s excellent.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 355
available at [Link]
(A=Alison, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: OK Alison. Could you just go through the pictures and explain to me why you
choose them and what you they represent? So let’s start with ‘how I see myself’.
A: Well I done a warning sign because sometimes when, when I’m at home and that and
I’m just normal sometimes I can just break out and have a teenage rage at home so,
and a flower because I like that kind of that flower stuff and that.
I: What does the flower stuff mean to you though?
A: It represents like pretty and stuff but I don’t, I don’t think that I’m pretty so I kind of
like that stuff but I’m not.
I: So you like the prettiness but you don’t see yourself as pretty?
A: No.
I: OK what about the monkey?
A: Because I’m quite cheeky at home and I’m usually grounded and stuff so quite
cheeky and that and then that Cancerian sign because that means quite a lot to me
because like my nan’s Cancerian as well and she, she kind of knows all that kind of
stuff but kind of means a lot to me, then a lion because sometimes I’m quite laree and
shouting and stuff. I’m just a normal girl who’s just normal, I’m not nothing special.
I: Where’s the normal girl?
A: That one [image of Kelly Clarkson].
I: Is that Kelly Clarkson?
A: Yeah but I couldn’t find anything else.
I: So it’s not Kelly Clarkson that you like//
A: //no but normal//
I: //she’s a normal girl for you?
A: Yeah.
I: Why is she a normal girl for you?
A: I don’t know she’s just, she’s just, well there’s nothing special about her and there’s
nothing special about me either so.
I: Ok let’s move onto how you think other people see you.
A: Yeah well I put a cat on there because I’m quite like loving and that, I put a heart as
well to represent that. I put Max and Paddy [comedy characters] because they’re
really funny//
I: //who are they?
A: Max and Paddy because I, because everyone says I’m quite funny and I’m a bit of a
clown so.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you.
A: Yeah.
I: What’s the difference?
A: Well ’cause on the other side [how I see myself] I’m quite like, I show myself more
and that, and when other people are around I’m not that, I’m not always open like
that, not always talking and that.
I: If you had more time are there any more pictures that you would have added?
A: Just stuff that says that I’m intelligent so I would like put a pencil there.
I: Do you see yourself as intelligent?
A: Yeah.
I: Do you think other people do?
A: Yeah.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
A: I’m just British, just white.
I: Do you say British, white or English?
A: Usually English but sometimes you know ’cause there’s quite a lot of like who are
just white, so I just say white.
I: You just say white?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 356
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A: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(S=Steve, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: OK let’s starts with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through the pictures and
explain what they mean to you?
S: I’ve got a PS2 there because I think I’m spoilt, I’ve got a mini motor because I think//
I: //mini?
S: Motor because I think I’m quite cool and that [image of Mortal Kombat computer
game] because I’m spoilt again, that [image of WWF wrestlers] because I like that
sort of stuff and I like watching it.
I: You like wrestling?
S: Yeah, Madagascar [animated film] because my mum says I’m cute.
I: Do you think you’re cute//
S: //no, not really.
I: What is it about wrestling that you like?
S: I just like all the moves and some of the wrestlers.
I: What wrestlers do you like?
S: Triple H I used to like The Rock, Ray Mistro.
I: What is it about them that you like?
S: Because Ray Mystiro, because he’s athletic and that’s what I would like to be.
I: So do you think that you are athletic?
S: In some stuff, not gymnastics.
I: So do you aspire to be like them?
S: Yeah.
I: Do you think that they [wrestlers] are good role models or bad role models?
S: Well a bit of both, why because they are violent and they teach others to look after
each other.
I: So do you think that the violence is good or bad?
S: Bad.
I: So when might they not be a good role model?
S: When they are violent and don’t fight fair.
I: So overall do you think they are quite good?
S: Yeah because they teach others to look after each other and that’s how you should be
with your friends.
I: So let’s move over to how you think other people see you.
S: I is a banana because I is always funny and I always mucked around, and I’m a swat.
I: Do you think you’re a swat?
S: Yeah.
I: Do you think you’re funny?
S: Yeah sometimes.
I: When aren’t you funny?
S: When I’m a swat mainly.
I: So could that be one big collage really?
S: No because other people see me as that actually that and I’m not really [inaudible].
I: If you had more time are there any extra pictures that you would have put on?
S: No not really.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: English.
I: Do you always say English?
S: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 357
available at [Link]
(O=Oscar, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you just go through the pictures and explain
what they are and why you’ve used them?
O: Well I’ve got a mobile phone because I like to talk on my phone a lot, I’ve got
somebody’s big mouth because I don’t ever shut up, I’ve got the Union Jack because
I like love this country and I’ve got loads of like colourful flowers and stuff because
like of the colourful side and I’ve got the wrestling things because I’m really into
wrestling and there’s loads of sports things there because I like sport like football,
baseball, swimming and that and there’s a games console called PSP because I like to
go on the PSP and Arnold Schwarzeneger he’s got loads of muscles and I’m doing
weights and I want to get loads of muscles to.
I: You’ve also got a picture of a girl there [how I see myself], why did you do that?
O: Because I fancy her.
I: Let’s go to the picture of Arnold Schwarzenegger, is that how you see yourself?
O: Well, well he’s like my hero and that’s how I see myself like in a few years.
I: In a few years?
O: Yeah that’s what I see myself as.
I: So do you think that’s a good image, to want to be like?
O: Yeah, yeah like quite muscley like Arnold Schwarzenegger yeah.
I: Let’s move onto how you think other people see you. You’ve only got a couple of
pictures here, one of E.T. and one of My Little Pony, why have you used them?
O: Because people, I think people might see me as an alien because sometimes I’m a bit
weird or that’s what other people think and I don’t know, the little pony it’s just pink,
and people think I have a feminine side.
I: Why do you think other people think you’re weird?
O: I don’t know sometimes how I act really.
I: Do you think you act weird?
O: No.
I: What about the feminine side, do you think you’ve got a feminine side?
O: Well a little bit, but most of the time I just wanna laugh really and it’s, and like try
and make everybody laugh.
I: Do you think other people see that, the feminine side, as a good thing or a bad thing?
O: Well in-between.
I: When might it be a good thing and when might it be a bad thing?
O: Well, well like, like I said it might cheer people up because it’s funny but like a bad
thing, they might not want to be around me because like, like they just want to do that
bully stuff all that stuff.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
O: Well only a little bit.
I: What is the little bit?
O: Well like, well like lots of people know I’m really into the wrestling and the sport and
the games consoles, but like not a lot of people think I’ve got a colourful side and like
the two Union Jacks, like I love this country and stuff, but I don’t think people see
that, they just see me as like, from them pictures they just see me as a wrestling fan, a
sports fan and a games console fan.
I: Why do you think they don’t see the colourful side of you?
O: (long pause) I’m not quite sure.
I: If you did show other people that you loved your country how would you do that?
O: I don’t know, I’d probably just like wear a Union Jack sign or wear a flag or have the
song somewhere or something.
I: Why don’t you do that?
O: Well I don’t, I don’t really see the point at the moment because I’m only like thirteen,
maybe if it was a bit later on like maybe.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 358
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I: If you could add on more pictures are there anymore you would have added on?
O: (long pause) Not any that I can think of, if I was like looking at a few pictures then I
might see one and then I might think yeah I’m kind of like that but like that’s really
all I could think of at the moment.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
O: Yeah British white.
I: Would you say British white or do you say English//
O: //no English white.
I: English white. Do you always say the white or do you just say English?
O: I, I usually just say English.
I: Just say English//
O: //yeah English or British but mostly English.
I: Why do you choose English over British?
O: I, I don’t really know it’s kind of like if I’m chatting if I had to choose like London
and Southampton I would pick Southampton because it’s where I come from if you
know what I mean.
I: Yeah. OK that’s brilliant.

(A=Andrew, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through the images and say
what they mean, what they represent, what you are trying to express with them?
A: Well a mobile because always text people, picture of Little Britain because I watch
like comedy programmes on TV and picture of music because I like listen to music
and the other two because I like cars and bikes.
I: So if you were going to use some words to describe how you see yourself what words
would you use, what are you trying to say with those pictures?
A: Like communicating because it’s got mobile.
I: You like communicating with people?
A: Yeah.
I: All people?
A: Depends.
I: On?
A: Whether I like them or not.
I: OK let’s move over to how you think other people see you. Would you like to go
through the pictures there?
A: Well football because I’m always out with my mates playing football, and Goal a
picture of the new film out about football, that [Crazy Frog] (long pause) yeah.
I: What about the ‘No to Crap’ [words]?
A: Because people see me as very unfriendly I don’t stick up for people.
I: OK.
A: And the other picture of a car because I like them [inaudible].
I: So do you think how you think other people see you is the same as how you see
yourself?
A: A tiny bit.
I: A tiny bit, in what way?
A: Because I’ve got a car in both of them like them two and that.
I: Going back to how you think other people see you, what do you think others think
when they look at you and see someone who is really into football?
A: They see me and my mates and they think ‘oh they like football’ because sometimes
they see me and my mates playing.
I: Do you think other people think that that’s a good thing or a bad thing that you are
into football?
A: Good thing.
I: Why?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 359
available at [Link]
A: Because you’re out playing sports.
I: So you think that’s a good thing?
A: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
A: English.
I: Do you always say English?
A: Yeah.
I: Why do you say English?
A: Because that’s where I come from.
I: OK thanks.

(K=Kate, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I= Have you just done one collage?
K: Yeah this is all I’ve done.
I: Do you just want to go through the pictures and explain why you’ve used them and
explain what they represent about how you see yourself?
K: OK well I chose Mr Potato Head [toy character] because I find myself really funny, I
chose a really colourful bird because I’m colourful, I chose a glass of champagne
because I think myself very bubbly and I chose like the necklace with an ‘A’ on it
because I think I’m an angel and I chose that one, the one with the two frogs, because
it’s got loads of colours and colourful like me.
I: If you had more time to work on this, do you think how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you are the same or would they have been different?
K: I think that side [how I think other people see me] would have been different.
I: In what way?
K: It would have different things on it because some people think different things and
others.
I: Like what sort of things would you have put on there?
K: Well I tried to get something to represent annoying because my mum thinks I’m
annoying.
I: What sort of things, or what would you use to represent that?
K: I don’t know.
I: And just finally, how you would usually describe your ethnicity? (long pause)
Because you wrote down that your ethnicity was other black background, but if
somebody asked you what would you say?
K: Erm, English.
I: So would you say you’re English?
K: Yeah.
I: Would you always say that?
K: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(Q=Queenie, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to go through the pictures on how you see yourself and explain what
they represent?
Q: Well I’ve used that phone one because I’m always on the phone and I’m really chatty
and everyone says I’m really chatty and then I used that picture [image of Raven
Baxter] because I always watch TV, and that music one I like music and I always
watch it so.
I: You’ve got a picture of Jessica Simpson, why have you used a picture of her?
Q: She’s quite fashionable and I like clothes and stuff.
I: Is it her fashion that you like or is there anything else about her that you like?
Q: Just her fashion really.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 360
available at [Link]
I: Just her fashion?
Q: Yeah.
I: And you’ve also got a picture of, is that Kylie Minogue?
Q: Oh no, it’s the candle.
I: So it’s not Kylie Minogue, it’s just the candle?
Q: Yeah.
I: What are you trying to say with the candle?
Q: I used the candle because I’m really relaxed.
I: You’ve got coffee there as well, why is that there?
Q: Just like because I’m always like wide awake, I like coffee so.
I: So you think you’re quite an alert person?
Q: Yeah.
I: OK now on how you think other people see you you’ve not got much apart from
‘Daddy’s Girl’ [words], what is that?
Q: Oh it’s just a little sticker that says Daddy’s Girl.
I: So is that how you think other people see you?
Q: Yeah my mum thinks I am because I always go to him for stuff.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
Q: No, not really.
I: So if you were going to use some words to explain what you are trying to express
with the images, what words would you use?
Q: I don’t know.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
Q: English.
I: Do you always say English?
Q: Yeah.
I: Do you ever say British?
Q: Yeah sometimes.
I: What one do you use more?
Q: English.
I: Why do you say English rather than British?
Q: I don’t know, just.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(L=Lorna, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: OK let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to talk through the pictures
you’ve used and why you’ve used them//
L: //yeah. I’ve used these animals because I think I, well always with my friend and that
so whatever happens, I’ve used Cheryl Tweedy who I think, I like her clothes and
fashionable and that and I’ve used this PlayStation because I think that I’m like
always playing games and in this picture [image of a cricket player] I see myself as a
sporty sort of person always playing sport. In this picture with the girl smiling I think
I’m always smiley//
I: //who is that girl?
L: She’s from EastEnders, Sonia’s friend [Naomi]. A picture of a phone, I’ve used a
phone because I’m always on the phone and always chatting and that and I’ve used a
tele ’cause I’m always watching tele.
I: So let’s move onto how you think other people see you. Would you like to go
through them pictures?
L: Yeah I’ve used this lady again because other people might think that I’m quite sporty
as well.
I: OK so sporty is on both sides.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 361
available at [Link]
L: Yeah and I’ve used this one ’cause I really like watching DVD’s and videos and that,
I’ve used the bag because I always love to go shopping, I’ve used Peggy Mitchell
[EastEnders character] ’cause she looks worried in that picture and I’m always like
worrying and I’ve used this girl, I don’t know who I can’t remember who, because
it’s actually at a party and I love going to parties.
I: So do you think that there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
L: Not really, not really different.
I: There’s not?
L: No.
I: So if you had more time and you could add pictures, what pictures would you add?
L: Well I’d probably get another one like that [image of a girl at a party] and put that
over there [how I see myself]. I’m not sure what I would do.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
L: English.
I: Do you always say English?
L: Yeah I don’t say British because none of my family are from anywhere else in Britain
and I’m not from part of anywhere else in Britain, I am English.
I: Right OK, that’s brilliant.

(A=Anna, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to go through the pictures on how you see yourself?
A: I’ve got a picture of Lee Ryan because he’s got the same starsign as me, I’ve got a
picture of Little Mo from EastEnders because she’s very emotional, I’ve got a picture
of Shelley from Coronation Street because she’s emotional and easily hurt and I’ve
got a picture of a little princess because I think I’m a little princess.
I: You’ve also got a little devil there as well, what does that mean?
A: Um (long pause), I don’t know.
Lorna: Maybe ‘cause you’re like quite naughty sometimes at home? You see yourself as
quite naughty at school and that?
A: Sometimes, yeah yeah.
I: Let’s move onto how you think other people see you.
A: I’ve got a picture of that big mouth because people think I’ve got a big mouth, I’ve
got a picture of that [heart with wings] because my mum and everything think I’m a
little angel, I’ve got a picture of a loveheart because some people think I’m loving.
I: Now on this side [how I think other people see me] you’ve put that you are a loud-
mouth, but on this side [how I see myself] you put that you are quite a worrier and
easily hurt. Do you think other people see that side of you?
A: No.
I: Is that because you don’t let them//
A: //yeah.
I: Why is that?
Lorna: You’ve probably only cried about once in school for the past three years haven’t you?
’Cause I haven’t seen you cry much.
I: Why do you think other people don’t see that side of you?
A: I don’t know.
I: Do you think it’s a good thing that other people don’t see that side of you//
A: //yeah.
I: Why is it a good thing?
A: I don’t know just don’t want other people, it’s embarrassing.
I: And if you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have added?
A: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know.
A: Fashionable maybe, I’d have put it on what other people think of me, more on there.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 362
available at [Link]
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
A: English.
I: English.
A: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(A=Aaron, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one big collage or two?
A: Two really.
I: Do you want to start with ‘how I see myself’?
A: I play basketball a lot, I’m quite good at it, I love like rap Sean Paul music sort of
thing.
I: What is it about rap music and Sean Paul that you like?
A: It’s just its good.
I: Is there anything about Sean Paul, apart from his music that you like? Is there
anything about his personality//
A: //yeah like I like clothes they wear and all that with their clothes and stuff like that.
I: So you like their fashion?
A: Yeah.
I: What about on the other side, on how you think other people see you?
A: This is good basketball player, people see me as a good basketball player.
I: You’ve got basketball on both sides, what does basketball represent? Apart from
being a good player, is there anything else about the sport that//
A: //well they wear like the stuff for trainers and all that and clothes they wear shorts
they wear.
I: So do you think that’s quite a fashionable look?
A: Yeah.
I: Do you think other people think that’s a fashionable look?
A: Depends if they like basketball.
I: So if you were going to use some words to describe how you see yourself, what
words would you use?
A: Funny and sporty.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
A: No.
I: There’s not?
A: No.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
A: English.
I: You would say English. Do you always say English?
A: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(C=Celine, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Shall we just start with ‘how I see myself’? Can you go through they pictures and
explain what they mean to you?
C: My favourite person is I like Kanye West. I like them [image of the Pussycat Dolls]
clothes.
I: You’ve also got a picture of Danni Minogue here, why have you used her?
C: Because I like her dress.
I: You just like her fashion. And you’ve also got the word ‘bling’, what does bling
mean?
C: I don’t know (long pause).

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 363
available at [Link]
I: OK on how you think other people see you you’ve just got one picture of Beyonce.
What are you trying to express? What does Beyonce represent?
C: People say that my hair looks like hers.
I: So people say that you’re hair is like Beyonce’s.
C: And people say that that’s the kind of clothes that I wear.
I: So fashion features on both sides. Do you see yourself as quite fashionable?
C: A little bit.
I: Do you think other people see you as fashionable.
C: I don’t know.
I: If you had more time are there any extra pictures that you would have put on?
C: Yeah.
I: Like?
C: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know. And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
C: Caribbean.
I: Would you say Caribbean? You wrote down English. What one do you usually say?
C: I don’t know, both.
I: Both. So if I asked you what your ethnicity is now, how would you answer that?
C: I’m half English and half Caribbean.
I: Do you always say I’m half English half Caribbean?
C: Yeah.
I: OK thanks.

(J=James, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Are these two separate collages or one?
J: One I think.
I: Do you want to go through each of the pictures and explain what they represent, what
they mean to you? (long pause) Well you’ve got a lot of games pictures, a lot of
PS2’s, a lot of Mortal Kombat [computer game] and characters, why have you used
them? (long pause)
J: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know.
Carmel: James you always come into school saying you played games until like ten, eleven
o’clock at night.
I: Why did you choose them pictures?
J: I don’t know.
Carmel: James there’s no-one in here, you do it in front of everyone else but it’s only me, it’s
only me here Jesus.
I: So what words would you use to describe how you see yourself? (long pause)
J: Not really sure.
I: You don’t want to speak?
J: No.
I: OK we’ll leave it.
Carmel: Why don’t you just wait until Adrian comes down because if Adrian comes down//
I: //no, it’s alright we’ll leave it. He doesn’t have to talk if he doesn’t want to.

(C=Carmel, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Have you done one collage or two?
C: I’ve done loads of that [how I see myself] and a little bit of this [how I think other
people see me].
I: Shall we start with ‘how I see myself’? Do you want to go through the images and
explain what they represent, what you are trying to express with them?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 364
available at [Link]
C: I’ve got a Kat Slater [EastEnders character] because I’m always feeling confident in
myself like she does, I’ve got Ronaldo and a couple of other footballers I look up to
because I always see myself as inspirational trying to get my own goals and because I
love football and just Chelsea because I’ve always supported them daily. I’ve got
Sean Wright-Phillips because I think that sometimes I want to be like him ’cause he’s
done so much with his life, he got adopted and he doesn’t really know his other dad
and like I don’t see my dad often and he’s been with other people and I’m with
someone now different like my mum and her boyfriend so I’ve been with quite a bit
of people in my life. I’ve got Spectacular Pretty Ricky and 50 Cent ’cause I love his
music and I love just phat rhythms music like rap and everything.
I: Right.
C: I don’t know why I put Mario in this ’cause I’ve got his birthday, I’m on the same
day as his birthday so I put him down, I’ve got Randy Orton ’cause I just love
wrestling and I love, like not fighting and being a little scally or anything, love
wrestling with my little sister like play-fighting ’cause we always see that and we get
bored and sometimes just play-fight. But that’s all the pictures I’ve got on there.
And I put that DVD down ’cause I’m always watching DVD’s.
I: Right, you’ve put 50 Cent down on how you see yourself to represent that you like
that type of music//
C: //yeah//
I: //but do you think you share anything else with him, because 50 Cent has maybe got a
bad reputation for being a bit of a gangster//
C: //no I ain’t like him.
I: Is it just the music you like?
C: Yeah.
I: As a person do you think that you would identify with him [50 Cent] at all? Do you
think you share any//
C: //yeah he raps about his personal life and it’s good so I do rap. I just sing about my
personal stuff as him, so he sings about his stuff and I sing about my stuff and I think
I’m like him sometimes, like speaking about his personal stuff in life.
I: So do you think that’s a good thing that rap does that//
C: //yeah they should show them things because otherwise they get across the wrong
way and they’re not what they’re made out to be like portrayed in the public.
I: What about how you think other people see you? You’ve just used a picture of a
phone//
C: //yeah ’cause as soon as I get out of school as I’m walking home with my friends I’m
always on the phone like my mum rings me, my dad texts me, my little sister texts
me, friends in London text me, so I’m always texting.
I: Do you think there’s a difference though between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
C: Kind of, I don’t think people see me as confident all the time.
I: But you think you are//
C: //yeah, I am. I always do a lot of things on my own at home.
I: Like?
C: I don’t think other people see me as like feeling a bit stronger, like I am, I’ve
overcome a lot in my life like moving house and loads like that.
I: And if you could have added anymore pictures to that collage, what pictures would
you have added?
C: I would have had a phone over there [how I see myself] because I know I’m always
on my phone and I’m using up my credit, over there [how I think other people see
me] I think I would have put someone that speaks out a lot ’cause I’m always doing
that ’cause I like chatting and I’m always chatting get told off for chatting. I think I’d
put on some kind of like, something stupid stuff ’cause sometimes it just comes out
and I think it sounds right. And I don’t know what else other people think of me
’cause I don’t really care what they think about me, it’s what I think about myself.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 365
available at [Link]
I: So you don’t care about other peoples opinions, you just care about yourself?
C: Yeah.
I: Is that everybody else?
C: I care about what my mum says what my family says and like my closest best mate
which is only one, I’ve known her like eleven years I take in what she says. But not
like all like, if those said I don’t think you’re strong, I would like I don’t think I’m
strong just think I’m confident and feeling a bit better about whatever you say, just
goes in one ear and out the other as my mum says to me.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity//
C: //English.
I: Do you always say English?
C: Yeah.
I: Do you ever say British?
C: Sometimes if I’m over in like on a team they have a hotel they say we’re from
Auckland ’cause that’s all around the world, I say I’m from England but I don’t tend
to say I’m English I tend to say I’m British.
I: Why?
C: I don’t know they’re the exact same really, sometimes I only use English sometimes I
only use British.
I: Do you think they are the same thing?
C: Sometimes.
I: When aren’t they?
C: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know.
C: No. I think I’ve always thought like saying ’cause English and British, British is all
around the country and so is English ’cause English is in many parts of the world, and
you can’t really say that sometimes can I ’cause loads of people speak English and
they’re not from England so I can just say I’m British ’cause I’m United Kingdom
I’m from there.
I: OK brilliant.

