Lesson 9: Race and Ethnicity Robert Wonser Introduction to Sociology.
Introduction to Sociology Chapter 11 - Race and Ethnicity Roderick Graham.
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Transcript of Introduction to Sociology Chapter 11 - Race and Ethnicity Roderick Graham.
Introduction to SociologyChapter 11 - Race and Ethnicity
Roderick Graham
The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Race - A socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important
We think of race in biological terms but it is a socially constructed concept
The meaning and importance of race not only differ from place to place but also change over time
Scientists invented the concept of race to organize the world’s physical diversity Caucasoid Negroid Mongoloid
Sociologists consider such terms misleading and harmful
There is more genetic variation within each category than between categories
From a biological point of view, knowing people’s racial category allows us to predict nothing about them
The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Racial Categories??
Caucasoid Congoid CapoidMongoloid Australoid
Ethnicity - A shared cultural heritage Common ancestors Language Religion
Like race, ethnicity is socially constructed
Race is constructed from biological traits and ethnicity is constructed from cultural traits
The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Hispanic – Race or Ethnicity?
Hispanic – Race or Ethnicity
Minorities - Any category of people distinguished by physical or cultural difference that a society sets apart and subordinates Based on race, ethnicity, or both
Two important characteristics: Share a distinct identity Experience subordination
Not all members of a minority category are disadvantaged
Usually make up a small proportion of a society’s population
The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Prejudice - A rigid and unfair generalization about an entire category of people
Prejudice may target people of a particular social class, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, race, ethnicity
A powerful form of prejudice is racism – the belief that one race is superior to the other
Prejudice often takes the form of stereotypes An exaggerated description applied to every
person in some category Especially harmful to minorities in the workplace
Prejudice and Stereotypes
Measuring Prejudice: The Social Distance Scale
Recent study found three major findings Student opinion shows a trend toward greater social
acceptance People see less difference between various
minorities The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, may
have reduced social acceptance of Arabs and Muslims
Theories of Prejudice
SCAPEGOAT THEORY Prejudice springs from frustration among people who
are themselves disadvantaged SCAPEGOAT
A person or category of people, typically with little power, whom other people unfairly blame for their own troubles
Minorities often are used as scapegoats They have little power Usually are “safe targets”
AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY THEORY Extreme prejudice is a personality trait of certain
individuals Conclusion supported by research
Indicated that people who show strong prejudice toward one minority are intolerant of all minorities
Authoritarian Personalities Rigidly conform to conventional cultural values See moral issues as clear-cut matters of right and wrong
Theories of Prejudice
CULTURE THEORY Claims that although extreme prejudice is found in
certain people, some prejudice is found in everyone “culture of prejudice”
Taught to view certain categories of people as “better” or “worse” than others
CONFLICT THEORY Proposes that prejudice is used as a tool by
powerful people to oppress others Another conflict based argument
Minorities encourage “race consciousness” to win greater power and privileges
Theories of Prejudice
Discrimination - Unequal treatment of various categories of people
Prejudice refers to attitudes Discrimination is a matter of action
Positive or negative Subtle to blatant
Discrimination
Institutional Prejudice and Discrimination
Bias built into the operation of society’s institutions Schools, hospitals, police, workplace, banks
People are slow to condemn or recognize institutional prejudice
Prejudice and discrimination reinforce each other
Situations that are defined as real become real in their consequences
Discrimination
Powerful Members of Minority Groups…Is there a Pattern?
Four models Pluralism Assimilation Segregation Genocide
Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Pluralism - A state in which people of all races and ethnicities are distinct but have equal social standing
US is pluralistic to the extent that all people have equal standing under the law
US not pluralistic for three reasons1. Although most of us value our cultural heritage, few
want to live with only people exactly like ourselves (we are forced to)
2. Our tolerance for social diversity goes only so far3. People of various colors and cultures do not have
equal social standing
Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Assimilation - The process by which minorities gradually adopt patterns of the dominant culture
Assimilation is… Avenue to upward social mobility Way to escape prejudice and discrimination directed
against more visible foreigners Amount of assimilation varies by category Assimilation involves changes in ethnicity but
not in race
Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Segregation - the physical and social separation of categories of people
Segregation enforces separation that harms a minority
de jure segregation (by law) de facto segregation (in fact) Continues in the US (de facto) Hypersegregation
Having little contact of any kind with people beyond the local community
Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Genocide
Genocide - The systematic killing of one category of people by another
Deadly form of racism and ethnocentrism
Common throughout history Even the US committed genocide against Native
Americans