1

Race & EthnicityRace & Ethnicity

2

““Scientific” racial types are Scientific” racial types are misleadingmisleading

No society contains biologically No society contains biologically “pure” people“pure” people

All racial categories are genetically All racial categories are genetically very much alikevery much alike

Skin color of Caucasian people Skin color of Caucasian people ranges from very light to very darkranges from very light to very dark

3

Race & EthnicityRace & Ethnicity

Race = biologically transmitted Race = biologically transmitted traitstraits

Ethnicity = cultureEthnicity = culture

–Can be changed (E.g. Russian to Can be changed (E.g. Russian to American)American)

4

Geographical theory of raceGeographical theory of race

Physical differences - e.g. skin Physical differences - e.g. skin color relates to temperature and color relates to temperature and other geographical conditionsother geographical conditions

5

Characteristics of minoritiesCharacteristics of minorities

Distinctive physical or cultural Distinctive physical or cultural traitstraits

Socially disadvantagedSocially disadvantaged

6

Prejudice vs discriminationPrejudice vs discrimination

Prejudice = attitudesPrejudice = attitudes Discrimination = behaviorDiscrimination = behavior Institutional discriminationInstitutional discrimination

–Bias built into the operation of Bias built into the operation of today’s institutionstoday’s institutions

7

StereotypesStereotypes

Exaggerated descriptions applied Exaggerated descriptions applied to everyone in some categoryto everyone in some category

8

Theories of prejudiceTheories of prejudice

Scapegoat theoryScapegoat theory Cultural theoryCultural theory

9

Scapegoat theoryScapegoat theory

Links prejudice to frustration and Links prejudice to frustration and disadvantaged statusdisadvantaged status

Unfairly blame others for their Unfairly blame others for their troublestroubles

10

Cultural theory of prejudiceCultural theory of prejudice

Emory Borgardus (research on Emory Borgardus (research on social distance)social distance)

Prejudice expressed by people well Prejudice expressed by people well adjusted to a “culture of adjusted to a “culture of prejudice”.prejudice”.

11

Majority & minority: Patterns of Majority & minority: Patterns of interactioninteraction

Pluralism - Social parityPluralism - Social parity AssimilationAssimilation

–Adoption of the EnglishAdoption of the English Segregation - separationSegregation - separation GenocideGenocide

–Annihilation of one categoryAnnihilation of one category

12

Today’s immigrantsToday’s immigrants

AsiaAsia Latin AmericaLatin America

13

XenophobiaXenophobia

Fear of what is strangeFear of what is strange