Racial and Ethnic Racial and Ethnic MinoritiesMinorities

Chapter 10Chapter 10

HISTORIC CONCEPT OF RACEHISTORIC CONCEPT OF RACE

Race Race AA category of people who are defined as category of people who are defined as

similar because of a number of physical similar because of a number of physical characteristics.characteristics.

HISTORIC CONCEPT OF RACEHISTORIC CONCEPT OF RACE

Throughout history, races have been Throughout history, races have been defined along defined along

Genetic Lines - No associationGenetic Lines - No association Legal Lines - Power basedLegal Lines - Power based Social Lines - Group membershipSocial Lines - Group membership

Can you identify any problems associated Can you identify any problems associated with these means of definition?with these means of definition?

SOCIAL DEFINITIONSOCIAL DEFINITION

If a person presents themselves as a If a person presents themselves as a member of a certain race and others member of a certain race and others

respond to that person as a member of respond to that person as a member of that race, then it makes little sense to say that race, then it makes little sense to say that they are not a member of that race.that they are not a member of that race.

SOCIAL DEFINITIONSOCIAL DEFINITION

The social definition of race is the decisive The social definition of race is the decisive one in most social interactions. It pays little one in most social interactions. It pays little attention to an individual’s hereditary attention to an individual’s hereditary physical features.physical features.

No different than ethnic self definition No different than ethnic self definition of people with a similar cultureof people with a similar culture

TERMS USING RACETERMS USING RACEMultiracial AncestryMultiracial Ancestry Children who are born to parents of multiple races-Children who are born to parents of multiple races-

representing more than one race. Ancestors comes from representing more than one race. Ancestors comes from more than one racemore than one race Example - White/AsianExample - White/Asian

Interracial MarriageInterracial Marriage Marriage between two people of differing racial groups. Marriage between two people of differing racial groups.

Example - Black/WhiteExample - Black/White

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ETHNIC GROUPSETHNIC GROUPS

Ethnic groupEthnic group DEFDEF: Has a distinct : Has a distinct cultural tradition cultural tradition that its that its

own members identify with and that may or may own members identify with and that may or may not be recognized by others. not be recognized by others.

Its members may be scattered throughout Its members may be scattered throughout existing countries or live in a narrow existing countries or live in a narrow geographical area. geographical area.

Most of them form sub-cultures in a societyMost of them form sub-cultures in a society

ETHNIC GROUPSETHNIC GROUPS

May or may not have their own separate May or may not have their own separate political unit (state, political party, etc)political unit (state, political party, etc)

They may have had one in the past or They may have had one in the past or aspire to have one in the futureaspire to have one in the future

They usually have high internal loyalty and They usually have high internal loyalty and often possess distinctive folkways often possess distinctive folkways

THE CONCEPT OF MINORITYTHE CONCEPT OF MINORITY

Not defined as a small group in SociologyNot defined as a small group in Sociology

DEF: DEF: A group of people who, because of A group of people who, because of physical or cultural characteristics, are singled physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from others in society for differential and out from others in society for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of discrimination.themselves as objects of discrimination.

- RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, AGE, - RACE, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, AGE, GENDER, GENDER,

PREJUDICEPREJUDICE

Prejudice means a “prejudgment” or Prejudice means a “prejudgment” or “an attitude with an emotional“an attitude with an emotional componentcomponent

DEF:DEF: prejudice prejudice as as an irrationally based an irrationally based negative attitude toward certain groups negative attitude toward certain groups and their members and their members

(Prejudice can be positive also).(Prejudice can be positive also).

FUNCTIONS OF PREJUDICEFUNCTIONS OF PREJUDICE

First, a prejudice, because it is shared, helps First, a prejudice, because it is shared, helps draw together those who hold it. draw together those who hold it.

Second, when two or more groups are Second, when two or more groups are competing prejudice can make it easier on the competing prejudice can make it easier on the conscience if one can write off competitors as conscience if one can write off competitors as somehow less than human or inherently somehow less than human or inherently unworthy. unworthy.

Third, psychologists suggest that prejudice Third, psychologists suggest that prejudice allows us to project onto others parts of allows us to project onto others parts of ourselves that we do not like, creating a feeling ourselves that we do not like, creating a feeling of superiorityof superiority

DYSFUNCTIONS OF PREJUDICEDYSFUNCTIONS OF PREJUDICE

It does not provide a true picture of the social It does not provide a true picture of the social world.world.

It can lead to discrimination, but does not always It can lead to discrimination, but does not always do so.do so.

It can prevent society, for optimizing potential It can prevent society, for optimizing potential human resourceshuman resources

DISCRIMINATIONDISCRIMINATION

PrejudicePrejudice is a subjective is a subjective feelingfeeling, , discriminationdiscrimination is an overt is an overt action.action.

