JOURNAL

Write down 1 positive and 1 negative stereotype about each of the following groups:– Whites -Native Americans– African Americans -Irish Americans– Latinos -Asian Americans– Arab Americans– Jewish Americans

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS ON JOURNAL

What was easier to do, positive or negative? Which groups didn’t you have a stereotype

for? Why? Where do the stereotypes we have for

certain groups come from? How do those stereotypes impact the way

those groups are treated?

Minority, Race and Ethnicity

Ch. 9, Sec. 1

pp. 274-279

What is a Minority?

Physical or cultural differences separate them from the majority

Minority is dominated by the majority

Minority traits are often believed to be inferior by the majority

What is a Minority?

Members of minorities have strong sense of common identity, with strong group loyalty– Discuss in your small group why would minorities

have strong bonds to each other?

Majority ascribes status to those who are in the minority

Race

Members share biologically inherited traits– Skin color, hair, facial features, height

No such thing as a pure racePhysical attributions are arbitrary

– What does it mean that characteristics are arbitrary?

Social attitudes towards race are more important

Advantages of Race

No evidence of innate differences in athleticism or intelligence

– Do you agree with this statement? Give evidence for or against in your small group

Some characteristics are adaptations for native environments– Discuss in your small group, are there any racial

features you can think of as being adaptations for one’s environment?

Ethnicity

Ethnic Minority is a group identified with cultural, religious, or national characteristics

Majority feels superior because their cultural practices are viewed as “weird”– Discuss in your small group what an example of ethnic

minorities would be and why do we focus less on ethnicity and more on race in the United States?

Racial and Ethnic Relations

Ch. 9, Sec. 2

pp. 280-283

Patterns of Assimilation

Acceptance of a group leads to assimilation, where minorities blend in

Rejection of a group leads to conflict

Assimilation

Anglo conformity-immigrants must conform to traditional American institutions

Melting pot-all minorities blend together– Is the United States a Melting pot or Tossed salad?– Discuss what the difference between the two is.

Assimilation

Tossed salad analogy fits beliefs of cultural pluralism where a minority can maintain its sense of identity

Accommodation occurs when a minority is able to deal with the majority only when it must but keeps its culture and language

Patterns of Conflict

Conflict patterns are determined by examining history

Patterns of Conflict

Genocide is most extreme pattern– A systematic effort to destroy an entire

population (aka ethnic cleansing)Population Transfer

– Native Americans to Oklahoma

Subjugation– De Jure Segregation-law based

(apartheid)– De Facto Segregation-practice based– STOP AFTER THIS SLIDE

Theories of Prejudice and Discrimination

Ch. 9, Sec. 3

pp. 284-288

Write down one prejudice that you have. Where did it come from?

Stereotypes

Distorted or oversimplified ideas applied to an entire group

Sometimes they are created to justify discrimination toward a group

Stereotype Video

Prejudice

Widely held negative attitude directed at a particular group– Overgeneralization – Based on biased or insufficient

info or stereotypes

Racism

Belief discrimination is justified because one race is superior to another

Not genetic, transmitted by culture

Discrimination

Treating people differently because of a prejudice held against a group– Ranges from avoiding social

contact to violence

Hate Crimes

Criminal acts motivated by extreme prejudice or racism

Institutionalized Discrimination

Unfair practices that grow out of common behaviors– Seniority systems, school

districtsCosts to minorities are very high

Theoretical Perspectives

Functionalist- prejudice can create a feeling of superiority for the majority but costs society as a whole

Conflict-prejudice and discrimination are weapons of power to control the minority

Symbolic Interactionism

People learn to be prejudiceLanguage (blacklist, blackball)Self-fulfilling prophecy-expectation

that leads to behavior that makes the expectation reality

Minorities in the U.S.

Ch. 8, Sec. 4

pp. 290-301

African Americans

Large minority-13%Barriers include very different

physical appearance and a history of being discriminated against

When hidden unemployment is considered-25% unemployment

African American

Fewer high school and college graduates compared to whites

Number of professionals has increased 128%

Though underrepresented, African Americans have entered the “power elite”

Latinos

Ethnic minorities from Latin Am.Largest Minority 13%

– ImmigrationDiverse group57% HS graduation rate

Latinos

¼ of population is below povertyMake more than African-

Americans but far less than whitesMost work in low, semiskilled jobsMany migrant workersGaining political power as

population increases

Native Americans

2 million people in 500 tribesStereotypes have destroyed ethnic

identity25% below poverty line

Native Americans

20% in white collar jobsLittle to no representation in Gov’tLife on reservations is significantly

worse then offCasinos have been a new source

of income

Asian Americans

4% of populationDiverse backgroundHistory of discrimination during

1800’s and the 1940’sCultural emphasis on education

has led to 49% college attendance and greater acceptance in society