1 racism, prejudice and discrimination sociology 102

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Racism, Prejudice and Racism, Prejudice and DiscriminationDiscrimination

Sociology 102Sociology 102

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INGROUP AND OUTGROUPINGROUP AND OUTGROUP

The circle that includes “us” (the The circle that includes “us” (the in-in-groupgroup) excludes “them” (the ) excludes “them” (the out-groupout-group). ).

In-group biasIn-group bias When we’re part of a small group When we’re part of a small group

surrounded by a larger group, we are also surrounded by a larger group, we are also more conscious of our group membership more conscious of our group membership

not just our personal identity (our sense of not just our personal identity (our sense of our personal attributes and attitudes) but our personal attributes and attitudes) but our our social identity.social identity.

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Historically, race is a cultural invention that Historically, race is a cultural invention that has been used in a wide variety of ways has been used in a wide variety of ways

In sociological terms, a In sociological terms, a race race is a socially is a socially defined category of people who are defined category of people who are thought to share biologically distinctive thought to share biologically distinctive traits.traits.

People show so great a mixture of physical People show so great a mixture of physical characteristics - in skin color, hair texture, characteristics - in skin color, hair texture, nose shape, head shape, height, eye color, nose shape, head shape, height, eye color, and so on and so on

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The world’s gene pools are mixed to the The world’s gene pools are mixed to the point where only general groupings can be point where only general groupings can be distinguished distinguished

RacismRacism is behavior, in word or deed, that is is behavior, in word or deed, that is motivated by the belief that human races motivated by the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that have distinctive characteristics that determine abilities and cultures determine abilities and cultures

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The Meaning of MinorityThe Meaning of Minority

• Five characteristics that determine Five characteristics that determine minority status in societyminority status in society

• 1. Minority groups are subordinate 1. Minority groups are subordinate segments of a complex societysegments of a complex society

• 2. Minority groups have traits that set 2. Minority groups have traits that set them apart and are devalued by dominant them apart and are devalued by dominant segment of the societysegment of the society

• 3. Subordinate groups develop a sense of 3. Subordinate groups develop a sense of group consciousness “we feeling”group consciousness “we feeling”

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The Meaning of MinorityThe Meaning of Minority

• 4. Involuntary status; one is born into it4. Involuntary status; one is born into it• 5. Subordinate and dominant group 5. Subordinate and dominant group

patterns of interaction lead to patterns of patterns of interaction lead to patterns of endogamyendogamy

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PrejudicePrejudice is a negative attitude toward an is a negative attitude toward an entire category of people, often an ethnic entire category of people, often an ethnic or racial minority or racial minority

DiscriminationDiscrimination is “the differential is “the differential treatment of individuals considered to treatment of individuals considered to belong to a particular group”belong to a particular group”

Prejudiced attitudes should not be equated Prejudiced attitudes should not be equated with discriminatory behaviorwith discriminatory behavior

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Defining Racism, Prejudice, and Defining Racism, Prejudice, and DiscriminationDiscrimination

The relationship between prejudice and The relationship between prejudice and discrimination is complexdiscrimination is complex

Robert Merton’s study and typology of the Robert Merton’s study and typology of the relationship between prejudice and relationship between prejudice and discriminationdiscrimination

Four patternsFour patterns 1. Unprejudiced nondiscriminatory – 1. Unprejudiced nondiscriminatory –

integrationintegration 2. Unprejudiced and discriminatory – 2. Unprejudiced and discriminatory –

institutional discriminationinstitutional discrimination

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Defining Racism, Prejudice, and Defining Racism, Prejudice, and DiscriminationDiscrimination

Four patternsFour patterns 3. Prejudiced and nondiscriminatory – 3. Prejudiced and nondiscriminatory –

latent bigotrylatent bigotry 4. Prejudiced and discriminatory – outright 4. Prejudiced and discriminatory – outright

bigotrybigotry

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Origins of Prejudice and Origins of Prejudice and DiscriminationDiscrimination

Prejudice and Bigotry in Social Prejudice and Bigotry in Social StructuresStructures

Exploitation theory - prejudice is rationally Exploitation theory - prejudice is rationally and economically motivated on the basis and economically motivated on the basis of self interestof self interest

The dominant group benefits The dominant group benefits from prejudice in that it is rooted from prejudice in that it is rooted within the subordination and within the subordination and exploitation of a groupexploitation of a group

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Frustration, Conflict, Frustration, Conflict, Competition, AggressionCompetition, Aggression

Frustration-AggressionFrustration-Aggression – when one – when one feels or experiences frustration due to feels or experiences frustration due to blocked needs, it is common to displace blocked needs, it is common to displace that frustration onto a scapegoatthat frustration onto a scapegoat

- scapegoat - scapegoat a person or group that is a person or group that is incapable of offering resistance to the incapable of offering resistance to the hostility or aggression of othershostility or aggression of others - Anger and frustration is often taken out - Anger and frustration is often taken out on subordinate groupson subordinate groups