(C=Callum, aged 14, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to go through the pictures on ‘how I see myself’ and explain what
pictures you’ve used and why?
C: I’ve used Amir Khan’s picture ‘cause I hope to be a boxer and I’ve used Liverpool
celebrations because I like Liverpool [football team].
I: You’ve also got this here though and you’ve put the word ‘dumb’//
C: //yeah I class myself as dumb.
I: So you see yourself as dumb?
C: Yeah.
I: And what’s this [image of percentages in a head]?
C: That’s just like people thinking I’m brainy but I’m not basically.
I: So people think you’re brainy but you think you’re dumb?
C: Yeah.
I: And what is it about boxing, why do you identify with that? Why do you see yourself
as a boxer?
C: I don’t know, I just like it.
I: You just like it?
C: Yeah and I do it with Golden Ring in Shirley [boxing club].
I: OK let’s go onto how you think other people see you, you’ve got a picture of Hitler
and a picture of a cartoon. Why have you used a picture of Hitler?
C: ’Cause I think people like take advantage of me, in a way they do but I like he hit
people for no reason basically.
I: He hit people for no reason?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 366
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C: Yeah.
I: So why does Hitler represent that for you?
C: ’Cause he killed loads of people and I hit loads of people basically.
I: Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing//
C: //bad.
I: So do you think other people see you as a good person or a bad person?
C: Sometimes good sometimes bad.
I: When would they see you as bad?
C: When I hit someone.
I: Do you think that’s good or bad?
C: Bad.
I: But you still do it?
C: Yeah.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you think other people see you and
how you see yourself?
C: Yeah.
I: What’s the difference?
C: I think I’m average.
I: You think you’re average?
C: Yeah.
I: Do you think other people think that you are average?
C: No.
I: What do they think?
C: Small.
I: Is that below average?
C: Yeah.
I: So they think you’re small and you think you’re average?
C: Yeah, I’m average.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have put on?
C: Like a, a little bit of a paper boy, I’d have put that on there to say that I was a good
paper boy.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
C: British.
I: Would you say British or English?
C: Depends where I am.
I: Can you explain that?
C: Yeah if I was like in Spain I would say I’m British but if I’m over here I’m English.
I: Why would you say British in Spain and English over here?
C: ’Cause my mum says I’m part Irish and British is to do with Ireland and all that and I
don’t sound like I’ve got an Irish accent, I sound English over here.
I: OK thanks.

(A=Adrian, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to start with ‘how I see myself’ and explain what pictures you’ve used?
A: The 3 monkey I think that’s my funny side and my weird side ’cause it looks weird.
Christian Ronaldo that’s my favourite player and I’ve got some lips here ’cause I’m a
bit mouthy sometimes and I like the Gorillaz ’cause that’s the sort of music I like in
style and that’s like my naughty side [image of a boy with gun] the picture of the
boy//
I: //with the gun//
A: //yeah with a gun. And that’s like the things that I like cars and smart person.
I: You’ve also got a picture of a girl here, why have you put her there?
A: I don’t know, ’cause I thought that was quite funny and plus I fancy her.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 367
available at [Link]
I: So you see yourself as someone who is quite funny, a little bit naughty, a little bit
different because the Gorillaz music is a little bit different, quite mouthy?
A: Yeah.
I: What about how you think other people see you?
A: I don’t know. I like wrestling and fighting.
I: But do you think other people see you as a fighter? Do you think that’s a good thing
or a bad thing?
A: It’s good and bad, but I think it’s a bit of a bad thing.
I: Why do you think it’s a bit of a bad thing?
A: ’Cause it’s like if someone is annoying you, you could just say stop it but I would just
turn round and punch them and that’s a bad thing.
I: When would that be a good thing though?
A: If someone is like pushing you trying to beat you up.
I: So if they are bullying you//
A: //yeah//
I: //or starting it then it’s OK?
A: Yeah.
I: What else is there about how you think other people see you?
A: That’s [image of a wrestler] my nutty side, I do jump on the garage.
I: So you think other people see you as quite nutty?
A: Yeah.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
A: They’re about the same, but yeah they’re about the same.
I: So it could be one collage?
A: Yeah.
I: Is there anything about yourself that you think other people don’t see?
A: I don’t know.
I: If you had more time are there anymore pictures that you would have liked to put
onto it maybe?
A: No not really, a bit more wrestling.
I: What is it about wrestling that you like?
A: I don’t know it’s quite funny.
I: It’s quite funny?
A: Yeah.
I: But fighting is a bad thing, but do you think the wrestlers are bad for fighting?
A: No not really.
I: Are there any wrestling characters that you really like?
A: Yeah.
I: Like who?
A: I like Eugene, he’s funny.
I: Do you like him because he’s funny?
A: Yeah and he’s nutty.
I: Is he out of control nutty?
A: Yeah.
I: Do you think that’s a good thing?
A: No it’s quite funny.
I: So it’s just purely for the funny side?
A: Yeah.
I: And what is it about the Gorillaz music that you identify with? What is it about their
music that expresses who you are?
A: It’s got like a good beat, it’s not like really slow music, it’s always got a good beat on
it.
I: A good beat.
A: Yeah, like catchy.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 368
available at [Link]
I: And what is it about Christian Ronaldo that you identify with?
A: He’s skilful and he like moves with the ball and he does skilful tricks.
I: So do you think you’re quite a skilful person?
A: No not really, I try to be but not really.
I: So would you like look up to him and aspire to be like him?
A: Yeah.
I: So one day you would like to be able to say that’s how I see myself?
A: But not Portuguese.
I: But not Portuguese. So it’s important for you to hold onto the English//
A: //yeah, I’m English at heart.
I: Do you feel more English, more Irish or both?
A: I’m a bit of English and Irish, I live in England but my name is Irish.
I: So how would you usually describe yourself?
A: English.
I: English, but you don’t ever say Irish?
A: No not really.
I: OK that’s brilliant thanks.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 369
available at [Link]
Appendix B.5: Regents Park Girls’ School
(D=Diana, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Now you’ve just done a ‘how I see myself’ collage. Do you want to talk through the
images you’ve used and why you’ve used them, what they mean to you?
D: Well I like colours, you know like happy cheerful colours and I’m friendly you know,
loveable.
I: What about the pictures here of Mariah Carey and//
D: //and Kelly Clarkson.
I: Why have you used them?
D: I like their songs.
I: You like their songs. Is there anything else about Mariah Carey and Kelly Clarkson
that you like?
D: They’re pretty.
I: They’re pretty. And is that how you see yourself as well?
D: Um, I’m not sure.
I: What about this guy [Billie Joe Armstrong], who is he?
D: He’s off Green Day, I like his songs to.
I: You like his songs, and Eminem?
D: Yeah.
I: And J. Lo?
D: Yeah.
I: Apart from liking their songs, what else do they mean to you?
D: I like them you know. Well my best friend fancies him.
I: Who Eminem?
D: Yeah.
I: But what is it about him [Eminem], apart from his music, do you think there’s
anything about his personality that you share?
D: No because he’s quite rude actually.
I: So he’s quite rude, but you also look up to him?
D: Yeah.
I: Do you like him because he’s rude?
D: No but that’s the whole point of rap and I’m rude sometimes but I don’t like to be and
try not to be.
I: Do you like rap music?
D: It’s OK. It’s not my favourite kind of music.
I: What’s your favourite kind?
D: Kelly Clarkson, pop music.
I: You said that you think rap music and Eminem is rude, and you can be rude
sometimes, do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing?
D: Quite bad actually, I try not to be rude and that.
I: Quite bad?
D: Yeah.
I: In what way?
D: Swearing and stuff.
I: Is there anything good about rap music and Eminem that you identify with?
D: It speaks about life and Eminem is mainly speaking about his experiences.
I: So that’s a good thing?
D: Yeah, because it’s telling people about what he’s been through and that’s what I try
and do.
I: Let’s move on. You’ve got this picture here of a cartoon guy with funny hair. What
does that mean?
D: He’s off this programme called Dragonball.

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I: Called?
D: Dragonball.
I: So why did you use the picture of him there?
D: Because I like him because he’s a good guy.
I: He’s a good guy?
D: Yeah he’s extremely strong and fights off all the bad guys.
I: In what way is he a good guy?
D: Because he fights off all the bad guys.
I: He fights off all the bad guys. Now I’ve noticed that you didn’t do a collage here on
this side, how you think other people see you, why is that?
D: Because I think it’s you know, both.
I: So you think how you see yourself is how you think other people see you?
D: Yeah.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures you would have added to your
collage?
D: No.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
D: English.
I: English?
D: Yeah.
I: So you would usually call yourself English not British?
D: Yeah English.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(S=Saira, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Can we start with how you see yourself? Do you just want to go through each of the
images and explain what they mean?
S: The first one is my religion [image of Arabic text] which is, it’s got my god’s name
on which means I’m Muslim and that’s the most important thing my religion. And
the next picture [image of a watermelon] is my favourite food, a watermelon because
I really like it and then it’s my favourite artists [images of Beyonce, Lemar and
Mario] I’ve got loads.
I: Who are they?
S: Beyonce, Lemar and Mario.
I: What is it about them [images of Beyonce, Lemar and Mario] that you identify with?
S: I like their character, they’re very confident and they’ve tried very hard to get to this
point so I think yeah they’ve tried best very hard in life to get this yeah, and I just
think that she’s [Beyonce] very pretty and yeah.
I: And so her [Beyonce] prettiness, do you think that’s something you share with her?
S: Well I do have some self-confidence; I do think I’m a bit pretty but not that much.
I: So not as pretty as Beyonce?
S: No. Well the second pictures I’ve got Burberry, Estee Lauder, Chanel and Dior
which I’m a fashion mark, so I’m really fashionable and I buy like this kind of stuff.
I like make-up and stuff and I like to be fashionable and be myself and that’s why I
put some marks, fashion marks on there.
I: Are designer labels important to you? Is the name of a product important to you?
S: Well it depends; it depends if it’s good or not because sometimes you can just buy
cheap ones.
I: As in?
S: You know just cheap fashion marks but//
I: //what is cheap fashion to you?
S: I don’t know, if you buy from Primark and stuff but everybody shops from Primark
like, but anyway I just like them [designer brands] because that’s what I am about,
yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 371
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I: So it’s just purely for the name?
S: Yeah. I’m planning to be a fashion designer and that’s why I like them.
I: OK, let’s move onto how you think other people see you.
S: Other people see me they probably think if I’m wearing fashionable clothes they
think I’m fashionable and I’m happy because I’m always smiling and, I don’t know if
they think I’m too pretty or not, I’m not to sure about if they see I’ve got to much
self-confidence that I do seem nice.
I: What is it about you that you think they will see//
S: //personality.
I: So your personality reflects, it shows your self-confidence?
S: Yeah. Well I’m very much a accessories and stuff so I’m very blingy.
I: Bling?
S: Yeah.
I: What is being bling?
S: It’s where like, me being, me picturing stuff you know like accessories, bling.
I: Is there a way you have to behave to be bling or is it just a look?
S: I don’t know, I think it’s just a look.
I: Who is this person here?
S: That’s a girl from the Pussycat Dolls [Melody Thornton].
I: And why is she there?
S: I don’t like her but I just put her there because she’s got this like self-confidence and I
think people see me as I’ve got some self-confidence really.
I: Now I’ve noticed on your collage that the two sides are actually quite similar, apart
from the fact that you’ve used religion on how you see yourself//
S: //yeah but people, because sometimes when people ask me what my religion is and
when I say Muslim and they like wow I didn’t expect you to be a Muslim because I
don’t look like it, and that’s why I don’t think people see me as a Muslim.
I: What do you think people expect you to look like if you say you are a Muslim?
S: I would not put so much make-up on and, I don’t know, just the scarf thingies that
they put on.
I: So is that a positive or a negative view of Muslims?
S: No, that’s not negative, I wouldn’t say it’s a negative but they expect you to wear
long tops and you know//
I: Burkha?
S: Yeah and all that stuff, but my parents and everything my family says when I’m ready
to wear it like that headscarf stuff I can wear it.
I: And would you?
S: Yeah.
I: Right. How would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: Well I’m Swedish but my mum and dad are from//
I: //you were born in Sweden?
S: Yes, and my mum and dad are from Iraq, so that’s kind of like different.
I: OK.
S: I lived in Sweden my whole life and then moved to England, but my parents have
lived in like their childhood they spent it in Iraq so I don’t know what I am really.
I: Do you think you identify with them being from Iraq at all?
S: Yeah well it’s like my nationality it’s where my parents and my family come from.
I: But you’ve written down Swedish?
S: Yeah. I know, I just wrote down my parents are Iraqis the other side because I don’t
know really if I’m essentially Swedish or Iraqi but I just wrote Swedish because that’s
where I was born.
I: So you’re not sure?
S: No.
I: What makes it so confusing?

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S: I don’t know really. It’s just that some people say if you’re born in a country you
come from it and some other people say wherever your parents come from you come
from that country to, and I don’t know if I’m both or just one.
I: What do you think you are though?
S: I think my really real thing I come from is Iraq but I’m born in Sweden and
everything so I don’t know really, that’s what I think.

(M=May, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to just talk through each of the images and explain what they mean and
why you’ve used them?
M: I like dogs they’re my favourite well my favourite pet’s to have so I put that there and
I just thought they were really cute so I put them over, there and I want to be a marine
biologist so I’m interested in like water life. Manatees are my favourite animal so I
swam with them when I went to Florida two weeks ago so I like them. I’d like a
swimming pool in my house.
I: Why have you used a picture of an otter?
M: Because they’re really cute, it’s a bit like my dog.
I: And you’ve also got some penguins?
M: Yeah, they’re cute.
I: You’ve said that you’re very animal orientated, but what is it about nature and
animals that you specifically like?
M: I wouldn’t say I’m really into nature it’s just the animals. I don’t know how to
explain.
I: Do you think any of these animals have characteristics or qualities that you share?
M: I think dogs are quite, they know, they are very aware.
I: Do you see yourself as a person who is quite aware and alert to what’s going on?
M: Not really no.
I: No?
M: No.
I: Is there anything about these animals that you think you share?
M: I think dolphins and manatees are very like, they give lots of love, they love their
families and they have special ways to greet their families and stuff and I’m similar,
you know.
I: So you’ve got symbols here that represent calm and peaceful here but you’ve not
used, as opposed to the other people’s collages, images of famous people.
M: Oh no I wouldn’t no, I’m not keen on celebrities a lot of the time.
I: Which celebrities would you have put though//
M: //I would have put Mariah Carey because I think she’s really good.
I: What is it about Mariah Carey//
M: I think she’s really pretty and confident and I don’t know if she’s been around a long
time she’s kind of I don’t know.
I: Do you think that you’re pretty and confident as well? Do you think you share that?
M: Not really, I don’t know, I’m not like I’m not very confident really and I’m like a bit
shy.
I: So when you look at Mariah Carey is that somebody you aspire to be like?
M: Not really I just like her music and everything; I don’t really like to be like her or
anything.
I: Is there anyone else?
M: I like Pussycat Dolls and Kanye West; I like all sorts of music.
I: Now on this side, how you think other people see you, you’ve not put any pictures. Is
that because of time?
M: Yeah.
I: If you had more time do you think that that collage would be different to how you see
yourself?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 373
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M: Yeah because I don’t really share like anything with people I just keep like that, I like
well I share it with my family but I don’t really say that I’m interested in like marine
biology and stuff because I’m just usually quite quiet about that and then they [other
people] probably see me as like just kind and so I like shopping so they probably
think I’m very keen on shopping.
I: So they wouldn’t see//
M: //they wouldn’t see me as, I don’t think they’d see me like that [how I see myself] and
my best friend would but I don’t think other people would.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
M: I’m English and British.
I: Which one would you usually say?
M: English.
I: Why would you usually say English and not British?
M: Because I’m not like, both of my parents are from England but my mum’s parents are
kind of from Poland and apart from that my dad and everyone in the family is English
so I just want to put English because I don’t really, I don’t really class myself as
Polish because I’m not really Polish I was born over here.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(L=Linda, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: This is quite unusual. Do you want to just talk through what you are trying to express
with this collage?
L: Inside I tried to put kind of dark colours like red like anger, hatred and I kind of hide
those feelings, and I arranged those colours I put colours blue and yellow and orange
to show happy on the edge.
I: So the colours are symbolising your different moods and you always try and contain
your anger and hatred?
L: Yeah I’m not, I’m not really an angry person but when I’ve got, whenever I do I just
get annoyed and I don’t get angry. My best friend she gets angry very easily and she
always does something about it, but like when I get angry I just kind of lock it in
myself or like draw pictures or hide it because I don’t like people knowing that I can
get quite angry sometimes.
I: So you always keep it bottled up.
L: Yeah.
I: Do you think anger is a negative or a positive emotion?
L: Negative.
I: Is it always negative?
L: It’s a, I like to see myself as a kind of conscious person that’s why I try not to let any
people see it.
I: OK. You’ve used a picture of a cat, which is one of the few images that you have
used, and you’ve also used the words ‘dream’, ‘think’ and ‘time’. Do you want to
explain why you used those?
L: Well the cat, I have a cat and it’s, he’s always like a good listener even though he
doesn’t answer or anything but he’s also quite kind of free so I think that’s how I’d
more like to be, kind of not like any boundaries keeping me.
I: Do you think you’re a good listener?
L: Sometimes.
I: When aren’t you a good listener?
L: Probably if I’ve had a situation before which went badly, so if I’ve had a big
argument and then I’d be kind of not really focused.
I: Now you’ve only done one collage, how you see yourself, do you think that how you
think other people see you would be the same?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 374
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L: Well I kind of mixed it into this one because the happy and calm and like cheerful
turns round the darker colours and it would be what other people see me from the
outside but not the inside.
I: Do people ever see the inside?
L: Sometimes, like I know my best friend Holly does.
I: But on the whole people don’t?
L: No.
I: If you had more time, how would you have developed this picture further?
L: I think I’d try and get slightly more candid pictures, so kind of represent that
sometimes I’m really confused.
I: Confused over?
L: Anything, it can be anything.
I: Anything?
L: Yeah, like maybe when I’m trying to do my work.
I: Do you know what images you would use?
L: No, but if I saw them I’d probably know.
I: OK. How would you usually describe your ethnicity?
L: English or British, if me and a group of friends had been like talking about old
England or something we’d describe British kind of in a dramatic way or something
but if people ask me then just English.
I: What do you mean by old England?
L: Say in the Victorian times they used to be all posh and so you do usually say British
in like a posh accent.
I: So do you think saying British is trying to be posh?
L: No, it’s kind of like a doing it to my friends in an old English accent then if a new
person would say I’m from here I would just say I’m British, English sorry.
I: So you would say English?
L: Yeah.
I: OK, thanks.

(C=Cathy, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Can we start with how you see yourself, would you like to explain what you are
trying to represent with the pictures?
C: That one [image of a man jumping] I’m quite active and I like sport so I put that one
because I think that represents that. I like having fun and I put ‘September’ [word]
because that was the month that my birthday’s in and ‘mood’ [word] I’m not sure
why I put that one down and for this one [cartoon image of a woman in bikini] I put
the beach because I like the summer and going to the beach.
I: You’ve also got a picture of the UK//
C: //because that’s where I come from.
I: And chocolates?
C: My favourite.
I: OK, we’ll move onto how you think other people see you. It’s less busy than the
other side, you’ve just got the words ‘shy’, ‘creativity’ and an image of a cartoon
drawing.
C: I think my parents see me as someone like that because like I have an attitude.
I: In a good way or a bad way?
C: Like at home when I’m like arguing like with my parents they think that I have an
attitude, so like a teenager with their hands on their hips. And put shy because lots of
people think I’m shy and people think I’m quite creative a person.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
C: I’m not sure, I think so.
I: In what way?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 375
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C: I don’t know.
I: I’ve also noticed that you’ve not used any pictures of famous people. If you had
more time, are there any extra pictures that you would have put on?
C: I don’t know. I don’t know which ones I would have found. So I would have put on
more pictures if I had more time but I don’t know what ones.
I: You don’t know which ones?
C: No. I was just like looking through and anything that caught my eye.
I: And just finally, I asked you how you would usually describe your ethnicity. What
would you usually say?
C: That I’m British.
I: Do you always say that you’re British, because some people say English?
C: Yeah, I’d say English.
I: You’d say English?
C: Yeah.
I: Which one?
C: I’d probably say that I’m English because that’s the language.
I: Because that’s the language?
C: Mmm.
I: I don’t really say British but I’d say English.
I: So you think that British and English are the same thing?
C: Yeah.
I: But then why would you usually say English?
C: I don’t know because I’d always say English.
I: OK, that’s brilliant.

(J=Janice, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to talk through the pictures that you’ve used for how you see yourself?
J: I put that on there [images of Green Day members] because I like Green Day and I
like watching TV and some people say I look like Nemo [animated character].
I: Who is Nemo?
J: A fish.
I: Do you think you look like Nemo?
J: No.
I: Let’s go back to this [images of Green Day], what is it about Green Day that you
like?
J: I like their music.
I: Is there anything about their characters or their personalities that you think you share?
J: No.
I: No?
J: No.
I: So it’s just their music that you like?
J: Yeah.
I: You’ve also used some words there, ‘strong’ and ‘gossip’. Do you think you’re
strong?
J: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
J: No.
I: So what does the word ‘strong’ there mean, why is it there?
J: Because I put it on.
I: OK let’s just go to the other side. You’ve used the words ‘funny’, ‘nice’ and ‘kind’.
Is there anything else that you would add to that side if you could?
J: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
J: No.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 376
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I: Do you think how you think other people see you is the same as how you see
yourself?
J: Yeah.
I: So it could be one big collage?
J: Yeah.
I: And how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
J: English.
I: Do you always say English?
J: Yeah.
I: OK, thanks.