DEF: DEF: Discrimination refers to differential Discrimination refers to differential treatment, usually unequal and injurious, treatment, usually unequal and injurious, accorded to individuals who are assumed to accorded to individuals who are assumed to belong to a particular category or group. belong to a particular category or group.

MERTON’S TYPOLOGYMERTON’S TYPOLOGYUnprejudiced NondiscriminatorsUnprejudiced Nondiscriminators

People are neither prejudiced against the People are neither prejudiced against the members of other racial and ethnic groups, nor members of other racial and ethnic groups, nor do they practice discrimination.do they practice discrimination.

Unprejudiced DiscriminatorsUnprejudiced Discriminators Are not themselves prejudiced, but will tolerate Are not themselves prejudiced, but will tolerate

discrimantion. Includes those who constantly discrimantion. Includes those who constantly think of expediency.think of expediency.

MERTON’S TYPOLOGYMERTON’S TYPOLOGY

Prejudiced NondiscriminatorsPrejudiced Nondiscriminators

People who hold negative views of other groups People who hold negative views of other groups and who do not accept the ideal of equality for and who do not accept the ideal of equality for all, but conform to it and give it lip service when all, but conform to it and give it lip service when the slightest pressure is applied. the slightest pressure is applied.

Prejudiced DiscriminatorsPrejudiced Discriminators The bigots, pure and unashamed. Individual’s The bigots, pure and unashamed. Individual’s

who are prejudiced and voice and/or practice who are prejudiced and voice and/or practice discriminationdiscrimination

Institutional Prejudice and DiscriminationInstitutional Prejudice and Discrimination

Refer to social arrangements that restrict the life Refer to social arrangements that restrict the life chances and choices of a specifically defined chances and choices of a specifically defined group in comparison with those of the dominant group in comparison with those of the dominant group. group.

Patterns of Racial and Ethnic Patterns of Racial and Ethnic RelationsRelations

There are a limited number of possible There are a limited number of possible outcomes when different groups come outcomes when different groups come togethertogether

AssimilationAssimilation Is the process whereby groups with Is the process whereby groups with

different cultures come to have a common different cultures come to have a common culture.culture.

Refers to the fusion of cultural heritages.Refers to the fusion of cultural heritages.

ASSIMILATIONASSIMILATION Integration of new elements with old ones. It is Integration of new elements with old ones. It is

usually tilted towards the group with more powerusually tilted towards the group with more power

The transferring of culture from one group to The transferring of culture from one group to another is a highly complex process, often another is a highly complex process, often involving the rejection of old ideologies, habits, involving the rejection of old ideologies, habits, customs, attitudes, and language. customs, attitudes, and language.

Anglo conformityAnglo conformity refers to The renunciation of the refers to The renunciation of the ancestral cultures in favor of Anglo-American ancestral cultures in favor of Anglo-American behavior and values behavior and values

PLURALISMPLURALISM

The development and coexistence of separate The development and coexistence of separate racial and ethnic group identities within a societyracial and ethnic group identities within a society

Is a philosophical viewpoint that attempts to Is a philosophical viewpoint that attempts to produce what is considered to be a desirable produce what is considered to be a desirable social situation. social situation.

PLURALISMPLURALISM

Theory Theory Celebrates the differences among groups of Celebrates the differences among groups of

people. people.

Provided a means for minorities to resist the pull Provided a means for minorities to resist the pull of assimilation by allowing them to claim that of assimilation by allowing them to claim that they constitute the very structure of the social they constitute the very structure of the social order. order.

Assumes that the minority is a primary unit of Assumes that the minority is a primary unit of society and that the unity of the whole depends society and that the unity of the whole depends on the harmony of the various parts.on the harmony of the various parts.

SUBJUGATIONSUBJUGATION

The subordination of one group and the The subordination of one group and the assumption of a position of authority, assumption of a position of authority, power, and domination by the other. power, and domination by the other.

SEGREGATIONSEGREGATION

Segregation, a form of subjugation, refers to the Segregation, a form of subjugation, refers to the act, process, or state of being set apart. act, process, or state of being set apart.

It places limits and restrictions on the contact, It places limits and restrictions on the contact, communication, and social relations among communication, and social relations among groups. groups.

EXPULSIONEXPULSION

The process of forcing a group to leave the The process of forcing a group to leave the territory in which it lives. territory in which it lives.

Can be accomplished through Can be accomplished through forced forced migration.migration.

The relocation of a group through direct actionThe relocation of a group through direct action EX: AMERICAN INDIANS/TRAIL OF TEARSEX: AMERICAN INDIANS/TRAIL OF TEARS

ANNIHILATIONANNIHILATION

The deliberate extermination of a racial or ethnic The deliberate extermination of a racial or ethnic group. group.

EX: Nazi Germany killing of Jews and EX: Nazi Germany killing of Jews and Gypsys Gypsys