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When two groups compete for jobs, When two groups compete for jobs, housing, or social prestige, one’s group housing, or social prestige, one’s group fulfillment can become the other group’s fulfillment can become the other group’s frustrationfrustration

ProjectionProjection- the tendency to project one’s - the tendency to project one’s own undesirable traits onto a subordinate own undesirable traits onto a subordinate groupgroup

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Psychological TheoriesPsychological Theories

Authoritarian PersonalityAuthoritarian Personality Rigid, thinking adherence to conventional valuesRigid, thinking adherence to conventional values Strong feelings about ideas of right and wrong Strong feelings about ideas of right and wrong

and have a low tolerance for uncertainty.and have a low tolerance for uncertainty. intolerant of any divergence from what they intolerant of any divergence from what they

consider to be the normal (which is usually consider to be the normal (which is usually conceptualized in terms of their religion, race, conceptualized in terms of their religion, race, history, nationality, culture, language, etc.) history, nationality, culture, language, etc.)

displaced aggressiondisplaced aggression, directing their hostility , directing their hostility against a powerless group to compensate for against a powerless group to compensate for their feelings of insecurity and fear their feelings of insecurity and fear

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Need for Status and BelongingNeed for Status and Belonging

To perceive ourselves as having status, we To perceive ourselves as having status, we need people below us.’need people below us.’

People tend to be more hostile toward People tend to be more hostile toward others when their security is threatened.others when their security is threatened.

Prejudice is often greater among those Prejudice is often greater among those slipping on the socioeconomic ladderslipping on the socioeconomic ladder

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Cultural Factors: Norms and Cultural Factors: Norms and StereotypesStereotypes

Most prejudice is learned early in the socialization Most prejudice is learned early in the socialization process.process.

Normative approachNormative approach - prejudice is patterned into - prejudice is patterned into the cultural norms and values of a group or the cultural norms and values of a group or societysociety

Prejudice is learned and is a function of Prejudice is learned and is a function of conforming to the norms of a group conforming to the norms of a group

Children often adopt their parents’ prejudices as Children often adopt their parents’ prejudices as naturally as anything else.naturally as anything else.

Common prejudices are taken from Common prejudices are taken from ethnic ethnic stereotypesstereotypes

StereotypingStereotyping-generalizing a trait to a group is -generalizing a trait to a group is another source of prejudiceanother source of prejudice

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Some Consequences of Prejudice Some Consequences of Prejudice and Discriminationand Discrimination

1. Prejudice and discrimination have 1. Prejudice and discrimination have harmful effects on the personality of its harmful effects on the personality of its victimsvictims

2. Prejudice and discrimination are sources 2. Prejudice and discrimination are sources of strife and conflict between groupsof strife and conflict between groups

3. Prejudice and discrimination and subtle 3. Prejudice and discrimination and subtle racism are directed toward upper-class racism are directed toward upper-class minoritiesminorities

4. Hate crimes4. Hate crimes

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Institutional DiscriminationInstitutional Discrimination

Discrimination that is normative and routine part of Discrimination that is normative and routine part of the economy, educational system or some other the economy, educational system or some other social institutionssocial institutions

• Institutional discrimination is different from other Institutional discrimination is different from other types of discrimination since it is not always a types of discrimination since it is not always a conscious intent to discriminateconscious intent to discriminate

HousingHousingRestrictive Covenants Restrictive Covenants – – attachment terms to attachment terms to

property deedsproperty deedsRacial Steering – Racial Steering – practice in which real estate practice in which real estate

brokers refuse to show house outside of specific brokers refuse to show house outside of specific areas to minority buyersareas to minority buyers

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• Racial Profiling Racial Profiling refers to the practice by refers to the practice by which law enforcement officers select which law enforcement officers select people for investigation on the basis of people for investigation on the basis of racerace

• Racial profiling is a form of institutional Racial profiling is a form of institutional discrimination in that law enforcement discrimination in that law enforcement agencies use race as policy for selecting agencies use race as policy for selecting someone out for further scrutinysomeone out for further scrutiny

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EducationEducation Minority educational achievement lags behind Minority educational achievement lags behind

the dominant groupthe dominant group In 2003, almost 15 percent of Whites aged In 2003, almost 15 percent of Whites aged

twenty five and over had not completed high twenty five and over had not completed high schoolschool

Forty three percent of Hispanics aged twenty Forty three percent of Hispanics aged twenty five and over had not completed high schoolfive and over had not completed high school

Twenty percent of African-Americans aged Twenty percent of African-Americans aged twenty five and over had not completed high twenty five and over had not completed high schoolschool

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Unequal Access to High-Quality Unequal Access to High-Quality SchoolingSchooling

Minority segregation in poor schoolsMinority segregation in poor schools Brown v. Board of EducationBrown v. Board of Education and patterns and patterns

of de jure segregationof de jure segregationSegregation by law or policy was Segregation by law or policy was

ruled unconstitutionalruled unconstitutional

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Unequal Access to High-Quality Unequal Access to High-Quality SchoolingSchooling