(I=India, aged 13, female; In=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
In: Is this one big collage?
I: Yeah.
In: I’ve noticed a picture of Trinny and Susannah, why are they there?
I: Because my friends and myself are a bit like them and we want to be like interior
fashion designers when we’re older so they’re like our idols.
In: Your idols. So do you think that they are positive role models?
I: Yeah.
In: What is it about them that you like and identify with?
I: They’re like honest about you know people, what they think people look like and how
they can be improved.
In: Do you want to go through each of the pictures and what it means?
I: I love animals basically and I like to give money to the RSPCA because a lot of
animals that people just leave, you know don’t treat right, so that’s why I’ve put
them. I like her [image of Catherine Tate] she’s so funny.
In: Do you know her name?
I: Yeah Catherine Tate I think it is. ‘3’ [number] is my lucky number.
In: What about this picture of Fearne and Reggie [television presenters]?
I: I love Reggie and I think they look nice together.
In: What about this picture of a baby, what does that mean?
I: I adore little babies and because I’ve got several sisters, younger ones, I like having
them close but yeah, I haven’t seen them for ages so.
In: And what about all this Manga?
I: Because I draw Manga I’ve got a book full of different characters that I like to draw
dedicated like a couple of months at the moment to it, then I’m writing about a story
for it which I’m gonna write and which is gonna turn into a book so yeah.
I: So what are you trying to express about how you see yourself?
In: I don’t want to sound big-headed but I’m talented.
In: Talented in what way?
I: Well I can sing, I can draw, I can play the piano and I’ve got quite a few friends that
think the same as well.
In: Now you’ve only done one collage. Do you think how you see yourself is how you
think other people see you? Do you think there is a difference between the two?
I: If there is a difference it would be quite slight I think.
In: Where would the difference be?
I: Not with what I can do but my personality.
In: But what part of your personality would they see different?
I: Well my friends would see me as quite a funny like sort of person, but then the people
that I don’t get on with would think like differently, and then normal people would
think that I’m quite shy and all that like you know if I was walking down the street
because I’m like in my own little world, but then with my friends I’m different so.
In: And how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
I: Probably English.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 377
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In: English?
I: Yeah, because I was born here I would say English.
In: Because here you’ve written British and that you’re grand-dad is from Trinidad and
your dad is mixed. What does mixed mean?
I: Well his mum is British and his dad is from Trinidad.
In: OK but you would describe yourself as//
I: //English.
In: Why would you use English?
I: Because I’m not connected to that the Trinadian part of my family if you know what I
mean, because I’ve never actually met my grand-dad.
In: OK.
I: Because he [dad] don’t know where he is and I’ve never actually met him, and so I’m
just connecting with my English side of my family.
In: So have you got anything in common with Trinidadian culture?
I: No because I’ve never been you know introduced to that culture or anything.

(S=Sally, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Your collage is quite abstract.
S: Yeah.
I: Do you want to just go through what the pictures represent?
S: Yeah, it’s meant to be one big collage. I couldn’t really see how other people see me,
I didn’t do the other side.
I: That’s fine.
S: Most of the patterns because that’s like I’m colourful, then I put Wallace and Gromit
[animated characters] I like them like big fan. I put the pancakes there because I eat
for England.
I: OK.
S: And I like animals that’s why I put like the otter and the butterfly, yeah and I think
Nellie the Elephant because I’m colourful and I’m always smiling, yeah and I think
I’m colourful yeah.
I: You’ve not used any pictures of celebrities, or sports stars, or politicians, why is that?
S: I don’t know. I don’t know really.
I: Do you think if you had more time//
S: //probably yeah.
I: Probably. Who for example, or what else would you put down on your collage?
S: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
S: Yeah not really.
I: So you feel that there’s no difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
S: No, no.
I: OK and how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: British or English.
I: Which one would you usually say?
S: Either of those not a definite one.
I: Are there different situations that you might be in where you would feel that one
would be better to use rather than the other?
S: I don’t know.
I: You don’t know?
S: No just say one or the other.
I: OK, thanks.

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(P=Polly, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Is this two separate collages or one collage?
P: One collage.
I: Do you want to just talk about what pictures you’ve used and why?
P: I used words ‘I am what I am’ because I am what I am basically.
I: And what are you?
P: Annoying I think.
I: Annoying?
P: Yeah.
I: In what way?
P: Like loud and stuff like that.
I: OK and who are these pictures of?
P: I like people and Arsenal and people see me as cute so I put this picture [image of a
baby].
I: Who is this a picture of?
P: Thierry Henry.
I: Is it just because you like Arsenal that you’ve used him?
P: No, I like him as well.
I: In what way?
P: In another way.
I: And who is this [image of Melody Thornton from the Pussycat Dolls]?
P: I don’t know.
I: What is it about her that you identify with?
P: She looks quiet but she’s not, that’s what, that’s what people say about me.
I: She looks quiet but she’s not?
P: Yeah.
I: Do you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing?
P: That’s a good thing.
I: Why?
P: Because you need to be loud.
I: Why would you need to be loud?
P: So people can hear you, shows like you’re confident and stuff.
I: Show that you’re confident?
P: Yeah.
I: And when would it be good to be quiet?
P: When you’re in a test and stuff like when you have to be quiet otherwise you’d get
your paper ripped up.
I: OK and what are them pictures on that side [how I think other people see me]?
P: Because some people think I’m a brat so I put ‘brat attack’ [words] and I like
basketball because I play basketball.
I: Do you think you are a brat?
P: Yeah.
I: Do you think that being a brat is a good thing or a bad thing?
P: No, no actually I don’t think I’m a brat but people say I am so.
I: Why do you think people think you are a brat?
P: Because they say I’m spoilt but I’m not.
I: Why would they say that you’re spoilt?
P: Because they say I have everything but I don’t.
I: What haven’t you got?
P: Things that I want like a PS2 I ain’t got one of them, I want one but I ain’t getting
one.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have put on?
P: Pictures of smiley faces and stuff.
I: Of smiley//

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P: //faces.
I: What would you be trying to say?
P: That’s I’m cheerful and happy most of the time.
I: Most of the time?
P: Yeah.
I: Why only most of the time?
P: Well actually nearly always, but sometimes I have my bad days and get stressed.
I: You get stressed?
P: Yeah.
I: OK. How would you usually describe your ethnicity//
P: //black British.
I: Do you always say you’re black British?
P: Yeah, people don’t usually ask me what I am. When I write things down that’s what
I write.
I: You write black British?
P: Yeah.
I: Would you ever just write British?
P: Yeah but (pause), I’m not exactly white so.
I: So do you think being British means, do you think that if you just wrote British
people would think that you were white?
P: No they could think that you were Asian or something.
I: They could think you were Asian?
P: No, no they could think you were Asian or black or mixed race.
I: Oh, so do you write black British because you want to make it clear//
P: //yeah//
I: //that you are black//
P: //yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(A=Amanda, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Would you like to just go through your images and explain that they mean to you?
Are they two separate collages?
A: Yeah.
I: OK so let’s just work through these ones first [how I see myself]?
A: That one [image of a woman with stereo] is for dancing to music because I like
dancing to and music and having fun.
I: OK.
A: That one [‘feel like dancing’] is for dancing as well and that one [‘hilarious’]
sometimes I think I’m really funny and I’m just about fashion really and I like also
see myself as the best sometimes really so.
I: You see yourself as the best sometimes, when wouldn’t you see yourself as the best?
A: I don’t know, when someone else is better than me, I don’t know. I see myself as the
best sometimes just, I don’t know, I’m confused now.
I: Confused about?
A: Don’t know, hadn’t really thought about it before so.
I: What about those pictures [how I think other people see me]?
A: Some people say I’m like very pretty and some friends say I’m good enough to be a
model kind of thing so I put that down and then I just think people say I’m cheeky
and I thought that looked quite cheeky looking so I put that down and then the same
with that the ‘hot’ and the ‘fit’ one as well practically same as the ‘model’ really.
I: So you’ve put that you think other people see you as pretty, good enough to be a
model. Do you think in how you see yourself that you feel you are good enough to be
a model?
A: No//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 380
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Polly: //well you should.
A: I don’t, I just put it down because that’s what other people say but I don’t think I am.
I: If you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have put on?
A: I don’t know like [inaudible].
I: Can you give me any examples?
A: How other people see me like emotions and stuff.
I: How do you think they do see you?
A: Happy sometimes and not happy the other.
I: OK and how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
A: I’d say white British.
I: White British? You’ve written English.
A: English, British English yeah.
I: Which one would you usually say British or English?
A: I’d probably would usually say English.
I: English?
A: Yeah.
I: Why would you say English over British?
A: To get the point across and say that I’m English.
I: What point?
A: Just to say I’m English really.
I: So you would say you’re English?
A: Yeah.
I: OK that’s great.

(S=Sheila, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two collages here, so shall we start with ‘how I see myself’?
S: I like music that’s why I’ve got like R&B hip hop and hip hop there and I love films
and I like Kelly Clarkson there.
I: What is it about Kelly Clarkson that you like?
S: The way she sings and how she dresses and stuff like that, she’s good at singing and
she’s got a very good fashion sense.
I: Do you think there’s anything about her character that you think you share with her
[Kelly Clarkson]?
S: She’s a nice person.
I: Let’s move onto how you think other people see you. You’ve just used words here
do you want to explain why you’ve used these words?
S: My family think that I’m loud so I’ve got ‘sound’ and they know that I like music I
love my music, they think that I like games they know that I like games OK and they
think that I’m a star they think I’m beauty.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you think other people see you and
how you see yourself?
S: Not really, a bit same but//
I: //a bit the same?
S: Yeah.
I: When wouldn’t they be the same [how I see myself and how I think other people see
me]?
S: Like like the star and the beauty and it’s on there and stuff like that.
I: So you don’t see yourself as a star and beautiful?
S: No.
S: Just going back to how you see yourself, what is it about hip hop and R&B music that
you like in particular, why is that your favourite music?
S: Because I like the people that sing them, rhythm, the rhythm of the music and like
how hip hop and R&B people like dress.
I: OK and just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 381
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S: English.
I: Do you always say English?
S: Yeah.
I: OK thanks.

(S=Sabina, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one big collage?
S: Yeah.
I: Do you just want to go through the images and what they mean and represent to you?
S: I’ve got Thierry Henry because I support Arsenal and I’ve got a phone on there
because I like my phone and just basically stuff that I like.
I: So it’s all stuff you like?
S: Yeah.
I: Why have you got a picture of a boxer [image of Amir Khan]?
S: I like watching his matches.
I: Is it just his matches that you like watching or is there anything about him that you
like?
S: Not really him just like his boxing.
I: I don’t mean do you fancy him what I mean is, are there any characteristics of his
personality that you like?
S: He’s a nice person innit.
I: He’s a nice person. In what way is he a nice person?
S: Just like the way he is.
I: This is Beyonce and this is, who is he?
S: Joe.
I: Why have you used them?
S: Because they just, they like famous people who can sing and stuff. I like music.
I: You like their music?
S: Yeah.
I: What does this image mean [drawn image of a cigarette with cross through it]?
S: I don’t like people’s smoke, I just don’t like smoking, smell none of it.
I: OK. You’re from Southampton yeah//
S: //mmm//
I: //and you’ve got a picture of EastEnders there, why is that there?
S: I’m not from Southampton I’m from Bradford but I just like watching EastEnders.
I: What type of person are you trying to say you are then? How do you see your
identity, what are you trying to express about it here?
S: I’m a normal person.
I: Do you think there’s a difference between how you think other people see you and
how you see yourself?
S: Yeah.
I: What is the difference?
S: They see me as like calm and stuff and I just like get stressed basically.
I: They see you as calm?
S: Yeah it’s just that having a laugh and stuff.
I: Having a?
S: Laugh, you know when you laugh? But I don’t know, it seems happy its very colour
there’s not much difference.
I: So you’re not calm?
S: No. Yeah I can be at times, but I have my ups and downs.
I: You have your ups and downs?
S: Yeah.
I: Just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: Asian.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 382
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I: Do you always say Asian?
S: I do. If I have to say Pakistani but like if you’ve got to like//
I: //if you’ve got to?
S: If you’ve just got to like say what you are, like if you’re sitting in a room//
I: //sitting with?
S: A load of Indians and you can’t exactly say Asian because like you clarify what you
are so I say Pakistani.
I: Do you only say Pakistani when you’re around other Asian people?
S: Otherwise it’s just Asian innit.
I: So who would you just say I’m Asian to?
S: White people or just when you’ve got to fill out shit.
I: OK thanks.

(C=Carly, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Carly, you’ve done two separate collages?
C: Yeah yeah.
I: Do you want to start with how you see yourself and just explain what pictures you’ve
used and why you’ve used them?
C: I’ve used the UK flag because that’s where I was born here and I just wanted to show
that. I showed the target because I’m, I like to be ambitious and I like to hit my target
basically so in school or anything and I did the mountain with a person on top
because I’m ambitious and, yeah so I just wanted to show that. I wrote well had the
word ‘heaven’ with a question mark next to it because I’m not really sure what I
believe in, heaven or not, and I just wanted to show that, and I showed the picture of
the confused person because I’m confused with my friends with their sexuality and
stuff like that I just wanted to show so//
I: //you’re sorry?
C: My friends and like their sexuality like, how do I explain it, because they’re like
always coming to me because I feel like I’m like the advice person and with friends
they come to me with their problems.
I: In what way are they confused about their sexuality?
C: Well I’ve got a friend and she doesn’t know if she’s like in-between if you understand
what I mean (laughter).
I: Do you mean she doesn’t know if she’s lesbian or//
C: //yeah yeah and she’s always talking to me about it because she’s confused so I put
the confused face because I’m the agony aunt of the group.
I: Now what about the word ‘race’ and this image here [image of African children]?
C: I put that because my dad is African and my mum is English and I wanted to put that
I belong to both groups, like I’m African and English at the same time yeah so I
wanted to put a picture of that there.
I: OK let’s move onto how you think other people see you.
C: I put the angry face because I think people can see I’m quite bossy and get quite
stressed sometimes. I put the sun because I think that some people see me as a happy
person.
I: What about ‘I’ll speak out’ [words]?
C: Because I’m quite opinionated and I say my views, I put my views out straight away.
And I put the power button because I think people see me as quite tuned in to a, if
you’re talking about an issue I get quite tuned into it and put my views across.
I: Do you think that both sides of the collage are the same? Do you think how you think
other people see you is the same as how you see yourself?
C: Slightly, in one way the whole ambitious thing is one but in another way I think,
happy side I think I’m quite a happy person like I think that’s how other people see
me.
I: So you do think they are the same?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 383
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C: Yeah I do actually yeah.
I: Yes?
C: Yeah.
I: I’ve just noticed a picture of Pete Doherty on how you see yourself, what does that
mean?
C: It was just like the cigarette because I don’t like smoking or anything like that so I did
it with a cross through it.
I: So if you had more time are there any pictures that you would have added to the
collage?
C: What to any side?
I: Didn’t you just say how you think other people see you is how you see yourself?
C: Yeah I would have, I would have put more of the same pictures on either side because
I think they’re quite different.
I: What is the biggest difference do you think between both sides?
C: I haven’t put my sort of emotions on this side [how I see myself] I put what I see
people think of me, how emotionalised on this side [how I think other people see me]
but none on this side I just put what I’m into really and, yeah that’s what I’ve really
put if that makes sense.
I: So you would have put more emotions on how I see myself?
C: Yeah yeah.
I: You would have maybe have used the same images for both sides or done one big
collage?
C: Yeah I could have done one big collage actually because I think they’re quite the
same so.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
C: British because that’s where I was born but I sometimes I say I’m mixed race as well.
I: What one do you usually say?
C: English.
I: English or British?
C: British or English really, more British.
I: Why more British?
C: I probably say that because I’m more part of, I don’t know the, I don’t know how to
describe it, more part of the UK just, I don’t know.
I: What do you mean by more part of the UK?
C: I just think of, like UK is a whole big country so I just say yeah I’m British like that
because I’m yeah, well I do say I’m English but I’m more British.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(R=Rita, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Shall we start with ‘how I see myself’, do you just want to explain what pictures
you’ve used and why?
R: Well I’ve used her because she’s like smiling and I’m sometimes happy and I like
going out into the country and having lengthy walks and I did that one because I like
animals.
I: And who is that a picture of [image of a woman shopping]?
R: I like shopping.
I: So overall you see yourself as quite a happy person, who is quite peaceful and calm
and enjoy shopping?
R: Yeah.
I: OK let’s go onto how you think other people see you. What do these pictures mean?
R: I chose that one [image of the Eiffel Tower] because it’s like the Eiffel Tower stands
out and I like to stand out. I’m like sometimes happy and sometimes sad and
sometimes annoyed and I’m not sure why I put them but I just like them so I (long
pause).

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 384
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I: Do you think that there’s a difference then between how you think other people see
you and how you see yourself, because this one [how I think other people see me]
seems to focus on emotions a lot more than this side [how I see myself]? (long pause)
Like here [how I think other people see me] you’ve put that you stand out and other
people might think that you’re angry or sad, so is there a difference between these
two sides?
R: A little bit of a difference because of different like emotions on either sides.
I: What are the differences with the emotions? Like on this side [how I see myself]
you’ve put that you’re happy but you’ve not done this on the other side. So do you
think other people don’t see you as happy?
R: Sometimes they do sometimes they don’t, because sometimes I’m really stressed out
and sometimes I’m not so.
I: So what emotions would be in how you see yourself that other people would rarely
see?
R: Happy probably.
I: So you feel you’re a lot more happy than other people think?
R: Yeah.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
R: British.
I: Do you always say British?
R: Sometimes, like sometimes I say English because like I’m like in England.
I: What one do you use more often?
R: Probably British.
I: British. OK thanks.

