ways. Those of us living in ‘Western’ developed nations, such as the UK and US are more or less told that our future is within our control. If it turned out differently, we can only blame ourselves for our failures and not on something socially or politically systematic (Giddens, 1991: 74-77). Giddens (1990:177) explains that modernity and the tendencies of globalisation is, ‘…a process of the simultaneous transformation of subjectivity and global social organisation, against a troubling backdrop of consequence risks.’ Certain choices are made to attract opportunity and make the individual flexible. A common trait of successfulness in today’s world is someone who can quickly adapt to any given situation (Giddens, 1990; Bauman, 1992, 1998; Beck, 1991). Giddens (1990, 1991), Beck (1999, 2012) and Bauman (1998) have certainly emphasised the presence of anxiety and risk within the current phase of modernity. Less emphasis has been on the positive attributes of risk have been presented. Finucane et al. (2000) have found through investigating the factors of risk taking between white men and women and those of other backgrounds within American society. What they concluded in their investigation was that white men have less concern for various types of minimal risk compared to non-whites. The importance of this finding is to identify how socio-economic backgrounds, including culture and social standing, affects risk perception (Finucane et al., 2000: 2; Lupton et al., 2002). There is certainly a power correlation whether perceived or actual when it comes to making decisions about risk and their effects. None of the participants interviewed were fearful about returning to their home country. Berger et al., (1973: 72-74) speaks of the importance of a ‘life plan’ that has become a modern preoccupation. Without one, there is a feeling of disorientation and anxiety. It is something that needs to be re-amended throughout one’s life. Giddens (1991:75) also maintains, ‘The self forms a trajectory of development from the past to the anticipated future. The individual appropriates his past by sifting
ways. Those of us living in ‘Western’ developed nations, such as the UK and US are more or less told that our future is within our control. If it turned out differently, we can only blame ourselves for our failures and not on something socially or politically systematic (Giddens, 1991: 74-77). Giddens (1990:177) explains that modernity and the tendencies of globalisation is, ‘…a process of the simultaneous transformation of subjectivity and global social organisation, against a troubling backdrop of risks.’ Certain choices are made to attract opportunity and make the individual flexible. A common trait of successfulness in today’s world is someone who can quickly adapt to any given situation (Giddens, 1990; Bauman, 1992, 1998; Beck, 1991). Giddens (1990, 1991), Beck (1999, 2012) and Bauman (1998) have certainly emphasised the presence of anxiety and risk within the current phase of modernity. Less emphasis has been on the positive attributes of risk have been presented. Finucane et al. (2000) have found through investigating the factors of risk taking between white men and women and those of other backgrounds within American society. What they concluded in their investigation was that white men have less concern for various types of minimal risk compared to non-whites. The importance of this finding is to identify how socio-economic backgrounds, including culture and social standing, affects risk perception (Finucane et al., 2000: 2; Lupton et al., 2002). There is certainly a power correlation whether perceived or actual when it comes to making decisions about risk and their effects. None of the participants interviewed were fearful about returning to their home country. Berger et al., (1973: 72-74) speaks of the importance of a ‘life plan’ that has become a modern preoccupation. Without one, there is a feeling of disorientation and anxiety. It is something that needs to be re-amended throughout one’s life. Giddens (1991:75) also maintains, ‘The self forms a trajectory of development from the past to the anticipated future. The individual appropriates his past by sifting consequence
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