De facto patterns of segregation of todayDe facto patterns of segregation of todayHousing patternsHousing patternsEconomic inequalitiesEconomic inequalitiesGerrymandered school districtsGerrymandered school districtsMiddle-class flight from Middle-class flight from

communitiescommunities Busing has been the primary policy over the Busing has been the primary policy over the

years to achieve desegregation years to achieve desegregation Primarily of minority studentsPrimarily of minority students

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Harvard Project on School Desegregation Harvard Project on School Desegregation has found a pattern of resegregation of has found a pattern of resegregation of schoolsschools

Harvard Project Findings:Harvard Project Findings: 1. Enrollment of Hispanic students have 1. Enrollment of Hispanic students have

increased by 218 percent with 75 percent increased by 218 percent with 75 percent attending predominantly minority schoolsattending predominantly minority schools

2. Majority of White students are attending 2. Majority of White students are attending schools that are 80 percent Whiteschools that are 80 percent White

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Harvard Project Findings:Harvard Project Findings: 3. Enrollment for African-American 3. Enrollment for African-American

students has increased but they are likely students has increased but they are likely to attend predominantly minority schoolsto attend predominantly minority schools

4. Schools with large minority populations 4. Schools with large minority populations are concentrated in poor areasare concentrated in poor areas

5. Poverty compounds school segregation5. Poverty compounds school segregation

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HousingHousing Housing segregation is related Housing segregation is related

PovertyPovertyPrejudicePrejudiceRacial steering by real estate Racial steering by real estate

brokersbrokers Ways to reduce housing segregation Ways to reduce housing segregation

Conduct audit research on practices Conduct audit research on practices that cause segregationthat cause segregation

More enforcement of anti-bias More enforcement of anti-bias legislationlegislation

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Employment and IncomeEmployment and Income Employment discrimination in part is Employment discrimination in part is

related to past educational discriminationrelated to past educational discrimination Statistics show that whites are more than Statistics show that whites are more than

twice as likely as African Americans or twice as likely as African Americans or Latinos to work as managers or Latinos to work as managers or professionalsprofessionals

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Employment and IncomeEmployment and Income Income gap has been narrowingIncome gap has been narrowing Asset gap has been wideningAsset gap has been widening William J. Wilson - the growing gap William J. Wilson - the growing gap

between the middle-class and poor is between the middle-class and poor is wideningwidening

Decline in manufacturing jobs for Decline in manufacturing jobs for inner city residentsinner city residents

Inadequate schoolsInadequate schoolsRacist employersRacist employers

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Table 7-2 (p. 238)Table 7-2 (p. 238)Mean Earnings by Highest Degree EarnedMean Earnings by Highest Degree Earned

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Politics and Social PolicyPolitics and Social Policy

Job TrainingJob Training Government budget concerns, corporate Government budget concerns, corporate

downsizing will make job training downsizing will make job training programs a issueprograms a issue

Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action Originated out of the 1964 civil rights Originated out of the 1964 civil rights

legislation prohibiting discrimination on legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, race the basis of religion, national origin, race and sexand sex

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Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action Affirmative action requires educational Affirmative action requires educational

and economic organizations to have and economic organizations to have programs to increase the hiring of minority programs to increase the hiring of minority applicants and promotion policiesapplicants and promotion policies

California (1996) and Proposition 209 it California (1996) and Proposition 209 it eliminated Affirmative action in higher eliminated Affirmative action in higher education and government jobseducation and government jobs

Decline in minority enrollment in Decline in minority enrollment in higher educationhigher education

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Affirmative ActionAffirmative Action Critics argue affirmative action is a form of Critics argue affirmative action is a form of

reverse discriminationreverse discrimination Affirmative action will continue to be an Affirmative action will continue to be an

area of controversyarea of controversy Education for EqualityEducation for Equality Enforcement of anti-discrimination Enforcement of anti-discrimination

legislation in educationlegislation in education

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Education for EqualityEducation for Equality Head StartHead Start – federally funded preschool – federally funded preschool

program and nutrition program for program and nutrition program for children from poor familieschildren from poor families

Flaws in the Head Start programFlaws in the Head Start program 1.What should be taught1.What should be taught 2. Does too little, too late2. Does too little, too late

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JusticeJustice

Two premises of the American justice systemTwo premises of the American justice system1.1. Justice is blindJustice is blind2.2. Innocent until proven guiltyInnocent until proven guiltyThese two premises fall shortThese two premises fall short1.1. Higher arrest rates of minoritiesHigher arrest rates of minorities2.2. Bail system and inequality in accessing the Bail system and inequality in accessing the

system system

1 racism, prejudice and discrimination sociology 102

Documents

group membership

small group

larger group

minority groups

ones group fulfillment

sense of group consciousness

groups frustration projection

subordinate segments