(A=Annabel, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Would you like to pick out some of the pictures you feel express how you see
yourself?
A: I picked ‘Unity’ [word] because I think like when people are upset people should I
think people should come together and help each other. I picked out that picture
[image of Bjork] because it’s different and I like to be different, I don’t like to be like
everybody else.
I: So the picture of the girl with the red mask on her face. I’ve noticed Green Day//
A: //oh yeah.
I: Why have you got Green Day there?
A: Because I like their music and look up to them ’cause they’re cool.
I: Is it just the music that you identify with or is it anything about them?
A: Well that one [Billie Joe Armstrong] has been like through a lot, like his dad died
when he was young and he expressed himself in music and I respect that and that’s
how I see myself.
I: And you’ve also got words like ‘pride’ and ‘the killers’, why are they there?
A: The Killers is a band and I like their music and words, I love pride, I think are my
personality like wild and stuff.
I: What about Japan?
A: Japan I like that country.
I: Have you been there?
A: No but I got the drawings of like that thing.
I: So you like the Manga style cartoons?
A: Yeah.
I: On how you think other people see you//
A: //that’s nothing there I just//
I: //just doodling?
A: Yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 385
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I: So do you think how you see yourself and how you think other people see you are the
same thing?
A: I think it would be different but I didn’t do anything there because I don’t really care
how other people see me because I think my opinion matters most, and if they don’t
like how I am then that’s just tough really that’s how I am.
I: But do you think there’s a difference?
A: Yeah I do.
I: What would the difference be?
A: Well I don’t know really I don’t really know how they see me. I think that a lot of
people think that I’m a nice person but like everybody’s got different opinions so
some people might not like some people would like me I’m not really sure.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
A: British or English.
I: Which one would you usually say?
A: I’d say English.
I: OK thanks.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 386
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Appendix B.6: Twynham School Group One
(J=Jake, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Is this one collage or two separate collages?
J: Kind of two separate ones.
I: So let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through each of the pictures
and explain why you’ve used them, what you are trying to express, what they
represent? Let’s start up here with this flag.
J: OK I’m like half English and half Jamaican, it’s like my mum is English and I was
born here so that shows that and my dad’s Jamaican so just put like what I am.
I: So the mixture of two sides as one?
J: Yeah.
I: And then you’ve got these trainers and the basketball player and is that a sports logo?
J: Yeah.
I: What do they represent?
J: Well I like sport a lot, just saying that I like it a lot really.
I: Right and what is it about sport that you like?
J: Um like the competition and the physical side of it.
I: So you like the competition?
J: Yeah.
I: Is that because, is it more the taking part or is it about the winning for you?
J: It’s good; I like it if I win.
I: OK and what about these pictures here because you’ve got, what is that an ipod?
J: Yeah.
I: What does that represent?
J: Like that I like music and the 50 Cent logo like the favourite like singer person I like,
like look up to you know.
I: What is it about 50 Cent that you like? What is it about him or his music that you
identify with?
J: It’s just like good music and it like tells stuff but like, in like rap kind of thing.
I: What sort of stuff? What do you mean?
J: Like in different places, like towns and stuff like different people and like kind of
telling other stories, like telling his own and other people’s stories.
I: So he’s telling his life story and other people’s?
J: Yeah yeah.
I: And why do you like that?
J: I don’t know I just think its good how like he expresses himself and it makes you
think about different places and different people and stuff.
I: Because the thing is, 50 Cent also has quite a bad reputation//
J: //yeah//
I: //because he acts at times like a bit of a gangster type//
J: //yeah.
I: So do you think that people like 50 Cent are positive or negative role models?
J: I think they’re like kind of in the middle, like people are.
I: In what way//
J: //like shooting and stuff, obviously that’s wrong but like, he’s like, made his way up
kind of thing to be like singing and famous and stuff like that and achieved something
with his life.
I: So he’s both at the same time?
J: Yeah.
I: And what about, you’ve got a picture of boobs there, what does that represent?
J: I just thought I’d be pretty funny, I put it on.
I: Is that the only reason you put them on there, because you thought it would be funny?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 387
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J: Yeah.
I: OK you’ve also got the word ‘Twynham’ which is your school//
J: //yeah.
I: How do you feel about your school? Do you enjoy it here?
J: Yeah, it’s OK.
I: In what way is it part of how you see yourself?
J: It’s just generally like what I do most of the time, I go to school. That’s what I do I
might as well put it in there.
I: OK and let’s move on to how I think other people see me. You’ve got a trainer again,
well it’s the same trainer just a different colour//
J: //yeah//
I: //does that represent sport again?
J: Yeah.
I: You’ve also got a gun and//
J: //it’s like a diamond thing//
I: //a diamond and graffiti. What do they mean?
J: Like gangster stuff, it’s like a lot of black people are gangsters and stuff and they like
do drugs and stuff like that.
I: And you’ve got the picture of a gangster here?
J: Yeah.
I: Do you think other people see you as a gangster?
J: Like their first reaction is like, because of my colour they could think like that.
I: Why do you think that they would think that though?
J: I don’t know.
I: Where would they get them ideas from? Where would they get the idea that black
people are all gangsters?
J: ’Cause like a lot of like you see on TV or in like films and stuff like that, a lot of like
the black people are more gangster types.
I: What type of other people do you think would think of you, or could think of you that
way if they saw you?
J: Just like random people, I don’t know.
I: Is that something you’re aware of on a daily basis, that when people see you they
might//
J: //yeah. They could like, if they’re thinking of it like, they could think loads of
different things and that’s like the first thing I came up with.
I: So there’s a massive difference between how you think other people see you//
J: //mmm//
I: //and how you see yourself?
J: Yeah.
I: Going back to this side [how you think other people see you]. Are you very
conscious of your, like you said that the media build up the image of black people as
gangsters//
J: //yeah//
I: //do you think that that’s getting better, that they are moving away from it? That
there are more positive images of black people, or do you think that it’s still quite bad
and black people are still shown in a negative way?
J: They are still shown, it’s still a little bit.
I: Can you give me some examples?
J: Um.
I: Any films or programmes or music or anything where you think//
J: //like rap music and stuff like that like people show like black people shooting people
or on like X-Box games if its, like on Grand Theft Auto where you go and shoot
people it’s a black person it’s not a white person, it’s like the black people who do the
shooting kind of thing.
I: For you then, in the media are there any positive black role models?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 388
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J: Yeah there is some, I don’t know his name, it’s Ladley King or something, I don’t
know his name.
I: Who is he?
J: He like spoke up about like the black people’s needs and stuff like that; like they
should be equal and stuff like that.
I: Oh, Martin Luther King.
J: That’s it, yeah.
I: How do you think that this side [how I think other people see me] will change so
people don’t think of black people in a negative way?
J: I don’t know ’cause like one time in everyone’s life they’re gonna like think
something like that it’s just, I don’t know.
I: What think something like?
J: Like Black people are gangsters kind of thing, like if they [other people] think about
it that’s what’s gonna probably come into their head ’cause they see a lot of it like in
the media and in TV and that as well, but then other things they will think as well.
I: Like?
J: Like slaves and stuff like that. Like a lot of black people are slave’s, like from ages
ago.
I: So do you think people aren’t given enough positive or they’re not given the correct
information about black culture and//
J: //yeah//
I: //do you feel that it only focuses on like that they were either slaves or that they’re all
gangsters now//
J: //yeah//
I: //that it just goes from one negative to the next?
J: It [the media] doesn’t really show any like nice like black people, they don’t really
focus on it they just focus on like all the things that black people do wrong.
I: When you say they who do you mean?
J: Like the media and stuff like that.
I: So they just focus on all the stuff that black people, that they think are doing wrong.
J: Yeah.
I: Do you think that those things that they show, like people being gangsters, also apply
though to white people and other people from other ethnicities?
J: Um yeah sometimes.
I: Why do you think though that they only show black people in that way?
J: Sometimes they [the media] show like, Asians, they’re like saying a lot about like
Asian people and stuff like, Iraq people they’re showing a lot about them as well,
because like of what like Saddam Hussein done, like saying like all of them are like
that but they’re not, it’s a bit harsh.
I: So you think that they’re also labelling people//
J: //yeah//
I: //in Iraq now//
J: //yeah.
I: Do you think they do the same to white people in the media?
J: I don’t hear much about it really but don’t know they might do.
I: They might do.
J: Yeah, I don’t hear much about it though.
I: Is there anyone, because you mentioned Martin Luther King//
J: //yeah.
I: Is there anyone that is around today who you think is a good positive role model for
black people and black children?
J: Simon Webbe.
I: Simon Webbe?
J: Yeah.
I: Why do you think he’s a good role//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 389
available at [Link]
J: //he’s like just a normal person who hasn’t done anything wrong, like he just sings
really, just normal.
I: Yes.
J: Yeah, ’cause like, it’s like, everyone knows him like he’s not English, like everyone
knows him they don’t say anything about him.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
J: I’m half Jamaican and half English.
I: Do you always say half?
J: Yeah. I’m half Jamaican and half English.
I: OK that’s excellent, thank you.

(R=Rose, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two separate collages, so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you
want to go through the images and explain what they are and what you are trying to
express?
R: Sure OK. Well I really like art and fashion, that was the basis of it really, I like this
photo [image of a woman applying make-up and party girls] because I like to party
and I’m a bit of a poser, but I’m sort of like ‘cause I’m quite down if people want,
and I like people to say stuff to my face you know I don’t like people talking about
me behind my back, it’s like go on do it [image of a heart with ‘break my heart’], and
then I really like fashion and shoes so that was the basis between them two [image of
a female model and boots], and that one [image of a collage of girls] I just really love
the picture I don’t know why, there’s just something about it that I really like.
I: Right.
R: Don’t know, just a collection of photos, I really like photography.
I: And what does this word say?
R: Well I was gonna, there’s a quote and ‘she reads too many fashion magazines’ and I
was gonna finish that so.
I: So if you were going to use some words to explain the pictures and how you see
yourself, what would you use?
R: Arty, daring, chic and confident. Yeah I am confident, I do a lot of drama and acting
and stuff so.
I: So let’s move onto how you think other people see you.
R: Yeah.
I: Now you’ve used black and white pictures here. You’ve got one picture of zebra’s
and another of a girl. Let’s start with the girl in the coat [how I think other people see
me].
R: Well people always tell me that I have a cool like dress sense and I thought that was
quite cool, and she’s laughing and I’m usually quite happy and making people laugh
so that was that.
I: You’ve got a white zebra standing amongst other zebra’s, what does that represent?
R: People think that I stand out from the crowd a lot and think I’m different and stuff
like that so.
I: In what way do they think you’re different?
R: Well, I don’t know, they just think like I sort of break the boundaries with like
fashion, the way I am and music and all that, because I have quite a lot of friends that
are into R&B and hip hop but they don’t judge you on what you listen to, I listen to
totally different stuff to them like Franz Ferdinand but yeah so, I try to be my own
person.
I: So do you think that there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you?
R: Not, there’s not much of a difference I don’t think.
I: So where would the difference be?
R: I’m not sure.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 390
available at [Link]
I: What do you personally feel because we’ve got fashion and standing out from the
crowd and that’s evident in these images, but if you were to pinpoint any differences
what do you think they would be?
R: Um, I think people when they, if they first see me they think that I’m gonna be a bit
of a bitch and that I’m over-confident and have a big ego and all this.
I: Why do you think they’d//
R: //I think because I do a lot of acting, I don’t know, I know I have quite a serious face
sometimes so I think that people think I’m like giving them evils and all this but I’m
not really, quite a nice person to get along with quite funny.
I: I’ve also noticed that you’ve not used any pictures of celebrities or film or television
programmes. Why is that?
R: I try and be my own person, I don’t really follow a certain person.
I: So you just really prefer to be your own person and don’t want to follow somebody?
R: Yeah.
I: Is there anybody that you think is a positive role model for you?
R: Yeah, Nicole Ritchie and Johnny Depp.
I: What is it about them//
R: //well Johnny Depp he’s like really different, he’s a really good actor he got me into
acting he inspired me to do that, he’s not into all the like media stars he’s like just a
regular family guy and likes to stay out of the whole spotlight.
I: And what about Nicole Ritchie?
R: She’s just really cool, I like the way that she, she like got over all her addictions and
all that that she used to have and yeah, quite cool.
I: OK and just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
R: Half Chinese and half English.
I: Would you always say you were half Chinese and half English, or is there ever a
situation where you might just say I’m Chinese or I’m English?
R: Well I don’t think so I mean the question doesn’t really crop up so much I don’t
think, but I’m not ashamed of who I am, so I just say it.
I: Is it important for you to, if people do ask, is it important for you to not deny the
Chinese//
R: //yeah//
I: //Chinese part of you, if you get what I’m driving at?
R: Yeah, yeah.
I: Would you feel right if you in saying I am English?
R: Well it wouldn’t feel wrong but I am half Chinese as well so, you know, I just don’t
see a problem with it so I just say that.
I: OK that’s brilliant. Thank you.

(B=Brian, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through the images and
explain what you are trying to express with them?
B: Yeah, I like music [Pussycat Dolls sign] I like films [Gladiator sign] and I’m from
England [image of UK map], I like girls [word ‘girl’ and image of girl in a bikini] and
I like sport [image of a footballer].
I: What is it about sport that you like in particular?
B: Golf.
I: But what is it about, do you just enjoy watching it or is it//
B: //I like playing it and stuff and just having fun just.
I: Right, OK. Also the music, what type of music do you like?
B: Rap.
I: What is it about rap that you like?
B: I don’t know, I just do.
I You just do?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 391
available at [Link]
B: Yeah. I like the music.
I: Who is your favourite rapper?
B: Eminem.
I: Eminem.
B: Yeah.
I: What is it about Eminem that you like?
B: His music.
I: Yes, but what is it about his music that, why is his music in your eyes better than//
B: //his lyrics.
I: So why do you like his lyrics? Why do you identify with his music, why do you find
it appealing?
B: Um, I don’t know I just, I don’t know really, I don’t know.
I: OK let’s move onto how you think other people see you. Do you want to go through
the images there?
B: I’m quite quiet and kind and er.
I: You’ve got a picture of a guy with a gun.
B: Yeah probably brave and sporty.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
B: Yeah.
I: What’s the difference?
B: Um, there isn’t really is there.
I: But do you feel there is a difference?
B: Not really.
I: So you think the way you see yourself is exactly the same as the way you think other
people see you?
B: Yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
B: I’m English.
I: You’re English.
B: Yeah.
I: Do you always say English, do you ever use British?
B: No I just say English.
I: Why would you use English and not say British?
B: Because I usually say English, OK, I don’t know, I just always say I’m English.
I: OK brilliant.

(K=Keira, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: So Keira, you’ve just done ‘how I see myself’.
K: Yeah.
I: Do you want to go through the images?
K: Um yeah well it’s not very girlie obviously but a lot of it is like, I do a lot of motor
sport and that and I play a lot of games and I’m also in the army cadets.
I: Right.
K: I’m bit of a rock chic with the guitars and Motorhead and that and the Status Quo and
that and of course I’m also into like technology with downloading things from the
internet and that.
I: And you’ve also got a picture here of scenery [image of a lake].
K: Yeah.
I: What does that mean?
K: It’s kind of like um photography, a lot of the places you go to do motor sport and that
you get a lot of like in Scotland.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 392
available at [Link]
I: Going back to the music that you like, because you said you are a bit of a rock chic,
what is it about that type music that you like? What is it about that type of music that
you identify with?
K: Well I’m a guitarist so it’s obviously with guitar and solo and beats and things.
I: Right OK. So what types of bands do you really like, because you’ve got Motorhead
and Status Quo, would they be rock ‘n’ roll bands that you really like?
K: Yeah.
I: What is it about them in particular though, because there are lots of rock bands like
them, what is it about them in particular that you really like? So let’s start with Status
Quo, what is it about their music and them that you identify with?
K: Well it’s like a free type of music with like, it can be simple and difficult and it can
also be like, like Status Quo music is quite upbeat and it’s quite a joy to listen to and
then of course with them playing it as well they put personality into it as well.
I: So, you think that they’ve got//
K: //yeah, they’ve got quite a lot of personality.
I: And what about Motorhead?
K: They’re just like a proper, a proper rock band kind of thing. Heavy rock, yeah, yeah,
it’s a lot of heavy rock which is quite good.
I: You’ve used the phrase rock chic//
K: //yeah//
I: //what is being a rock chic?
K: Being into rock music and guitars and things that people associate with rock like
legends.
I: And what is, apart from the musical style, what is it about rock that you like? What is
it specifically about rock, what do you think rock music in general expresses or what
do you think you identify with?
K: I don’t know really.
I: Because some people might say, for example, it sounds all the same, it’s just the same
old beat, it’s just guitars.
K: Yeah but a lot of people, I have a different taste in music, you could like ask most of
the people in my class and they’d say R&B or pop or stuff that’s in the charts
nowadays whereas I don’t hang with that stuff ‘cause I go like the legend rock artists
rather than up-to-date people.
I: What is it about up-to-date people, why is it that you can’t engage with that, that you
don’t identify with that in the same way you do with rock?
K: Because I don’t find it very interesting to listen to, R&B sounds all the same and like
some of the pop and all dance stuff sounds mainly the same as well. With rock you
can get like slow rock or melodic rock or hard rock and there are actually different
types, whereas other people would see it as it sounds all the same but personally I
don’t.
I: Right OK. Now on how you think other people see you, you’ve not done anything.
Is that because of time or//
K: //yeah I didn’t start until late in one of the lessons.
I: If you did have time, what type of images would you have put in how you think other
people see you?
K: Mainly the same.
I: Mainly the same.
K: Yeah.
I: Would there be any differences?
K: Um I’m not sure really.
I: Do you think how other people see you is exactly the same as how you see yourself?
K: I don’t know, it’s difficult, no I don’t know.
I: Is there anytime where you think somebody might look at you and think something
that you just don’t feel about yourself?
K: Um (long pause).

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 393
available at [Link]
I: Oh and you said you were a member of the army cadets.
K: Yes, yeah yeah.
I: Do you think that people find that an acceptable thing for girls to do?
K: No they don’t. Some of the people at the army don’t find it because they’re just, out
of all sixteen of us there are four girls the rest of them are boys, and some of the boys
they don’t involve you because they don’t think that you should be there.
I: On what basis?
K: The fact that you have to run around on a field with a gun and the fact that girls
shouldn’t do that, they should stay at home and do things like cooking and cleaning
and things.
I: So do you feel that people are being quite sexist towards women or do you think
that’s just a bad experience?
K: There’s a few that think that girls shouldn’t be in it, like some give leeway and say
well they can try it and if they don’t like it then obviously they’re gonna quit, but
most people just put you down straight away.
I: Do you ever have that in any other areas of your life though, where you feel because
you’re a girl you shouldn’t be doing something or you’re expected to behave a certain
way//
K: //yeah, in like the rally sport that I do, it’s you and the services and there’s no other
girls in my league so you get, if you try to talk to someone like a boy driver they can
like step back a bit and think ‘mmm do you know anything’ kind of thing, and then of
course you get to know everyone and then they’re alright, but a lot of people don’t
think yeah should she be in this league and so on and so forth.
I: Do feel you have to prove yourself as a woman; do you feel like you have to work
harder?
K: Yeah, I do, to get people to understand that, your not a girlie girl walking around in
pink you don’t walk around and go to town and think about girlie things which, I
normally don’t, but when you do something like that [motor sport] you have to
persuade people like boys, and that you have to persuade them lots, you’re not what
they think.
I: Interestingly, you’ve spoken about rock as well but rock music which is quite male
dominated//
K: //yeah, yeah//
I: //so are there any female figures in rock that you particularly identify with?
K: Kelly Clarkson.
I: What is it about Kelly Clarkson that you identify with?
K: She’s very down to earth and her music is quite good and she like puts something into
the music as well so she has the rock behind her.
I: When you say she always puts something into her music, I’m not sure what you
mean?
K: She writes it and then she’ll sit there and she’ll have like session guitarists and
session drummers and that, and she gives them like a sample of what she thinks
sounds good, and then she might change it or keep it like that, so she puts a rock
effort into the music as well.
I: So do you think that she has a lot of control over what she is doing?
K: Yeah, a positive role model for girls like me.
I: Who do you think is a negative role model?
K: I think that the people in R&B take drugs or hit people and are bad.
I: Are there any artists or musicians that you can name specifically?
K: Not off the top of my head no, but you hear of it a lot of the time on TV and in
magazines or it’s due to their videos and their music that people react the way they
do.
I: What do you mean?
K: You get like, like if you look at R&B if you look at that, a lot of singers will be in the
news because they’ve hit someone or done something and of course the young people

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 394
available at [Link]
 turn around and think that looks good yeah I’ll try that being a R&B singer means
you can hit people, whereas you can’t so a lot of people think it’s right if they do it
but it’s not.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
K: I’m Australian.
I: You’re Australian.
K: Mmm.
I: Were you born here?
K: No I was born in Adelaide in Melbourne.
I: How long have you lived here?
K: Thirteen years so I came here when I was really young.
I: So you’ve lived here most of your life?
K: Yeah.
I: But you still call yourself Australian//
K: //yes.
I: Would you ever call yourself English or British?
K: Um, if I had to yeah, a lot of people have like grudges against the Australian for some
reason, or like after the cricket (laughs), but sometimes if you don’t feel like people
are going to like you because your nationality then you say yeah I’m English.
I: So if you feel like people are going to respond badly to the fact that you are saying
you are another//
K: //change it//
I: //will say you’re English.
K: yeah.
I: Has that ever happened to you?
K: Um yeah a couple of times, it’s like you sit down in lessons and they go through who
are you and where do you come from and so on and so forth and you always say
England. If people found out you’re an Ozzy you get, I don’t know, you get labelled
in the way that you should speak in an Australian accent and you should know
everything about Australia and you should live over there and not here and so on and
so forth and then they say why don’t you go back and you say well because the rest of
my family live here.
I: That’s brilliant, thank you.

(L=Lucy, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Are these two separate collages or one//
L: //um yeah they are two.
I: They’re two. OK do you want to start with ‘how I see myself’ and go through the
images and explain what you are trying to express, what they mean to you?
L: Well I’ve got a loads of make-up on there and it’s ’cause I do use a lot of make-up
and who I am really, I’ve got straighteners ’cause I straighten my hair and I’ve got
Beyonce ’cause I kind of idol her, she’s like really pretty and her hair’s always nice
and I’ve always like her. Some of my friends have said that the way I act is like
Jessica Simpson so I put her in there so I thought OK then so, gossip I like a bit of
gossip. I like kids so I put that there and I’m also I’m quite sporty so I put a sports
person on to show that. I’m English so I put England up there.
I: And who are these, the Pussycat Dolls?
L: Yeah, the Pussycat Dolls.
I: Why are they//
L: //well their music is good they’re really good at singing and I like singing and they do
dancing as well and I like dancing to so.
I: Just going back to Beyonce you said you really like her and thought she was pretty.
What is it about her that you think you identify with?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 395
available at [Link]
L: She’s so outgoing and like she’s got her mind set on her dancing and I’ve got my
mind set on dancing and singing, and she does that all the time and I sing and dance
all the time, that’s what I want to do that’s why really.
I: And Jessica Simpson you said people say you act like her, in what way?
L: In the way I dance and sometimes I can be a bit stuck up and, there’s a programme on
TMS about Jessica Simpson’s life and I always watch it with my friends and she acts
a bit stuck up so it’s like, in like the stuck up way sometimes you can be like that.
I: So if you were going to use a few words to sum up how you see yourself, what type
of words would you use?
L: I’m quite outgoing and saucy and I really like dancing but I can be a nasty, stuck up
and selfish.
I: Now moving on to how you think other people see you, do you want to//
L: //yeah I put ‘bitch’ [word] because I’m like in a group of six people and we’re all like
really bitchy to each other sometimes and we always say that and I think I can be a bit
of a bitch. I can be a little brat because in a way I’m quite spoilt, but yeah I think
sometimes I’m a bit of a brat the way I act.
I: Spoilt by?
L: Spoilt by my mum really. ‘Party people’ [words] I like going to parties and stuff like
that so I put that there, ‘style’ [word] I like to have my own style, ‘loud’ [word] I’m
really loud I know I’m loud ‘cause of what I do, wrong, I’m always like wrong like if
people ask me a question I get it wrong and I know I’m wrong I just get a lot of things
wrong.
I: Does that frustrate you, that you get things wrong?
L: Sometimes ’cause sometimes it makes me feel a little bit stupid but then sometimes I
don’t really mind ’cause that’s who I am, and I put the picture of the baby there
’cause I can be quite babyish and stuff like that and I don’t actually know why I put
that there because//
I: //the word ‘gay’//
L: //yeah I think everyone told me to put it up there and they said oh you’re gay like that
and I was like OK, ‘cause someone said to me you’re gay today like that and I was
like OK I’ll put it up there.
I: Gay as in?
L: Not as in actual gay, like lesbian gay, gay as in like happy//
I: //happy//
L: //yeah happy and stuff like that.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
L: Um yeah I do.
I: What are the major differences?
L: People don’t really notice that I dance and sing a lot, well all my friends in the class
do and stuff like that and the bit about bitch, loud and stuff like that I think about that
in myself as well as other people so I think I agree with them on that kind of thing.
I: So you actually agree with what you think//
L: //yeah//
I: //how you think other people see you//
L: //yeah.
I: If you had more time are there anymore images that you would have added?
L: I’d put a picture of my family up there ‘cause I quite like being with my family and
I’m quite like family orientated really.
I: And I just want to go back to the make-up because you’ve used a picture of Estee
Lauder which is obviously a brand we all know//
L: //mmm//
I: //when you use make-up is the brand important to you or//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 396
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L: //not particularly but ’cause I’ve got so much make-up I’ve spent so much money on
make-up and I thought because that’s quite expensive as well, I put that there to show
that I do use like a lot of make-up and it does add up to quite a bit of an expense.
I: And just finally I asked you how you would usually describe your ethnicity, what
would you usually say?
L: Well I don’t know really ‘cause I’m stuff of my mum and my dad and my dad’s Irish
my mum’s Italian and I’m English so, and I don’t, so that would make me quarter
Irish, quarter Italian and half English.
I: So if somebody asked would you say I’m a quarter this I’m a quarter that, or would
you just say I’m English or I’m British or, what one would you usually say?
L: I’d say I’m like quarter this quarter that.
I: Is it important to you to say I’m a quarter Italian, I’m a quarter Irish, is it important//
L: //yeah it is because I quite like people to know that I’m not all English, not like that
there’s anything wrong with English but just like them to know my background
though.
I: Why is that, do you know?
L: Well me and my friends are like that we tell, if anyone asks, we tell them what really
it is and then they actually know what it is, tell them the truth really.
I: OK that’s brilliant. Thanks.

(T=Tim, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Tim, are these two separate collages or one?
T: They’re two.
I: They’re two and you’ve got a section in the middle?
T: Yes.
I: Shall we start with ‘how I see myself’? Do you want to just go through the images
and explain what you are trying to express with each of them?
T: That’s for playing guitar, that’s ’cause I like reggae music and that’s ’cause I like
music as well//
I: //Bob Marley//
T: //no, it’s Hendrix (laughs).
I: Sorry.
T: That’s sleepy, ’cause the tiger’s like asleep, and that’s sheepish and I’ve got like a
cleft lip and palette that’s like when you get when you’re born and she’s got one as
well.
I: Who is that?
T: Carmit from Pussycat Dolls.
I: Right.
T: And that’s calm//
I: //so the image of the woman doing yoga.
T: Yeah.
I: We’ll move on to how you think other people see you. Do you want to go through
these images?
T: That’s loud, happy and that’s crazy and that’s ’cause I had long hair when I was
doing the collage, and that’s ’cause I like food and that’s ’cause I like sport and that’s
mad.
I: You’ve got the mad and the sporty person and the food in the middle//
T: //yeah.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
T: Yeah.
I: What is the difference?
T: Sometimes I act differently when I’m on my own and sometimes I act differently
when I’m with other people.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 397
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I: Right because on this side [how I think other people see me] you’ve got stuff like
loud and mad, but on this side you’ve got calm, on how you see yourself.
T: Yeah.
I: Do you think that other people see that side of you, because here [how I see myself]
you’ve got calm and sleepy and sheepish, do you think other people see that side of
you or do you think they only really see one side of you?
T: Sometimes so.
I: If you had more time are any other images that you would have liked to have added?
T: Probably not.
I: OK and just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
T: British.
I: Do you say British or do you say English?
T: English.
I: Which one would you usually use?
T: English.
I: Why would you say English and not British?
T: ’Cause British is Scotland, Wales, and Ireland and England, but I’m just from
England.
I: So you just say//
T: //English.
I: To put across the fact that you are from England?
T: Yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(S=Sadie, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve just done one side?
S: Yeah.
I: OK you’ve done ‘how I see myself’, do you want to just go through each of the
images and explain what you are trying to express with them?
S: Yeah, I love design and I love sort of interior design and I love how colours go
together and I love interior design and designing houses. I did that [image of a
female footballer] ’cause I love football, I think that girls who do football are really
trying sort of thing, ’cause the girls are going round doing football even though sort
the boys sort of say ‘oh no you can’t do it ’cause it’s a boys’ sport’.
I: So do you feel strongly about girls having equal status//
S: //yeah, yeah, very strongly.
I: Do you think that girls and women in society now have equal status or do you think
there’s more that has to be done?
S: There’s more that has to be done yeah I think even though it’s like they say you have
equal rights, but it’s just coming into practice.
I: Right.
S: I hate McDonald’s, I hate junk food, I’m a really sort of healthy person, I’m a
vegetarian and that’s what I was trying to represent, same as that [image of a burger
with cross through it].
I: Why are you vegetarian?
S: I think it’s wrong, wrong to kill, kill things that, I think it’s wrong to kill things and I
don’t think it’s fair that we should kill, but I don’t mind people who don’t have the
same opinion as me ’cause everyone has a choice but personally I don’t want to.
I: And what is it about McDonald’s specifically that you don’t like?
S: I just hate junk food.
I: So it’s junk food full stop//
S: //yeah, full stop I can’t stand it.
I: What about this picture of Tony Blair here?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 398
available at [Link]
S: Yeah I’m quite left wing I enjoy sort of left wing politics, I mean if I had to choose
I’d probably go for Labour even though my dad’s really right wing.
I: What for you defines right wing and left wing?
S: I don’t know but I agree with more of their points [Tony Blair and Labour]//
I: //like, can you give me an example//
S: //that everyone is entitled to free health care, that everyone is entitled to free
education, even though I think sometimes though some of the things are wrong I
mean I think I’m more, I think I agree with the Conservative’s points on the Europe
EU and Europe I prefer their policy on that.
I: Right OK.
S: Also that one, I love that picture//
I: //babies//
S: //and I love little kids and I love having my little cousins around.
I: And the butterfly?
S: Nature and nature’s sort of there [image of cliffs].
I: Does that tie in with//
S: //yeah and I’m also quite calm and that’s sort of calming but if someone pushes me I
can be quite annoyed and stuff.
I: And we’ve got another kid’s picture.
S: And that’s another thing ’cause I enjoy looking after my brothers and teaching them
and stuff and telling them about what I know and stuff.
I: I’ve noticed that you’ve got a picture of Billy and Chrissie from EastEnders.
S: Yeah I think I try and be sort of, I don’t really talk about my emotions a lot and I
don’t sort of, I try and be sort of hard and that reminded me of Chrissie sort of like
keep things behind closed bars ’cause you don’t have any friends around and I think
that’s quite like me, but also I’ve put Billy there because he’s pushed around quite a
lot and I’m quite easy to not manipulate but sort of//
I: //people can take advantage of you//
S: //yeah yeah at times.
I: Now if you had time, because there’s nothing under how you think other people see
you, if you had time to create a collage here would the two sides be different?
S: Yeah.
I: In what way?
S: I think people see me, I think that sort of picture of Billy would come up a lot more
and I think people see me as a lot more sort of academic sort of try and do science
and maths and English even though I’m rubbish at English. I think people see me as
odd and quite a strange person sort of like, I don’t know.
I: Why do you think that is?
S: I sort of, um very, I have quite strong beliefs and I think a lot of people have got to
get through.
I: Do you think other people think that if you are very strong in your beliefs, do you
think people see that as a positive or a negative thing?
S: I don’t know ’cause I’m willing to listen to other people’s point of view and I’m
willing to compromise, but I think sometimes people just get into the habit that I
won’t be able to compromise and they can’t talk to me about a subject.
I: So if you were going to use images to represent that, can you think of any images that
you might use?
S: Um (pause) not talking, um someone sort of standing out and different, a bit strange.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
S: English.
I: English. Do you always say English?
S: Um I don’t know, I think I’d say I’m English but I don’t know why. I know I’m from
Britain I am British but I don’t know I’d just say English I think it’s more local than
British.
I: So it’s about being more specific//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 399
available at [Link]
S: //yeah it’s not really that much difference I think, I don’t know.
I: That’s brilliant.

(F=Fiona, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one collage or two separate collages?
F: One collage.
I: One collage. Do you want to go through the images and explain what you were
trying to represent and express with the images and the words?
F: Well my family think I’m quite a funny person and I thought Ant and Dec were quite
fun so I put a picture of them down, my dad thinks I’m loyal so I stuck a picture of a
dog and a Crazy Frog represents ’cause I’m quite annoying sometimes so, and I like
children so I stuck a picture of a child on there.
I: You’ve got a picture of Gwen Stefani and also Joss Stone, what are you trying to say
with them?
F: I’m not quite sure I thought it was quite um, they’re really like kind people.
I: Kind in what way?
F: I’m not sure, um.
I: What is it about them [Gwen Stefani and Joss Stone] that you identify with?
F: Well Gwen Stefani and Joss Stone are really unique and that’s what I thought of me.
I: OK and that’s Leanne Battersby [Coronation Street character]. Why have you got
her there?
F: I can be quite harsh and bitchy sometimes and I think that’s what she’s like so.
I: And you’ve also got Kat Slater [EastEnders character]//
F: //yeah yeah//
I: //so they represent//
F: //the horrible side of me.
I: The horrible side//
F: //yeah.
I: And who is this [Sean from Coronation Street]//
F: //he’s from Coronation Street he’s funny.
I: Is that the gay character//
F: //yeah//
I: //I can’t remember his name//
F: //Sean I think yeah.
I: So he’s there because//
F: //same like funny and you know quite adventurous and stuff so.
I: And you’ve got words as well like ‘confident’, ‘adventurous’, ‘bubbly’ and
‘talkative’. You’ve also got a Coke can here with a big cross, what’s that?
F: I don’t like it; I don’t really like that sort of thing.
I: Why is that? Do you mean Coke that you don’t like?
F: Yeah and like all fizzy and like that. I’m quite a healthy person I think and I’m
showing that I don’t eat loads of rubbish, but I’ve got chocolate there (laughs).
I: What about//
F: //clumsy.
I: Oh, it’s a glass knocked over.
F: Yeah.
I: And you’ve also got Betty Boop [cartoon character]?
F: I don’t know, I think it’s something my mum said but I can’t remember what she said
now.
I: And you’ve also got the//
F: //yeah to show//
I: //the flag to show your//
F: //yeah, my country.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 400
available at [Link]
I: So do you think that how you see yourself is the same as how you think other people
see you//
F: //yeah//
I: //or do you think there are any differences?
F: No they’re really similar.
I: They are?
F: Yeah.
I: And just finally how you would usually describe your ethnicity, what would you
usually say?
F: British.
I: Would you say British or English?
F: Not sure yeah I think English.
I: It’s what you would usually say?
F: Yeah English.
I: So why would you say English and not British?
F: I’m not sure, I’m not sure actually.
I: OK that’s great.

(K=Keith, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Keith, you’ve done two separate collages but you’ve drawn the images. Now why
didn’t you use any of the images that were supplied?
K: Because none of the images seemed to suit me.
I: Why is that, because there was quite a wide variety?
K: Because, because some of them were like sports and pop star magazines and I’m not
really interested in those kinds of things like cars.
I: OK, what types of images would you have liked? Are there any magazines or books
or programmes that you would have liked images from?
K: Well I like images from the paranormal and things weird because I like to investigate
those sorts of things because I’m interested in the paranormal.
I: So let’s start with ‘how I see myself’.
K: Well I used the yin-yang sign for balanced because most people would punch other
people for insulting them but I don’t, I keep my temper under control so that’s why
I’m balanced.
I: And you’ve also put here that you do martial arts.
K: Yeah, I do karate and self-defence so if anybody tries to attack me I can defend
myself.
I: And what do these two mean?
K: Well I used the Irish flag because I’m lucky because I have a loving family and I’m
used to getting through most of my life with luck and my family, I come from Ireland
and we’re an Irish family basically.
I: And you’ve also got that you like basketball. What is it about basketball that you
like?
K: Well I just like playing it for fun and it’s the kind of sport I can get into not like
football I hate football.
I: What is it about football that you dislike?
K: Well I don’t quite understand the rules very well and when it comes to somebody
kicking the ball towards me it either hits me in the face or in other places.
I: And you’re also interested in the paranormal and you’re double-jointed. What is it
about the paranormal that you identify with?
K: Well I’m interested in the fact that, in the paranormal like ghosts and everything,
because some things can’t be explained and others can and that’s why I’m interested
in the paranormal because there’s some spirits on the other side trying to
communicate with us and that helps me believe that there’s an afterlife, life after
death, so I won’t actually have to worry about death after that.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 401
available at [Link]
I: OK, let’s move on to how you think other people see you. You’ve written ‘funny’,
‘different’, ‘normal’, ‘weird’ and ‘strange’. Now normal and weird and strange, don’t
they go against one another?
K: Um yeah.
I: So what do they//
K: //well weird as in, when it comes to like football and everything which is the sport I
hate I’d just like to sit back and read a book that’s why people would call me weird,
and freaky because I do like my double-joints, and normal because I sometime stay
with the crowd and other people.
I: In what type of situations would you stay with the crowd?
K: Well, if I’m like talking with my friends while we’re walking along and everything I
just act like I’m doing my own thing and that’s why I defer as normal.
I: You’ve written the word ‘disgusting’ here as well, what do you mean by that?
K: Well if you had a pencil case I would show you but you don’t have one with you right
now.
I: Right.
K: But disgusting like double-jointed thumb and I can make my hands go really far back.
I: Do you think people don’t really see who you are, or how you really feel about
yourself?
K: Um, I don’t know really because, well, the reason these two are different is because
how people think and see me, I just sometimes act and talk to people, whenever I do a
few things that they either decry me as one of those things [weird and freaky].
I: Does that upset you?
K: No because I know everybody is different and that doesn’t worry me, but sometimes
it does tick me off when other people call me gay because I’m not gay and it just
really annoys me.
I: So they mean gay as in homosexual?
K: Yeah.
I: And they are saying that in a negative way?
K: Yeah.
I: Do you think that being gay is a negative thing?
K: Not really because it doesn’t matter if you’re gay or not, you’re just normal and it’s
basically your choice.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
K: Ethnicity, um, I would say I’m Irish because my family, because my family they’re
Irish because I come from an Irish family I would be declared as Irish but I can’t here
because I live in Britain so I’m declared as English.
I: So if somebody asked you what would you say?
K: I would say I’m Irish but I live in Britain.
I: Were you born here?
K: Well yes I was born here but I do come from an Irish family.
I: And it’s important for you to maintain that.
K: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(C=Charlotte, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done two separate collages//
C: //yeah//
I: //so shall we start with ‘how I see myself’?
C: Yeah.
I: I’d just like it if you could go through the pictures and explain what you’re trying to
express with each of the images.
C: I put Converse there because like I wear them quite a lot and um, and I’ve put like
um//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 402
available at [Link]
I: //Green Day//
C: //Green Day ’cause I really like them and I’ve put that [image with colours] ’cause
like loads of colours it’s ’cause I’m quite bubbly and I’ve got loads of like sides to
myself sort of thing, not like in a nasty way, I’ve put an eye because like people see
me as quite I’m quite nosey and I like watching and Chrissie Watts [EastEnders
character] ’cause she’s like a bit of a, she’s loud ain’t she and I feel that I’m quite
loud.
I: I just want to go back to Green Day, now you obviously like their music//
C: //yeah.
I: What is it about them though that you identify with?
C: ’Cause like I’ve got a guitar and everything as well I like playing that type of music
it’s not just them I like punk music and that it’s like their type of music, their sort of
like I look up to them.
I: Why do you look up to them?
C: ’Cause I think they’re really good at playing music and that and I like to play music.
I: So do you think they are positive role models?
C: Yeah yeah.
I: What type of positive things do you think that they do, or how in your eyes are they
positive?
C: Well I don’t know, they’re not very positive they’re quite moody actually but it’s just
like their music and everything.
I: OK let’s move on to how you think other people see you, do you want to explain//
C: //yeah I put like Christine Aguilera ’cause everyone sees me that I’m like her just
’cause I look like her.
I: So it’s nothing to do with personality?
C: No it’s just ’cause people see me, they think that. Like when they see me ’cause I
wear make-up a lot, they probably think I like the Pussycat Dolls.
I: And do you?
C: No I hate them.
I: Why do you hate them?
C: I don’t know my sister likes them I just don’t like their music really much.
I: So you’re not really into pop?
C: Um well it depends, I do like some pop music but I just don’t like Cat Dolls//
I: //them//
C: //yeah. I’ve got jewellery ’cause like I wear quite a lot of jewellery and I like
accessories and I quite like that picture it’s like black and white it’s plain and then
inside you can see it’s colourful [image of an eye], and people see me as a plain and
boring person but inside I’m sort of wacky and thingy and weird like that.
I: So do you think how you think other people see you is completely different to how
you see yourself//
C: //yeah.
I: Why do you think that is?
C: At school like I haven’t got many friends so and like people see me and I don’t really
walk around like I would when I’m with my friends, I’m quite quiet in front of like
other people in the school and that’s probably why.
I: Does it bother you that other people don’t see what you are trying to express, like
how I see myself?
C: Yeah.
I: It does bother you?
C: Yeah.
I: Do you think there’s anything you can do to get over that?
C: Not really no, I don’t know.
I: You don’t know.
C: No.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity, what would you say?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 403
available at [Link]
C: I’d say that I was English but if I had to go into more detail I’d say I’m like half
Welsh.
I: Half Welsh.
C: Yeah.
I: But you say you’re English?
C: Yeah.
I: Were you born in England?
C: Yeah I was born in England and my dad’s Welsh.
I: Do you consider any part of yourself Welsh or do you consider yourself completely
English?
C: I consider myself sort of bit Welsh because of my dad but if somebody came up to me
in the street I would just say I was English ’cause that’s where I was born and most
of my family are English so yeah.
I: OK brilliant.

(C=Christina, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one big collage or two?
C: It kind of all blended into one because how I see myself and how other people see me
is like same thing.
I: So do you just want to go through the images and explain what you were trying to
express with each of them?
C: Yeah. Well on that one [word ‘respect’] there’s like, I like treating people with like
respect and I think they should have the same respect as everyone else so I put that
one there.
I: And you’ve got Patsy Kensit there, why have you used her?
C: Because in Emmerdale she’s like quite bitchy and I can be quite bitchy sometimes but
not, if I said something I will say it to someone not behind their backs I think that’s
harsh.
I: And you’ve also got some babies here.
C: Yeah because I like children and stuff and I’d like to work with children and stuff I
think yeah, and like I want to have children when I’m older as well.
I: And then next to the children you’ve got some guns//
C: //oh (laughs) I didn’t mean to put that there it’s just like the last one I done, but I
don’t think gun crime is right and stuff and I don’t think they should give it to people
’cause people shouldn’t die without a reason.
I: So you are actually anti-gun?
C: Yeah yeah.
I: And you’ve got a picture of the UK and Ireland.
C: Yeah.
I: Why is that?
C: Because I come from Britain and stuff and I’ll probably always live in Britain only
’cause I like it.
I: What about the tiger?
C: Well I’m quite nice and stuff but people say if I get like aggressive I get like quite,
not like aggressive and stuff, but I can get quite angry and feisty and stuff yeah.
I: And you’ve got water//
C: //because I can be like quite calm and stuff and I’m like, my star sign is like Aquarius
so I put that ’cause it’s like water.
I: And you’ve got a patchwork elephant//
C: //because some people say I’m like quite bright and colourful and bubbly and stuff
and that’s how I am.
I: And you’ve got the word ‘bubbly’ as well.
C: Yeah.
I: Now you’ve got some cleansing wipes and the words ‘hair heaven’, what is that?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 404
available at [Link]
C: Because I want to be a lawyer when I’m older but if I had a second job it would be
like beauty and hair and stuff because I always do like my sister’s hair and
everybody’s hair and stuff and I just enjoy doing people’s hair and like beautician and
stuff so I’d like to do that.
I: What does the ‘Jam Festival’ [words] mean?
C: Oh it’s meant to be like music and stuff ’cause I like quite a lot of music.
I: So do you think that there are any differences between how you see yourself and how
you think other people see you?
C: I think I’m, I can be quite horrible and quite nasty and stuff but people say I’m not
like that but they say I’m like nice and stuff and I always try and help people and stuff
and all that and all the teachers say I try and help people but that just comes naturally
to me and I don’t do it just to do it, I do it ’cause it just comes to me to do that maybe
’cause I’m a girl.
I: So it’s just in your nature?
C: Yeah yeah.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
C: I’d probably say I’m English probably, or British.
I: Which one would you most probably use?
C: British.
I: Why would you say British and not English?
C: Because like Great Britain is like the whole country and I see myself as part of the
community, and English is like just one bit and it’s like kind of like separated, if you
say Britain it’s kind of joined so like more people like me are in Scotland and Wales
and stuff and like Great Britain is like one country it’s not divided.
I: OK that’s brilliant. Thanks.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 405
available at [Link]
Appendix B.7: Twynham School Group Two
(C=Christopher, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: You’ve done one collage, ‘how I see myself’.
C: Yeah.
I: Do you want to go through the pictures and explain what you are trying to express
with each of these images?
C: OK well I’ve got like lots of like sporty type like skiing and roller-skating and stuff
’cause like I like to do a lot of activities, not just mainly football and cricket, like
extreme sports, and this the ‘Danger Rocks’ sign that’s sort of like the surfy style but
I’m quite dangerous, I’m willing to do anything if you know what I mean.
I: Right.
C: So I’m willing to like do, well explore into different things, and here see the hair gel
I’ve got, I just like I usually have my hair spikey I haven’t got it at the moment but
usually I have my hair all spikey and like that’s what most people, I did that on both
sides ’cause I thought people see me as like with hair, hairstyle yeah. And I’ve got
Australia a map of Australia because I really like Australia I’ve been there once and I
just like the whole cultural stuff in Australia.
I: What is it about Australian culture that you really like?
C: Um they, I’m not really sure I just like the like the animals I like kangaroos and stuff
and I like they’ve got good surfing there and their cricket team’s really good.
I: Right and you’ve also got the word ‘cheating’ as well as the English flag there, what
does the word cheating represent?
C: Well um, um, I’m not really sure why I put that there I just, um, yeah I don’t know
why I put that there.
I: So let’s move on to//
C: //yeah I play the guitar and um, and yeah I just put that there for musician. I’m into
rock, heavy rock, I like playing it like, like Green Day.
I: What is it about Green Day that you like?
C: I just think the songs that they do and how they do it are good and stuff like, it’s like
rocky style but yeah, I just like the loudness of it and how it is.
I: And what do you think about the members of Green Day?
C: I see them like, I look up to them because they’ve done something with their life
that’s special and stuff and like, like they are very big stars and that’s going into like
my musician style, I really like the band so I’m going to be a rock musician too.
I: OK so let’s move on to how you think other people see you//
C: //yeah//
I: //now you’ve just got the word ‘chatty’ there, why have you just used that word?
C: Well I’ve used chatty, I’m always talking and stuff and I’m really friendly and stuff
so I just like chatty, I talk a lot usually to my friends.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
C: I don’t think so really I just, um, no I don’t think so at all, the way other people see
me is//
I: //the same//
C: //yeah.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
C: English.
I: English. Do you always say English?
C: Yes.
I: Do you ever say British?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 406
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C: No ’cause most of my family, like I have a few other relatives in like Scotland and
Ireland and stuff but I’m mainly English so, but it depends in what way I’m British
like my parents are from England so that’s how I see myself.
I: Right OK, brilliant.

(J=Joel, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one collage or is it two separate collages?
J: It’s like kind of, no it’s a bit of both I think.
I: You’ve got quite a few images.
J: Yeah.
I: Do you want to go through the images and explain what you are trying to represent
and express with them?
J: Well the football is obviously ’cause I kind of like football quite a bit, I quite like into
fashionable clothes and I like women.
I: So you’ve really got sport, fashion and women.
J: Yes.
I: What about this guy with the hand over his face?
J: Because of the fashion symbol there.
I: And you’ve got the England flag.
J: That’s like the country that I was born in.
I: What is it about football that you like?
J: I don’t know, I just support football really and I just like playing in a team.
I: When you play football is it the taking part that’s important or is it the winning that is
important to you?
J: The taking part, it’s not just about winning is it really, but yeah, it’s good to win.
I: And also the fashion, is it important for you to wear designer clothes? Is the name
important?
J: Yes.
I: Why?
J: I don’t know it just is, I’d just rather wear something like that instead of something
from Tesco’s or something like that.
I: Are there then, even within designer labels, are there certain names you’d class as
cool and certain names that you don’t class as cool//
J: //yeah.
I: So what would be a cool designer to wear?
J: Armani, things like that.
I: What is it about them that you think is cool?
J: It’s just, it’s just the name it’s just fashionable everyone knows who they are and
things like that.
I: So it’s because everyone knows the name//
J: No it’s just fashionable innit.
I: What if I had an Armani top//
J: //yeah//
I: //and I had exactly the same top but it didn’t have the label Armani on it. Would it
still be cool?
J: Erm yeah but it would, I don’t know that’s a difficult question, I don’t know but I
think it would be better if it had the label, I don’t know it just would in my eyes.
I: Do you wear designer clothes//
J: //yeah//
I: //outside of school?
J: Yeah.
I: You do.
J: Yeah.
I: All the time?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 407
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J: Pretty much yeah.
I: How does that make you feel? Do you think people see you in a different light when
you have designer clothes on?
J: I don’t know it’s just how people see me ’cause that’s what I just wear pretty much
all the time so that’s how people see me.
I: OK and the other thing is women [how I see myself]. Now you’ve used women who
are not wearing an awful lot//
J: //yeah.
I: Is it women and girls in general that you like, or can you give me an example of any
women that you think are particularly nice?
J: It’s not just like any group because you can get proper ugly people, like attractive
women.
I: So who do you class as attractive as an attractive woman?
J: Jennifer Lopez and people like that.
I: Can you give me a couple of other names maybe?
J: I don’t know loads of people.
I: Like.
J: Mariah Carey, I don’t know people like that.
I: What is it about them that you think makes them attractive and appealing to you?
J: The way they look.
I: Who do you think isn’t attractive?
J: I don’t know, er well it just, not like fat people, er.
I: Or are there any famous people that are described as pretty and you think, no they’re
not, I don’t think they are//
J: //yeah Madonna I don’t reckon.
I: What about Paris Hilton?
J: Yeah she’s alright I guess.
I: She’s alright but she’s not on the same level as Jennifer Lopez or Mariah Carey?
J: Yeah yeah.
I: What about Beyonce//
J: //yeah she’s good looking.
I: She’s good looking.
J: Yeah.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
J: Yeah probably.
I: Where would the differences be? What would it be?
J: Well it’s a person’s point of view isn’t it?
I: But if you were going to explain it to me, can you think of maybe something that
somebody else might think of you that you think that’s not how I see myself?
J: Er, quite like, I don’t know bossy, I don’t know.
I: Bossy.
J: Yeah.
I: Do you think other people see you as bossy?
J: Yeah they could do I don’t know, I don’t really know how other people see me.
I: OK and just finally how you would usually describe your ethnicity//
J: //English.
I: Do you ever say British?
J: Say if I went on holiday and they asked what region like nationality I’d probably say
English, no British actually yeah.
I: What’s the difference between English and British?
J: I don’t know it’s just some people say English and some people say British, it’s like
some people say tomato and some people say tomato.
I: Are they both the same thing?
J: Yeah.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 408
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I: They are?
J: Mmm.
I: OK cool.

(H=Helen, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one collage or is it two separate collages?
H: Two kind of like, in the middle there’s mixing.
I: So let’s start with how you see yourself. Do you want to go through the images and
explain what you’re trying to express and represent with each of the images?
H: OK. I put sport on there ’cause I like play sport and I like sport. I like gossip and to
others I like talking about people.
I: Right.
H: I put a picture of the country where I live in and a circle round the bit Bournemouth
and that. I put a picture of London because I go up there quite a bit, and I put a
picture of pink GHD’s [hair straighteners] because I can’t live without them and a
picture of a cat ’cause I like cats and River Island ’cause I like I love River Island.
I: You said you like talking about other people//
H: //yeah.
I: What is it about that that you like and enjoy?
H: Don’t know, just like talking about people.
I: Do you think that’s it’s OK to talk about people in a gossipy way if you’re saying bad
things about them?
H: Not really but.
I: You still do it.
H: Yeah.
I: So you are quite into fashion and you like clothes//
H: //yeah.
I: Is it important for you to feel like you are a fashionable person and taking care of the
way that you look?
H: Er yeah kind of.
I: Let’s move on to how you think other people see you. Do you want to explain them
images and what you are trying to represent?
H: Yeah, I put ‘attitude’ [word] because I think that sometimes I can have a bit of an
attitude towards other people.
I: Right.
H: And I think some people think I’m a bit gobby as well. I put a picture of Friends
[American sitcom], because I’m like always with my friends.
I: You’ve put a picture of?
H: Friends.
I: Right.
H: I’m always on the run and can’t sit still for ages, and I put like sparkly so it’s like
bubbly sort of thing.
I: Right, and in the middle you’ve put ‘I am what I am’ [words]. So do you feel that
this could be one collage?
H: Yes.
I: Do you think how you think other people see you is how you see yourself?
H: Yeah.
I: Or do you think there’s a difference?
H: I think it’s mainly same really.
I: Do you think that there are any differences though, like if you had more time to work
on this [how I think other people see me] do you think that there would be any
differences between the two sides?
H: Yeah definitely if I had more time.
I: What do you the differences would be?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 409
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H: I don’t know, um, I’m not sure.
I: You’re not sure.
H: No.
I: OK and just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
H: British.
I: Now do you always say British or do you say English?
H: Either.
I: Either.
H: Yeah.
I: What one do you use more often?
H: Probably English.
I: English.
H: Yeah.
I: Is there a difference between English and British or are they the same?
H: They’re the same, I think so. I think they’re the same, just two words the same.
I: So it’s just two different words for the same thing?
H: Yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(N=Nancy, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one collage or is it two?
N: Probably one.
I: Do you want to go through the images and explain what you are trying to express
with them?
N: Yeah the dog is that I don’t like animal cruelty because like underneath it it’s a bit
like he’s really lonely and everything ’cause I don’t like how animals are treated like
when they’ve make-up tested on them.
I: Right.
N: I think I’m quite happy, I like listening to music, I just like the brightness of the
flower I think I’m quite like, not bright like clever but//
I: //bright as in an uplifting character//
N: //yeah yeah I like my mobile, I really want that car when I’m older and that’s where I
live [image of UK map]. I think I respect people and that, and I’m quite calm//
I: //so you’ve used the candle to represent calm//
N: //yeah, and I gossip quite a lot about things like what you see on tele and that lot and I
think people can trust me like if they want to say something like that no-one else
wants to know, I keep a secret and that lot so.
I: Right. You’ve mentioned animal cruelty//
N: //yeah//
I: //which you think is not acceptable, why do you think it’s wrong?
N: ’Cause no-one likes it when kids are treated badly so why should animals be treated
badly because, I know they haven’t obviously got the same feelings as us but they
know when the owners are doing something horrible to them when they haven’t done
anything wrong, like little children, like you know the NHS I think it is//
I: //yes//
N: //they get treated, children go there ’cause they get treated badly so why should dogs
get treated badly as well.
I: Also you said that you like music, what music in particular do you most identify
with?
N: Pop.
I: Are there any artists in particular that you//
N: //not really, just like any kind of music, not rock, I don’t really like rock.
I: What is it about rock that you don’t like?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 410
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N: It’s that head banging if you know what I mean, there’s not like a lot of singing it’s
just like music like noise.
I: So what is it about pop that you like?
N: Some of the words and that are quite good.
I: Now I’ve noticed on your collage//
N: //yeah//
I: //I sort of get the impression that you’re quite a happy, bubbly type of person//
N: //yeah//
I: //but what I’ve noticed is there is not anything here which suggests maybe you get a
little bit angry//
N: //yeah I couldn’t find anything.
I: If you had more time or if there were other things that you wanted to express on this
about yourself//
N: //yeah//
I: //what types of things would you put down?
N: I do get angry sometimes.
I: What sorts of things make you angry?
N: Animal cruelty if you see it on tele or like children, you know you see those children
adverts that don’t have homes that makes me upset and angry, I don’t understand why
they like do that, people do that to animals and their children.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
N: Yeah.
I: What do you think the difference is?
N: I think like some people see me, ’cause I don’t obviously like, I think they think I’m
quite loud ’cause I do talk quite a lot so I think they think that but I’m not if you
know what I mean.
I: Do you think it’s more, when they hear you express yourself, do you think that maybe
they think that you’re confident?
N: Oh no, I’m not confident at all.
I: But do you think other people think you are?
N: Yeah, but when they get to know me they know I’m not, ’cause I work quite hard and
that’s why I worry a lot.
I: Why don’t you let other people see that side of you?
N: ’Cause I don’t want them to think that I’m like stupid or a whimp, ’cause I get
worried about a lot of things.
I: So, it’s like you keeping that side to yourself//
N: //yeah but my mum knows that I get worried and I talk to her about it if I have any
problems and that lot and some of my friends I do, people I don’t know I don’t say it
straight away but I wait until I get to know them.
I: So it’s like a defence//
N: //yeah, yeah ’cause like if they think I’m not very clever they might not like me but
all my friends obviously they like me because they know I’m not.
I: Do you think if somebody didn’t think you were clever and didn’t like you off the
back of it//
N: //yeah//
I: //do you think a person like that would be worth knowing at all//
N: //no not at all, they should like me for who I am not what I’m gonna do, like my work
and that lot.
I: But do you think it always works out that way?
N: No, ’cause like mostly you’re really upset if somebody doesn’t like you so, ’cause
you can’t probably be as clever as they are.
I: You’ve not actually used many images of famous people//
N: //yeah, I didn’t have enough time.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 411
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I: But if you could, are there any people that you think you would have put on, that you
look to who you think are positive role models?
N: Um.
I: Or somebody that you look to that you think I aspire to want to be like that.
N: Have you heard of um, I’ve completely forgotten her name now.
I: What’s she in?
N: She’s a singer, I don’t know her name.
I: What does she look like?
N: She’s got like; she had brown now she’s got blonde hair.
I: Kelly Clarkson?
N: That’s it; I like her music a lot.
I: What is it about Kelly Clarkson that you like and identify with?
N: ’Cause on her videos when sings it’s not like she just stands there, it’s like she
expresses how she’s feeling in the words that she says, she actually expresses herself
in the video she’s not like just standing there singing it.
I: Is there anything else about her, not just her music but the type of person that you
think she is//
N: //I think she’s quite happy because I watched an interview and she seemed quite
happy and bubbly but I don’t know if it’s just for show, but she did seem happy and
what not so I think she’s being true, so that’s good.
I: And just finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
N: I’m English.
I: If you had the choice between English or British, what would you say?
N: English, yeah.
I: Do you think there’s a difference though between English and British?
N: Yeah I think so.
I: What do you think the difference is?
N: Is it just, aren’t they like, ’cause British is the whole country, no it’s not, am I wrong?
I: What do you think? There’s no right or wrong answer.
N: No I don’t know.
I: Are you going to say that you think British is the whole country including Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland, whereas England is just England//
N: //yeah//
I: //so with England you are being more specific//
N: //yeah//
I: //about what country you come from//
N: //yeah.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(J=Josie, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one collage or is it two separate collages?
J: It’s just one big collage like what I am like and like how people see me.
I: OK so let’s start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to go through the pictures and
explain what you are trying to represent with them?
J: The candle’s for quite calm ’cause like I’m not, I’m not like relaxed all the time but
I’m relaxed in a way. The colours because I’m quite colourful I wear quite colourful
clothes and stuff outside of school. The bear is because some people think I’m
vicious but I’m not, because they’re always like go on have a fight with her and see
who wins but I don’t do that.
I: Why do you think that they think you’re vicious?
J: Because I’m quite big and tall and yeah.
I: Right OK, but you’re not vicious.
J: No.
I: Are you violent at all? Do you think you’re an aggressive violent person//

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 412
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J: //no//
I: //or do you think that’s how people see you?
J: I think not aggressive and violent but I think they think that I’m quite like vicious in a
way.
I: But you disagree with that.
J: Yeah.
I: OK.
J: That’s because I’m family orientated [word ‘family], I do a lot of stuff with my
family.
I: And you’ve also got the words ‘wrong’ and ‘brat attack’, what do//
J: //’cause like wrong, um whenever my mum says something that I think is wrong I go
wrong like that so I just put that up there and then brat attack ’cause my mum is
always saying like I’m a little brat and stuff.
I: What about this boot? What’s that for?
J: Um ’cause I’m quite tall it’s quite a big heel and I like shoes, I do like my shoes.
I: And what about this picture of, do you know who this lady is?
J: No.
I: Her name is Marsha Hunt. Why have you got this picture?
J: Because of my origin ‘cause I have a natural afro, a huge afro, and it’s just like my
origin like Jamaican, half Jamaican.
I: And you’ve got a picture of Simon Webbe as well, why is that there?
J: ’Cause I love my music I’m always listening to music if its on in my room or I’m
doing homework on the computer or something I always have to blaring out at full
blast and that’s why I’ve got ‘pump up the volume’ [words] as well.
I: Right. So do you think that, because there is quite a mixture, do you think that there
is a difference between how you see yourself and how you think other people see
you?
J: Yeah.
I: What’s the difference?
J: Well people, ’cause I’m tall and not that skinny as other people then they might think
that I’m the bear and quite, quite vicious and that but I’m not really like that,
everyone has there moment when they feel like killing someone but I wouldn’t go out
and just randomly hit someone. If I’m angry I try and talk it through first and then
like see how it goes from there type thing if you are still friends or break up or
whatever.
I: Do you think that it’s just your size, your height //
J: //yeah//
I: // that makes people think about you in that way//
J: //yeah ’cause I recently gone on a school trip and this girl came up to me and said
apparently you want to hurt me, what have I done wrong? So someone has
obviously said that I wanted hurt her for no reason.
I: And also the picture of hair that you’ve used is that something that people point out to
you as well?
J: Yeah, yeah, ’cause it’s always, ’cause I used to come to school with my afro and then
I got really badly bullied and stuff like all the time people like, afro afro, like being
really horrible about it and like throwing stuff at my hair and stuff like that.
I: Why do you think that they were, why were they bullying you? Just because of the
afro?
J: I don’t know.
I: Do you think if you had big hair and it wasn’t an afro that they would have bullied
you?
J: I don’t know I’m not quite sure, but it’s because I did have a huge afro, a bit like that,
and like I just got the mick taken out of me constantly.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 413
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I: OK if you didn’t have people taking the mick out of you and bullying you because of
that, do you think that you would still be happy enough to wear your afro, to have
your afro?
J: Yeah.
I: So would you, at some point, still like to have your afro back?
J: Yeah. ’Cause I liked it I just liked it but now it just, I got bullied for like since I was
in Year Seven.
I: I’ve noticed like, when I spoke to your brother, it is very evident that you are the only
non-white person in your class. Is the bullying related to//
J: //some of it is because I get some like ‘oh go back to Pakistan’ and ‘go away you
Paki’ and stuff like that and I used to say get your facts right, I’m not from Pakistan
I’m from Jamaica type of thing, I’d always comeback with a comeback.
I: Yes.
J: I hate racism and if anyone says something then I’ll go say something back.
I: Are you aware of it though, being in a school where you’re not surrounded by many
children from diverse backgrounds, are you aware that you are different from other
people or does that only happen when somebody says something//
J: //yeah ’cause I see myself as like a friend to everyone but there is occasionally, if I
get in a ruck with someone they say something racist and then I’ll be like well you
couldn’t have been a true friend anyway if you can turn round and think something
like that, so.
I: And if you had more time are there any other images that you would have used?
J: If I could have found one I’d probably have one of Whitney Houston ’cause I like to
sing her songs and stuff and she’s like an icon type thing.
I: Why is she an icon? Apart from her music, is there anything about her as a person
that you identify with?
J: Like the words in some of her music and stuff they speak to me, the way she’s so
calm and she’s like a role model for me. Then like on the pictures, love and family
stuff.
I: OK and just finally, how would usually describe your ethnicity? What would you
usually say?
J: Well I’d say my mum’s English and my dad was Jamaican or is Jamaican, I don’t
know I haven’t met him.
I: Do you always explain that my mum is English//
J: //yeah or sometimes I just say I’m half Jamaican and if I’m in a rush I say half
Jamaican.
I: Do you ever just say I’m English or British, or do you always make a point//
J: //yeah I always make a point//
I: //why do you do that?
J: I don’t know, it’s just that I always have ’cause my mum brought me up to know that
I was Jamaican so it’s just been something that’s been with me type thing, and some
people they always think like with the wars going on they think you’re a terrorist type
thing and I’m not and they always think stuff like that so I make a point of telling
them I’m Jamaican and then they’re fine with it. Don’t know why but.
I: Is it important for you personally, apart from letting people know, do you feel like it’s
important for yourself to say this is part of who I am?
J: Yeah ’cause people when they come round to my house they only see my mum and I
look nothing like my mum at all so they might, like they think how comes she’s that
colour and stuff so I always make a point of saying that my dad was Jamaican.
I: Right OK. That’s brilliant.

(D=Damon, aged 14, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Are these two separate collages or one?
D: Yeah.

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I: Let’s start with ‘how I see myself’, do you want to go through the images and explain
what you were trying to express?
D: OK, I’m a bit silly sometimes, I like a good bit of humour, I like technology, um and I
like music and all that sort of thing quite a lot.
I: And who is that, is it Eminem?
D: No.
I: What’s that there for?
D: I don’t know it was already in that picture.
I: Oh right.
D: And so is that [image of men in white].
I: What does that one big image represent?
D: Um just loads of things like that sort of style I sometimes wear.
I: How would you describe the sort of style? Is it skateboardy or street or urban?
D: I don’t know, I just wear what I want when I want and when I feel like it really.
I: Right. So if you were going to use some words to summarise the images and to
explain how you see yourself, what types of words would sum up the collage about
how you see yourself?
D: Um silly, like to be up-to-date, um kind of weird and that’s about it I guess.
I: OK let’s move on to how you think other people see you because that’s a complete
contrast because you’ve only used three things. Do you want to just go through them
and explain why you’ve used them?
D: Well that one//
I: //the spade//
D: //because I’m kind of clumsy and that because//
I: //the Japanese cartoon//
D: //because most of the time I am weird and that’s [word ‘bastards’] what some people
usually think of me.
I: What, that you’re a bastard?
D: Yeah.
I: Why is that image weird?
D: Because of the funny faces that they’re pulling and everything.
I: So do you think how you think other people see you is how you see yourself, or do
you think there are any differences?
D: It’s kind of hard to understand what people think of you because you’re not them I
guess.
I: But what do you think?
D: Um probably.
I: Probably?
D: That they kind of do have a bit of a resemblance between how I see myself and how
others see me.
I: So you think they are the same?
D: Kind of most likely, yeah probably.
I: If you had more time are there any other images that you would have used?
D: Probably found another silly one because I’m always like falling over or something or
other or like doing something like embarrassing or something.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
D: I think just British.
I: Do you say British or do you say, because some people say British and some people
say English?
D: Um it depends where you come from in some parts of England like in London I know
they say I’m British and in the country they say I’m English.
I: So what do you say?
D: British.
I: Why do you say British?
D: Shorter than English (laughs).

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 415
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I: Is that the only reason?
D: Probably yeah and it sounds better than English.
I: What is the difference, because you said in London they say British?
D: It’s kind of London slang I guess.
I: So do you think saying English is posher?
D: Yeah much.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(E=Ellie, aged 14, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one big collage or is it two separate collages?
E: One big collage.
I: Can you just go through the images and explain what you are trying to express and
represent with them?
E: This one I drew a map, I cut out a map of England and circled round where I live.
That one [word ‘gossip’] because I do like to gossip and I like those crisps//
I: //what crisps are they, are they potato heads//
E: //yeah Walkers.
I: You’ve also got a picture of Sharon Osbourne, why did you use//
E: //only because I like the X Factor.
I: You’ve also got this picture here of a lady playing football.
E: Yeah that’s Hope Powell the manager of the girls’ England team.
I: Why have you used her?
E: Because I like to play football and I want to be in the England team.
I: So do you identify or respect her, or see her as a role model?
E: Yeah.
I: What about this [image of the Olympic symbol]?
E: I put a picture of the Olympics, I drew that because I like sport and I want to be in the
Olympics one day.
I: What about these ones? You’ve got ‘strops’ and ‘saucy’ [words]//
E: //yeah I just thought that they were fun.
I: And what about the giraffe?
E: I liked Madagascar [animated film] the film and he’s my favourite character in it.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
E: English white.
I: Would you say English and white?
E: I would just say English.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(D=Debbie, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: So is this one big collage or did you do two different collages for each section?
D: One.
I: Do you want to just go through each of the images and explain what you were trying
to express with them?
D: Um.
I: You can start wherever you want.
D: That one [image of a dancer] I just like the picture and like sometimes I can be a bit
over dramatic, it’s the way that she’s posing it’s dramatic.
I: And what about these colours, what are they for?
D: Well I like colours, yeah I just like the colours they look nice.
I: And you’ve got a picture of Kat Slater [EastEnders character] there.
D: Yeah, it’s ’cause sometimes I can be a bit bitchy.
I: And what’s this one [cartoon image of a bubble]?
D: I don’t like the pollution.

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I: You don’t like pollution. You’ve also got a picture of Peggy Mitchell [EastEnders
character] looking like she is crying, what is that for, what are you trying to express?
D: I don’t know I forgot.
I: OK and what about Little Mo [EastEnders character]?
D: She’s really happy person most of the time.
I: And what about all of these images here because they are quite nature orientated,
what are you trying to express with them images?
D: Well with that owl it’s like I like going first ’cause it makes you feel sort of like you
don’t have to do anything sort of thing and the elephant ’cause I remember lots of
things and then the that one ’cause I thought it looks a bit like my nose and then the
seal because its flubbery and then the flower because of my name.
I: And what about the mountain with the rainbow over it?
D: I just liked it and it looked sort of steady sort of thing.
I: Steady.
D: Mmm.
I: And what about this [image of pink colours] because you’ve used//
D: //oh, I was thinking about being in the army for a while but then I don’t want to
because you have to wear green and you get shot.
I: And you’ve also got some words on there, can you explain why you’ve used them?
You’ve used ‘what’ and ‘one in a mill’ and ‘independent’. What does the ‘what’
mean?
D: Well I like asking a lot of questions about things and generally what or why.
I: OK and what is this ‘one in a mill’, why did you use that?
D: Because, I don’t know.
I: You’ve got independent [word]//
D: //because I like doing stuff by myself and being independent and I’m confident too.
I: What about this picture here, is it a picture of a cross?
D: Yeah.
I: What is that there for?
D: Well I’m a Catholic.
I: You’re Catholic. So is religion important to you?
D: In some ways.
I: When is it then and when isn’t it?
D: Well it’s the same as all religions, it’s not important when people are like going to
argue over it and stuff but it is important to like believe in something otherwise your
gonna just have a miserable life.
I: Why do you think that, why do you think that you would have a miserable life if you
didn’t believe in something?
D: Because like if people believe in God and someone in your family dies then if they
don’t believe in nothing then there just not gonna think nothing about anything but if
they believe in God then they’ll be like angry with him for a while but then they’ll be
like happy because they’ll think the person will be with him.
I: So do you think how you see yourself and how you think other people see you are the
same thing or are there any differences?
D: Well they’re different some ways.
I: In what ways are they different?
D: Because like at school when I get shouted at I might seem like quiet and stuff but then
to the people who know me I’d be like loud and stuff.
I: So it’s only the people who know you well who see every part of you?
D: Mmm.
I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
D: Um English or Irish, oh yeah I like to think Irish but I’m more English than Irish.
I: Is your family Irish?
D: My mum.
I: Where were you born?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 417
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D: England.
I: So why do you like saying I’m Irish?
D: ’Cause I like Ireland more.
I: You like Ireland more?
D: Yeah.
I: Why?
D: ’Cause the people are nicer in general.
I: The people are nicer//
D: //yeah they’re more friendly and it’s just, it’s just nicer over there.
I: But if somebody asked you though, what would you usually say?
D: Irish.
I: You’d say Irish?
D: Yeah.
I: OK that’s it.

(B=Betty, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Is this one big collage or two?
B: It’s sort of both.
I: OK so it’s a mixture.
B: Yeah.
I: Do you want to go thought the images and explain what you are trying to express
with them?
B: Where shall I start?
I: You can start anywhere you want. Do you want to start with ‘say no to crap’
[words]?
B: OK yeah (laughs). I just sort of don’t agree with people you know like bullying like
bullying other people so it’s sort of like if anyone is ever horrible to them then just to
like ignore it instead of like getting upset over it and that.
I: What about these pictures?
B: The star on the neck because it’s sort of like symbols for rock and everything and like
all, most rock stars have it and that’s like the kind of music I like and the Volkswagen
because I’m a surfer and I just really like them.
I: And you’ve also got a little ‘Children in Need’ logo, what is that there for?
B: I just agree with giving money for charities and like that and like//
I: //you disagree//
B: //no I agree.
I: You agree with giving money for charity.
B: Yes.
I: Are there any charities that you feel really strongly about?
B: Live 8.
I: Live 8. What is it about Live 8//
B: //like it just shows they were getting people to like start sort of mentioning how
important it was to like help the people in Africa and everything ’cause they got like a
load of pop people and everything and show how//
I: //but why do we need to help the people in Africa?
B: Because they don’t have like much money and they’ve got Aids and HIV and we
could help stop it, well not stop it altogether but we could help like it not getting that
far, like help people not dying.
I: And you’ve got a picture of skateboarding there, does that tie in with the van because
you like surfing//
B: //yeah I skate a bit.
I: And there’s an ipod, what’s that//
B: //I just really like music.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 418
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I: And tying in with music you’ve got McFly and Green Day, are those the types of
bands that you//
B: //yeah//
I: //enjoy listening to//
B: //yeah.
I: What is it about their music or them that you relate to?
B: I don’t really know I just, I just like their kind of music, I don’t know but I play guitar
as well and I don’t really know, I just sort of like, why do other people like different
music?
I: Because sometimes you might identify with the pop star or you might think that they
are singing about positive messages or that you might respect somebody because //
B: //about Green Day I just think they are really cool and that because I’m not like into
proper heavy rock I like sort of like pop rock and that’s what they are and then they
sort of like the way they act ’cause I’ve got the DVD and it’s just I sort of like I think
it’s funny and I like that sort of stuff and then the same for McFly as well.
I: OK and you’ve got Fearne Cotton, why is she there?
B: Because I think she’s really funny and I like her style of clothes and everything as
well like.
I: What is it about her clothing and her style that you like?
B: I think they’re just really cool ’cause they’re sort of like rocky and that and
everything and they’re sort of like in the skating sort of like style as well.
I: And what do these cameras mean?
B: I love filming stuff and everything.
I: And [image of cartoon rats]//
B: Oh because in my band the rats are, a rat is our mascot and I just couldn’t find any
others like it.
I: And what does that one stand for [3 Mobile monkey]?
B: I don’t really know because it’s like the opposite of me sort of thing because like I’m
not evil so I still put it there, do you know what I mean?
I: No I don’t.
B: It’s sort of like, because I’m not evil and I’m the opposite to it I put it there.
I: So do you think there’s a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
B: Yeah I think there is but I think most people see me as a sort of like a surfing kind
and like sort of a style that I’m my own style and everything and I am and that’s how
I like it but I’m sort of skater as well and that’s sort of the same because not many
people, because I don’t see like everyone in my class saying that they don’t know I’m
like a skater as well because most people see me as a surfer because my whole family
are into that.
I: Your whole family.
B: Yeah we surf and everything and my sister is in sixth form and she’s like she’s a
surfer.
I: Right, and just finally how you would usually describe your ethnicity?
B: English.
I: You’d say you’re English?
B: Yeah.
I: Always?
B: Yeah I think so.
I: Why do you say I’m English and maybe not I’m British?
B: Because I’m not any of, I’m not like I’m not part Irish or Scottish or anything like
that I’m just, ’cause my parents and then my grandparents were all English so I’m
sort of like that as well but because my granddad lives in Portugal but he’s still like
whole British.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 419
available at [Link]
(D=Dale, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: So Dale, are these two different collages?
D: Um yeah.
I: So shall we start with [how I see myself]//
D: //yeah with the Arnold Schwarzenegger thing he’s a really really good actor and I see
myself as I’m really good at drama so I think I can do it, and that [image of a lion
with man’s face] is to show that I’m really timid yeah I’m quite shy.
I: And you’ve got some trainers.
D: That’s ’cause I really like sport.
I: And you’ve//
D: //Colin Farrell that’s because he does action films and I like action films so I would
like to be an action actor.
I: And on the other side, on how you think other people see you//
D: //yeah that one’s to show [image of an old man] that I’m quite crazy he’s a really
crazy person because they do stunts and stuff and that one is to show like um//
I: //who is that?
D: That’s the guy off Little Britain.
I: Which character is that, Andy or Lou?
D: Andy I think.
I: Andy.
D: Yeah I kind of thought I was that because I’m quite a good liar like sometimes I lie
quite a bit and so like when people find out they get quite annoyed.
I: Do you think lying is a good thing or a bad thing//
D: //it’s a bad thing.
I: So why do you do it if it’s a bad thing?
D: It’s ’cause sometimes if I do something bad I just can’t really tell the truth about it
’cause it’s, mmm, you know.
I: Because what?
D: Because like I just don’t like kind of person to see like, other people to see me like
because of the bad things that I do.
I: OK.
D: So if I do something quite bad I might go bad but then I’m ok about it and I’m
normal. I’m also really good at comedy and make people laugh quite a lot.
I: So do you think how other people see you is how you see yourself, do you think they
are the same or are they different? Do you think other people don’t really know who
you are?
D: No people don’t really know who I am really.
I: They don’t.
D: No.
I: Because here you’ve put down that you can be quite timid [how I see myself],
whereas here [how I think other people see me] you’ve put down crazy and they seem
like two quite different things.
D: Yeah I get that quite a lot, like I can’t really I just, I don’t know, I just like when I’m
at home I’m a different person or when I’m at school I’m a totally different person to
that, I’m like the opposite.
I: Which person do you prefer, the person at school or the person at home?
D: The person at home.
I: The person at home.
D: Yeah.
I: And just finally how you would usually describe your ethnicity?
D: Um probably I would just say English.
I: English.
D: Yeah or British.
I: What one would you usually choose out of them two? Or what’s the difference?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 420
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D: Well I don’t really know the difference, I do know like the difference but I like to be
quite precise about everything so.
I: So by saying English you are being more precise?
D: Yeah I’m being more precise.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(L=Leah, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Are these two separate collages or one?
L: Two different ones.
I: So do you want to start with ‘how I see myself’. Do you want to just go through the
images and explain what you are trying to express and represent with them?
L: Well I chose the bears because I really like animals and bears are one of my favourite,
and I chose the baby to symbolise my niece who is a year old now, I chose an ipod
because I like music and the ring because I like jewellery and I chose Leanne
[Coronation Street character] from the soaps because Leanne is my name so. I chose
a smiley face because I’m happy and dolphin is my all time favourite animal and then
Demi [EastEnders character] because it’s meant to symbolise my big sister and her
baby who she’s quite a young mum so, and I chose the doctor because I want to be a
doctor when I get older. And the Capricorn because it tells you when my birthday is.
I: Just going back to the picture of Demi, you said your sister is quite a young mum.
L: Yeah.
I: Demi was very young when she had the baby, some people were very upset because
they don’t like young mothers. What do you think about that issue?
L: Well I don’t mind young mothers, my sister’s not that young she’s just in her twenties
but she is still quite a young mum but young mum’s are I think well, because of my
religion I’m Christian, I think it’s not very good unless your married.
I: Is your sister married?
L: No she’s not, not at the moment but she’s got a boyfriend and they are very close
though.
I: But would you have preferred it if she had got married first?
L: Yeah I would have.
I: You would have.
L: But I don’t hate her for it ’cause I’m not sure.
I: OK let’s move on to how you think other people see you. Do you want to just go
through and explain the//
L: //OK I chose a mouth a smiling mouth because I think other people think I’m happy
because I’m always smiling.
I: Right.
L: And I chose make-up because I wear make-up when I’m out and I chose a phone and
a car because well people sort of, don’t know, I’m not sure why I chose them two
really, can’t remember.
I: Do you think there is a difference between how you see yourself and how you think
other people see you?
L: Some of the things, yeah.
I: What are the differences?
L: Most of them except for them two.
I: So the ipod and the jewellery, what about the other images, what do you mean?
L: Well because I listen to music and I usually listen to music outside and inside, the
people can see me with music and jewellery.
I: Oh right, but they don’t know everything else about you, they don’t know//
L: //people that don’t know me they don’t know much about me, they don’t know what I
want to be or how I think.
I: Are you happy that they don’t know how you think or does that frustrate you?
L: I wouldn’t mind if they knew what I think or anything but, no I just wouldn’t mind.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 421
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I: And just finally how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
L: Um English maybe half German because my dad came from Germany and my
grandparents.
I: What would you usually say though?
L: English usually.
I: You’d say you are English.
L: Yeah.
I: So is your dad German?
L: Well I don’t think he is full German I think he is more like three quarter German.
I: But you don’t feel like any part of you is German?
L: No not really ’cause, no I just don’t.
I: You don’t.
L: No not really.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

(J=Jacob, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: You just did one collage.
J: Yeah.
I: So is this just for how you see yourself or is a mixture//
J: //mixture.
I: Do you want to just go through the images and explain what you are trying express?
J: Well that’s my football team Tottenham and that’s my favourite player and that’s
why I like him.
I: Who is it?
J: Michael Carrick and he’s like my sort of personality as well, often when you see him
talking in like the interviews afterwards he’s like sort of like me as well.
I: In what way?
J: I don’t know I’m not sure, he’s just, I don’t know. The way he talks and everything
what sorts of things he says is like comparable with me.
I: OK.
J: I just put that in because I was looking for cricket and he’s like a world cricket player
I know and I like.
I: Who is he?
J: Muralitharan.
I: Who?
J: Muralitharan in the Sri Lankan team, cricket bowler.
I: Oh.
J: That because I’m Irish [flag] and that’s the Irish football team, Freddy Flintoff
because he’s like the main man for England the best cricketer and I love him I think
he’s brilliant, um penguins because there my favourite animal and I like how they
like, I can’t think of the word but I just like penguins. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking
Barrels my favourite film and I just thought I would draw the English and Irish flag
’cause I’m half Irish and half English.
I: OK.
J: They’re my favourite colours and that’s how I feel, sort of like not depressed and, like
depressed would be a blacky and these are like happy sort of light colours.
I: So you feel you’re sort of in the middle somewhere?
J: No I’m like happy upbeat sort of person//
I: //oh right//
J: //like they are happy colours not like grey or anything like that. Zebra skin, I’m not
sure, just a good contrast to go with it, I like zebra’s.
I: There’s a Nike logo here and trainers, is this to show that you are quite sporty?
J: Yeah yeah.
I: What about Gladiator [film logo]?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 422
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J: I’m not sure I just put that in, again ’cause I like the film Gladiator.
I: What about the number four and the Crazy Frog?
J: Four is my favourite number and the Crazy Frog, I don’t know why I put that in there,
I don’t know.
I: So do you think how you see yourself is the same as how you think other people see
you?
J: Yeah yeah.
I: Do you think there are no differences?
J: Not really.
I: No?
J: No.
I: And if you had more time are there any other pictures that you would have put on?
J: Yeah quite a lot.
I: Like?
J: Like I was trying to find probably pictures of people that will represent me as well,
like more, I’m not sure//
I: //if you could think of a couple of examples now, who comes to mind that you would
have used?
J: I can’t think.
I: No.
J: If you go through a magazine I would see, oh I know that person and that’s it oh he
looks he’s the sort of person I’m like, you know happy upbeat type of person.
I: And just finally then, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
J: If they asked me I would say English.
I: You’d say you were English.
J: Yeah.
I: But you keep stressing that you are part Irish.
J: Yeah I am part Irish but if someone said to me I would say I’m English but I am, you
know what I mean like.
I: So you don’t ever tell people about the Irish//
J: //no, yeah, but I am mainly English.
I: Were you born here?
J: Yeah. I was born in England but like my dad is Irish my Nan’s Irish and all that and
my dad’s Nan and granddad that side of the family are all Irish so like, and my mum’s
side is all English so, and we have a lot of Irish people coming down to visit us and
I’ve found relatives out there and everything so.
I: OK that’s brilliant.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 423
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Appendix B.8: Willowfield School
(A=Alfie, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Can you explain what pictures you’ve used and what the pictures mean to you?
A: Well, I see myself as a crossword because I’m always puzzled and confused and stuff
and I see myself as a crocodile because I’m scary and I see myself as a banana for
some reason I forgot yeah. I see myself as a hamster because I’m like quiet. I see
myself as a cancer thing [starsign] because I’m a cancer and I done this picture of
people kissing and stuff because I thought (starts laughing).
I: Yes?
A: I think other people see me yeah, I put a camera here because like I’m always kind of
alert and I’ve got this crazy man staring up because I think I’m like scary again. I
think people think I’m scary and I’ve got another one of a guy with a moose on top of
his head and that’s just really freaky and stuff and that’s how I think I am. And again
I’ve just put another woman on it with a laptop.
I: Why is the woman there?
A: Everyone was doing it (laughing).
I: OK. On this side of the collage, on how you think other people see you, you’ve used
a picture of somebody, Ozzy Osbourne//
A: //that’s Ozzy Osbourne?
I: That’s Ozzy Osbourne, yes, who you said is scary and you’ve used pictures that you
said are freaky, but you’ve not got much else in this section.
A: Well that’s because I really think that’s how people see me. Alert, scary and freaky.
I: Alert, scary and freaky.
A: OK, not even the alert thing I was just trying to make myself look a bit good, about
alert and stuff.
I: What does this image [image of a guinea pig] mean?
A: Well, it’s a guinea pig or a hamster and guinea pig or hamsters are quiet and
sometimes I’m usually quiet.
I: On this side [how I see myself] you’ve said you can be quite puzzled and that you are
also quiet, but here [how I think other people see me] you’re saying people see you as
quite scary and freaky. Why do you think that people don’t see the quiet side or
puzzled side of you?
A: Because I’m not usually quiet around other people, I’m usually quiet when I’m like at
home or like with other friends that don’t come to my school.
I: I’ve also noticed that apart from Ozzy Osbourne, you haven’t used many pictures of
media celebrities. Is there a reason for this?
A: No, not really.
I: No?
A: Mainly because everyone took the other pictures of celebrities before I got to them.
I: So if there were pictures that you could have used to express what you were trying to
say in both of these sections, what pictures would you add to this if you would add
any?
A: I’d probably put Kate Moss on this because she’s a druggie and (starts laughing), and
I’m not sure what other celebrities I’d do. I don’t really know any quiet celebrities.
I: So why would you put Kate Moss on?
A: Because she’s a druggie, and druggies inspire me (laughing).
I: Druggies?
A: Inspire me (laughing).
I: Why do they inspire you?
A: Because they’re always in trouble and I’m kind of a boy who’s always in trouble.
I: But you just said that you couldn’t find any pictures of quiet celebrities because that’s
also how you see yourself.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 424
available at [Link]
A: I see myself as loads of things.
I: There seems to be a clear definite difference between how you see yourself and how
you think other people see you.
A: I’m not sure.
I: You’re not sure?
A: No.
I: OK, just one last question. You said that you describe your ethnicity as Turkish
Cypriot. Do you ever call yourself British?
A: Yeah, I think that because I was born here that probably makes me British, I’m not
sure.
I: What do you usually say? What would you usually describe yourself as?
A: I’d probably say I’m Turkish Cypriot.
I: OK, thanks Alfie.

(A=Andre, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Andre, would you like to explain what pictures you’ve used and why you have used
them?
A: I’ve got this one down [Jermaine Dafoe] because I, this player he plays the same
position as me, a striker.
I: Which player is it?
A: Jermaine Dafoe.
I: OK.
A: I chose this one [mobile phone advert] because I like phones. This one [car] because
I like racing.
I: Who is this [image of a black man]?
A: I don’t know but my brother looks a bit like him so maybe one day I might look like
that.
I: Are there any qualities about Jermaine Dafoe that you think are similar to how you
see yourself?
A: I think that we both score, I don’t know, goals and we’re both black.
I: Do you identify with him because he is black?
A: Yeah, but it’s not just that.
I: So what else is it about him [Jermaine Dafoe] that you identify with?
A: On the pitch he’s hard-working like me.
I: And is that something you see in yourself as well?
A: Yeah.
I: OK, let’s move on to this side [how I think other people see me]. Can you explain
what the images mean? You’ve got a picture of a wolf here, why have you used that?
A: Because some people might see me as quite lonely.
I: Do you think you’re lonely?
A: No.
I: Why do you think other people might think you’re lonely then?
A: I think, I just don’t talk much.
I: What about these pictures [Beyonce and Lucy Pinder] here? Why have you placed
these here [how I think other people see me]?
A: Because that’s how my friends say they see me. Someone who, like if they’ve got a
magazine with girls in it then they’ll just call me and show me because they say that
one day I’m going to grow up to be a porn star or something like that.
I: Is that how you feel?
A: I’m not sure.
I: Now I’ve noticed on this side [how you see yourself] you’ve got pictures of black
men and on this side [how you think other people see me] you didn’t use any images
of black men. Is there a reason why you did that, or do you think that that is not
something people think about when they see you?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 425
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A: I don’t know why I hadn’t on that side [how I think other people see me].
I: If you had more time are there any pictures you would have liked to have put on the
collage?
A: Maybe an athlete. Maybe put an athlete on both sides.
I: What would the athlete mean to you? What would it represent?
A: Hard-working and being good.
I: OK and how would you define your ethnicity?
A: Half Trinidadian
I: Half Trinidadian. Why only half?
A: Because my mum was born in Trinidad and my dad was born here.
I: Do you consider yourself British?
A: I wouldn’t say I’m British.
I: You would or you wouldn’t?
A: I don’t often say that I’m British.
I: Is there a reason why you don’t?
A: Because there’s some people that have British parents and grandparents, but my
parents and grandparents are from the Caribbean.
I: Do you think that if I changed the picture of Jermaine Dafoe to, let’s say David
Beckham, do you think that it would still reflect part of how you see yourself or do
you think that would change the overall message and meaning of who you are trying
to say you are?
A: I don’t think I would put David Beckham because he plays , unlike Jermaine Dafoe,
he plays like different and in a different positions and he has got some qualities that
Jermaine Dafoe don’t have.
I: OK. Thank you.

(C=Carl, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: OK, let’s have a look at your collage. Would you like to just explain the images
you’ve used for me?
C: Yeah, I chose the image of Motorhead because I love heavy metal music and that’s
how I see myself as a heavy metal rocker. I used, well, the Gothic 3 monkey from the
advert [3 Mobiles] because like, I don’t want you like putting names on me, but a lot
of people see me as a Goth, but I also see myself as a Goth so I’m pretty much in both
spaces.
I: What does being a Goth mean to you or what does it mean?
C: Well to other people it means you worship the devil, but I don’t think that, I just think
you wear some clothes and your automatically a Goth, there you go.
I: One interesting thing about your collage is up here you’ve written ‘I love life
sometimes’ with a time bomb. What does that mean?
C: It’s just sometimes life can be good and sometimes life can be up in your face, so it
like, sometimes I like my life and sometimes I don’t.
I: What about this image of the person windsurfing?
C: Well, I do a lot of extreme sports. I go down the skate park a lot to do skateboarding,
and when it’s summertime I go down to Swanage to do a bit of surfing and weight
boarding and stuff like that.
I: And [image of Green Day]?
C: I used a picture of the three members of Green Day because they’re good friends and
other people see me as a good friend.
I: Now I’ve noticed that a lot of images that you have represent the meanings associated
with gothic and sports, are there any images there that reflect how you think other
people see you?
C: Yeah.
I: Can you explain which ones?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 426
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C: That one [advert for band auditions]. Well, it’s a band audition and I think it’s the
only one that I could actually find with the word actually band in it so I’m in a band
at the moment and people like see me in a band like with other people.
I: And is that a picture of a cheetah?
C: A cheetah or a leopard I’m not sure.
I: And what does that represent [image of a cheetah]?
C: That I stand out in a crowd.
I: OK.
C: That other people see me that I stand out in a crowd.
I: That’s how you feel other people see you, that you stand out. Is there a reason for
that?
C: Yes but I wouldn’t like to say it.
I: That’s fine.
C: I used the word ‘bloke’ because I’m quite like, I speak in a cockney way.
I: That’s alright I speak in a cockney way.
C: Yeah, that’s why I used it (laughing).
I: Now, I’ve noticed on this [how I see myself] you’ve also got ‘blimey she’s fit’ next to
a nude woman. What does that mean and represent?
C: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Because, well the blimey bit was supposed to be added to the
body bit, the cockney bit, and the words are supposed to be because, that’s something
I like (laughing).
I: Do you think that the ‘bloke’ thing and the nude woman, if other people see you that
way do you think they see that as positive or negative?
C: In what way? What do you mean by that?
I: OK, you just said that you’ve used the word ‘bloke’ because of your cockney accent
and that you’ve also got a picture of a nude woman there which you said you like.
Do you think that if other people were looking at you and if they were qualities that
they saw in you, i.e. he’s a cockney bloke who likes ‘birds’, do you think other people
would see that as a positive, like a good thing or a bad thing?
C: Other people would see it as positive and other people would see it as negative, it’s
like 50/50 really.
I: What would influence what way they thought; whether they thought it was a good
thing or a bad thing? What do you think?
C: People might see it as a bad thing because like, I don’t know, they might take it the
wrong way as if I’m a perv maybe, but in some other way people would see it as me
being straight, so that’s the positive.
I: I’ve also noticed on your collage that there are no images of people who are not
white. Are there any//
C: //I’m not trying to imply anything by that.
I: No, I’m not suggesting you are. But if you had more time//
C: //yeah I would have
I: Who would you have put for example [how I see myself]?
C: I would have put, well if there was in a magazine, someone who I think who is a hero
and like who has won the Nobel Peace prize because he stood up for what he believed
in and that would be Martin Luther King. So I probably would have put that down as
well but I couldn’t find it so there was no-one else except for, if I had found Tony
Blair I would have put that there, I don’t really like him but I would have used him
because he’s thinking and sometimes I make bad decisions and so does Tony Blair,
but he also makes good decisions as well and so do I.
I: OK. How would you usually describe your ethnicity?
C: British, English.
I: Would you say British or English mainly?
C: Well, I would actually just say I’m a Londoner really. That’s what I say to people
like if they come up to me I say I’m a Londoner there you go.
I: So that’s what you would usually say on a day-to-day basis?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 427
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C: Yeah.
I: Thank you.

(J=Jimmy, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s start with the images on this side [how I see myself]. Can you explain why you
chose them and what they represent?
J: Well I’ve got pictures of the Gorillaz band because they’re like my favourite band,
like I sort of, I prefer their music to anything else it’s like electronic rock and the
eagle is just to show nature, that I like nature and I was born into a family of well my
dad is sort of a climber, not like that extreme but like hill-climbing and stuff, and I’ve
gone into I’ve been brought up into that way and the eye is for like I’m aware, most
of the time anyway.
I: Aware of?
J: My surroundings and stuff. And it’s just another one [image of a deer in a forest] to
show nature like the eagle.
I: What about this picture here of the man with the gun?
J: That’s not to say like guns are OK it was in a game magazine I didn’t cut out all the
whole thing.
I: And is this all one picture or are they separate?
J: That’s separate. I put that in the middle because I know that I’m a Metal Gear Solid
fan and I like PlayStation stuff and everybody sees me as that//
I: You know you’re a//
J: //Metal Gear Solid fan like computers and stuff and everybody else knows I’m a big
fan of it as well.
I: And you’ve got the Gorillaz picture here again [how I think other people see me].
J: Most people know like all my friends know I’m into the Gorillaz.
I: And you’ve also got the eagle again, so it’s the nature theme repeated.
J: Yes, yes.
I: But here (pointing to child with gun and word ‘mosher’)//
J: //well, that’s a separate part [child with gun] that’s to do with that as well the
computer games. Mosher is like a, it’s a bit like Carl said like a Goth but it’s in a
different way. It’s more of a different style, like electronic rock it’s not heavy metal,
but it’s the way you dress, music you listen to, the way that you sort of style yourself
out.
I: So this is really interesting because it’s like you’ve repeated pretty much the same
images on both sides, but here you’ve used, on how you see yourself, you feel that
you are aware, but on this side [how I think other people see me] you haven’t put it
down.
J: That’s because I think that most people, because I am aware most of the time, I think
people just thought I’m unaware because they see me that way all the time.
I: So you think you are a lot more aware//
J: //then people think I am.
I: If you had more time to work on this what other pictures would you have put on?
J: I probably would have put some more, I would have put like a PlayStation 2 or
something like that because I always like that and I would put a couple more bands.
I: Like which bands?
J: I would have put Tupac on it because he’s a good guy I look up to him.
I: In what way is Tupac a good guy?
J: Because he was like, he stood up for what he thought was right and then he got all the
way through stuff and then he explained it in like songs and stuff and I thought that
was really good.
I: Because some people saw Tupac as a bad guy because he was a bit of a gangster type
and he was involved with guns. Didn’t he end up getting shot?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 428
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J: But the only reason he got shot was because he stood up for what he thought was
right. I think that he was like really brave in what he did. I think he deserves a lot
more respect than he probably does get.
I: And how would you describe your ethnicity?
J: English, I don’t really have any other background.
I: That’s brilliant. Thank you very much.

(A=Amelia, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Would you like to explain what pictures you’ve used and why you’ve used them,
what they mean to you? Let’s start with this side first [how I see myself].
A: There’s that [cartoon picture of a girl in bed] because I’m lazy and I like sleeping and
there’s that [word ‘adorable’] ’cause I’m certainly beautiful (laughs).
I: Who is this a picture of?
A: Dougie from McFly, because he’s cute and so am I.
I: OK. And what does Franz Ferdinand ‘Do you want to’ [words] mean?
A: I don’t know I just like that song.
I: So overall, how do all these pictures work together to express how you see yourself?
A: I don’t know. Fun, yeah.
I: So fun?
A: Yeah.
I: And you’ve also written ‘happy’ here and drawn a face.
A: Yeah.
I: Now this side, how I think other people see me, could you explain some of these
pictures here?
A: That one [picture of a rabbit] is for weird, and that one [cartoon girl] is for funny and
Nicole Ritchie is funny.
I: And what about this woman up here [Kelly Rowland]?
A: I think she has cool hair. I don’t know, she looks happy and stuff.
I: And you’ve also got a picture of Gwen Stefani. What does she mean to you?
A: Original and, original and different but in a good way like me.
I: So these images are also quite similar to these ones on how you see yourself, but on
this side you’ve also written some words like we’ve got ‘stupid’, ‘clueless’, ‘quiet’,
‘clumsy’. Why are they//
A: //it’s what people tell me.
I: Everybody?
A: No, but a lot of people.
I: A lot of people.
A: Yeah.
I: Why do you think they think that?
A: I don’t know. Because they do, because I am, kind of.
I: If you had more time to work on this and you could put in more pictures onto your
collage, what pictures would you have liked to have put on and why?
A: I don’t know a mouse or something.
I: A mouse for quiet?
A: Yeah and a smashed plate or something, something smashed.
I: Now I’ve noticed as well apart from Gwen Stefani and Dougie from McFly, you’ve
not got many pictures of famous people here.
A: She’s famous [Kelly Rowland] and her [Nicole Ritchie].
I: Who is this one [Kelly Rowland]?
A: Kelly Rowland from Desinty’s Child.
I: Have you just used her because you said you think she has got cool hair?
A: Yeah and because she looks happy and she’s smiling.
I: Is there anything else about her where you think you are similar to her?
A: Not really.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 429
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I: OK and how would you describe your ethnicity?
A: Half-cast or mixed race.
I: Do you ever call yourself British?
A: Sometimes yeah, yeah.
I: But you usually say//
A: //Half-cast or mixed race.
I: And you were born?
A: In England.
I: OK, thank you.

(P=Pamela, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

I: Wow, you’ve got a lot on your collage. Where would you like to start with this?
P: How other people think they see me as.
I: OK, let’s start this side [how I think other people see me]. Now you’ve got quite a
few images here of different women. What does this head bit cut out on top of the
other body mean?
P: Some people just think I’m moody and I’ve got attitude.
I: So some people think you’re moody and that you’ve got attitude.
P: Yeah.
I: What do all of these different faces mean?
P: That one says I’m confident [image of a girl in a yellow top].
I: Is that how you think other people see you, as confident?
P: Yeah. Also friendly and funny [various images of women’s faces].
I: What about this one [image of a black girl]?
P: Pretty.
I: And what about that one [image of a girl looking up]?
P: I don’t know, I just stuck it there.
I: OK, you’ve also got ‘boring’ [word].
P: Yeah, some people think I am boring.
I: And what does this represent [image of a champagne bottle in a bucket]?
P: That I’m lively.
I: That you’re lively?
P: Yeah.
I: Is ‘talk too much’ [words] this side to?
P: Yeah.
I: Now you’ve got pictures of somebody funny and confident, but then also moody,
attitude and boring. Do you think other people see you as all those things?
P: Yeah, that’s what I think.
I: OK let’s go onto this side [how I see myself]. What do these images mean? Let’s
start with the girl in the jeans.
P: Independent.
I: Independent.
P: Yeah.
I: You’ve also though got the word ‘bitch’ with an arrow going to the independent.
P: (laughter) No it’s not supposed to go to there.
I: So that wasn’t deliberate?
P: Yeah.
I: Do you think that this [independent] is a positive quality or sometimes people think
it’s negative?
P: What independent?
I: Yes.
P: Positive.
I: And what about these images [images of fashion items]?
P: I just like going out and shopping and thing and buying clothes for me.
I: So you like your fashion and accessories?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 430
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P: Yeah.
I: And you’ve also got the words ‘nice’ and ‘star’ and you’ve got ‘going-out’ there.
Now on this side [how I see myself], looking at it, it seems very positive but on this
side [how I think other people see me] you’ve got ‘quiet’, ‘boring’, ‘moody’,
‘attitude’. Do you think that other people really know who you are, what type of
person you are?
P: Most of them don’t.
I: Why do you think that that might be?
P: Because I’m different around them.
I: In what way?
P: Quiet, bitchy.
I: What was that? Bitchy//
P: //to Kelly [pupil]. Sometimes I’m evil to people
I: OK. If you could have used more images on your collage are there any pictures you
would have liked to have been able put on?
P: No.
I: So you think this summaries, this sums up what were you were trying to express quite
well.
P: Yeah.
I: That’s great. So finally, how would you usually describe your ethnicity?
P: I don’t know.
I: Last week you wrote//
P: //I was black.
I: Would you ever describe your ethnicity as British?
P: No.
I: Why not?
P: I don’t know.
I: Were you born in this country?
P: Yeah.
I: So you always describe yourself as black?
P: Yeah.
I: And you would never describe yourself as British?
P: I would, but I’m confused. Yeah I would.
I: OK, we’ll leave it there, thank you.

(R=Rachel, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Would you like to explain what the images mean here [how I see myself]?
R: This means [image of a black model] I think I’m sexy, this one [image of a black girl]
Rachel is beautiful so I think that I’m beautiful and this one [image of a woman with
a golf club] is showing that she’s active and that’s something that’s me.
I: And what about this side [how I think other people see me]?
R: People think that I’m friendly [image of girls] like this one here and this one [image
of a man holding a woman] people think that I’m strong, and this one [image of a
man with his mouth open] people think that I’m a bit excited.
I: Excitable, yes.
R: And this one [image of a man with moustache] people think that I’m quite short-
tempered and this one [image of a girl laughing] is funny, because I’m funny.
I: They [other people] think you’re funny.
R: Yeah.
I: Now I’ve noticed that you have strong and excitable and funny, but you’ve not put
any similar images in how you see yourself. Do you see yourself as all of these
things or do you think that only other people see you as these things?
R: I see myself as these things here [how I see myself], also these things [how I think
other people see me].

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 431
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I: So you see yourself really as both, the two sides can sort of merge.
R: No, not really.
I: Are there any things here that you think you are that you think other people don’t
think you are?
R: Yeah (pointing to image of a black model).
I: So you think you’re beautiful and you don’t think other people think you’re beautiful.
R: Some people do.
I: Some people do?
R: Yeah.
I: But not most people?
R: Um, no.
I: OK. If you had more time are there more pictures that you could have added to this,
or that you would have liked to have added?
R: I would have something that shows that I love animals.
I: You love animals. So what picture could you have used to show that?
R: Someone hugging a dog or something.
I: OK, that’s brilliant. And how did you describe your ethnicity?
R: Caribbean.
I: Caribbean. Jamaican?
I: So you are Jamaican?
R: Yeah, both.
I: OK, because I’ve noticed here that you’ve used images of black women for beautiful
and sexy. If I took these pictures away and put pictures of maybe a white person or
an Asian person here would it still mean the same thing?
R: Yes, yes.
I: It would?
R: Yes.
I: That’s great. Thank you.

(Z=Zahra, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s go through your picture. What do these images mean [how I see myself]?
Z: Well these mean what I think like how I see myself because they are all of the things I
like, and these are how other people see me
I: So we’ve got images like the butterfly, ‘good friend’, ‘quiet’ [words, how I see
myself], and you think other people see you as quiet as well. What do these two lions
mean?
Z: They’re my favourite animal.
I: So is this one big collage that you’ve done or are they two separate?
Z: Two really. Two separate.
I: So which side is ‘Muslim’ [word] on?
Z: It’s in the middle because I’m a Muslim.
I: Do you think when it’s on this side [how I see myself], is it a good or a bad thing?
Z: It’s a good thing.
I: What about when it’s on this side [how I think other people see me]?
Z: It’s a good thing as well.
I: So you think that people see it [Muslim]//
Z: //well yeah, unless they’re racist.
I: Unless they’re racist. You’ve used a lot of pictures from nature, why is that?
Z: I like animals.
I: You like animals.
Z: I’ve got quiet I thought mouse would be good because mouses are quiet.
I: Are there any pictures that you would have liked to have put on your collage that you
didn’t have a chance to get?

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 432
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Z: I would like to replace these [all the words on the collage] with pictures and I would
have put Beyonce ’cause she’s fashionable and independent and so am I.
I: So everything that you’ve written you would have liked to have had pictures for then.
Z: Yeah.
I: OK and how did you describe//
Z: //Mauritian.
I: Mauritian. Were you born in this country?
Z: Yeah.
I: You were. Do you always say I’m Mauritian?
Z: Yeah.
I: You do. So is it important for you to say that?
Z: Because most people think I’m from Pakistan but I’m not so.
I: So it’s important for you to make sure that they know you are Mauritian.
Z: Yeah.
I: That’s great, that’s excellent. Thank you.

(A=Aisha, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Do you want to explain what images you’ve chosen and why, and what do the
pictures mean? (pause) OK, let’s start with this side [how I see myself]. Why have
you used the pictures of Kat and Little Mo [EastEnders characters]?
A: Because I like soaps.
I: OK, and what about the pictures above [images of a penguin and lion]?
A: I love cats and I like animals.
I: You’ve also got a tub of hair gel, what does that mean?
A: That I like using hair gel sometimes.
I: Underneath that you’ve got the word ‘religious’ in a bubble. If there was a picture
that you could use to represent that what would you put there?
A: The Quran or something.
I: Are these two separate collages or one big collage?
A: That’s separate.
I: Because on how you think other people see you, you’ve got movies, chocolate and
also ‘religious’ [word] again. Looking at your collage, there’s a lot more on how you
see yourself than there is the other side. Why is that?
A: I didn’t have time to finish it.
I: So if you had more time how would you have finished it?
A: I would have put more stuff on this side [how I think other people see me]?
I: Like?
A: Like ’cause I like watching TV and all of that kind of thing.
I: I asked you last week how you would usually describe your ethnicity and you put
Muslim.
A: Yeah.
I: Do you ever call yourself British?
A: Yeah.
I: You do. What one do you usually use?
A: Muslim.
I: So you would usually describe yourself as Muslim?
A: Yeah.

(Q=Qirat, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Let’s discuss your collage. Let’s just go through the images quickly.
Q: I watch this [That’s So Raven] like after I go home.
I: You watch?
Q: I watch this [That’s So Raven].

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 433
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I: OK.
Q: And Pakistan I come, my parents come from there.
I: Your parents come from Pakistan but you//
Q: //were born here.
I: you were born here.
Q: Yeah. And Manchester United are my favourite at sport, and Wizard of Oz rather a
good movie, Gladiator good movie, ideas and things like that you know, bright
colours and things like that but, and I like cats. London obviously because I live in
London. ‘Islam’ [word] because it’s my religion. ‘Respect’ [word], don’t know,
’cause I think I actually respect people when they need it and stuff like that so I put
that down.
I: You’ve put it [respect] here. Do you think that’s something people recognise in you?
Q: Well, if I say my family yeah my family yeah, I don’t know about other people I
don’t care, about other people.
I: So you respect your family?
Q: Yeah, and other people obviously, but you know it does depend.
I: You’ve put the words ‘Pakistan’ and ‘Islam’ on this side. Are these two separate
collages?
Q: No.
I: So it’s just one big one.
Q: Yeah.
I: Do you think that there is a difference between how you see yourself and how you
think other people see you then, or do you think//
Q: //I don’t know, I’m just one.
I: What does this [image of the London Eye] mean?
Q: This is a bit like you’re travelling by being as well like being like half-way through
your life and things like that so here it just represents London which is represented by
colour like that, colours.
I: And on your form you described your ethnicity as Pakistani British. Is that how you
always describe yourself?
Q: Well sometimes I do a bit of both sometimes I go a bit British but most of the time I
do go a bit more Pakistani, but I do put normally//
I: //What times would you do that?
Q: I don’t know, but the weird thing when people ask me I say I’m British Pakistani.
I: And if you could have added any pictures to that [collage] what pictures would you
have added?
Q: Maybe a few more animals because I have lots of pets at home and some clothes to
show I’m into fashion and am like my own person.
I: OK. Thank you.

(H=Husna, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Shall we go through your pictures?
H: I chose this word [‘cute’ next to an image of a toucan] because I like dogs and I got
pictures of books because I like reading and I’ve got soaps because I like watching
TV and soaps and I’m religious [word].
I: If you could have used a picture here [for religious] what would you have used?
H: I would have used like a person.
I: OK.
H: Yeah. And I’ve got a sign, a Pakistan flag, and I was smiling all the time and I’m
happy.
I: Now do you think that the religious here [how I see myself] and the religious here
[how I think other people see me] are the same?
H: No, not all the time.
I: Can you explain that?

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H: Sometimes I don’t wear my scarf and sometimes I do.
I: You’ve got a picture here [how I think other people see me] of a woman with a scarf
on. Do you think that people treat you differently when you have the scarf on than
when you don’t have it on?
H: No.
I: No.
H: Yeah.
I: And you also described yourself as Muslim so is that how you usually//
H: //yeah.
I: describe yourself?
H: Yeah.
I: But you were born in England and your parents are from Pakistan?
H: Yeah.
I: Is the Muslim more important to you than//
H: //yes.
I: Why?
H: Because I’m more like religious and more a Muslim as well.
I: OK, brilliant. Thanks.

(S=Simone, aged 13, female; I=interviewer)

(//=overlap)
I: Would you like to explain the images [how I see myself]?
S: I’ve got pictures of mice because I’m quiet as well sometimes and I’ve got a fair ride
because its fun and I like to do fun things. I’ve got a person trying on shoes because I
like to go shopping.
I: You’ve got a picture of Bobby V here, what does Bobby V mean? What does Bobby
V express about how you see yourself?
S: That I like R&B music.
I: That you like?
S: R&B music.
I: OK, let’s move onto this side [how I think other see me]. You’ve also got quiet
again, and you’ve also got ‘excited’, ‘annoying sometimes’ [words]. So the pictures
here are actually quite similar, or am I incorrect?
S: Yeah, some of them are a bit different.
I: Which ones would you say are different?
S: Like the mad one.
I: So you feel that other people would see you as a little bit mad?
S: Yeah.
I: You don’t think that is how you are?
S: I am a little but sometimes.
I: But not all the time?
S: No.
I: But that’s something that other people see in you?
S: Yeah.
I: If you could use more pictures on your collage which ones would you have used?
S: More colourful stuff.
I: More colourful stuff. Are there any pictures of famous people that you would have
maybe have liked to have put down?
S: I would have one of Usher.
I: Usher. Why?
S: Because he’s like my favourite singer.
I: OK, thank you.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 435
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(M=Martin, aged 13, male; I=interviewer)
(//=overlap)
I: Right, let’s go through your collage. Well, the first thing that strikes me is the picture
of the girl and you’ve put ‘straight’ next to it [how I see myself].
M: Yeah.
I: Would you like to explain why you put that there and what are you trying to say?
M: That I like girls.
I: That you like girls?
M: Yeah. Not all girls but most.
I: OK, and you’ve also got a little Green Day picture//
M: //and The Game.
I: What do they mean to you? What are you trying to express?
M: That I like all types of music going from say rock down to R&B and Garage. I like
them all.
I: And what about how you think other people see you?
M: Well one of my friends thought I was sly so I put a snake so I don’t know why, but he
said I was quite sly because people don’t know what stuff I’m gonna do so he done
that.
I: Right.
M: And he said I was loud.
I: If you had more time on the collage would you have put more pictures on?
M: Yeah, because I would have had more time to go round and ask more people what
they thought of me.
I: But what do you think other people think about you?
M: I don’t know ’cause I didn’t get to ask them.
I: OK. And how do you describe yourself, your ethnicity?
M: British.
I: British.
M: If you could have put any more pictures then on how you see yourself, what ones
would you have put on?
M: A big fat Union Jack.
I: And what would that mean to you?
M: That I’m from England.
I: That you’re from England.
M: Yes.
I: Anything else?
M: Not really.
I: No? Cool. Thank you.

© Fatimah Awan 2008. This text is part of the full PhD thesis 436
available at [Link]