Unit 4 Inequalities of Race and Social Class

Introductory Sociology

Reading Assignment

After the test, read the following pages

in the green Sociology Text:

Pages 276-279

Answer the 2 questions at the bottom of

page 279. Hand in your answers.

Race and Ethnicity

Race – people sharing certain biologically inherited physical characteristics that are considered important within a society

Ethnicity – Shared cultural heritage. (Common ancestor, language, or religion that together make a distinctive social identity)

Ethnic Minority – group identified by cultural, religious, or national characteristics

1. How would you describe yourself racially or ethnically?

2. How do you think others would describe you?

3. How important is your race or ethnicity to you personally?

4. Do you believe that race or ethnicity is a factor in how your friends relate to you?

5. Is your community (neighbourhood) a reflection of your race or ethnicity?

6. Do you place much importance on race or ethnicity?

7. Do you think others put a lot of importance on your race or ethnicity?

8. Is race an important issue in society, or do we make too much or it? Is ethnicity an important issue?

ReflectionExit Slip Race and Ethnicity1) Did everyone in your group have similar answers?

If yes, why do you think your answers were similar?

If no, why do you think your answers were different?

2) Did you learn something new from someone in your group? What did you learn?

3) Was your group discussion awkward for you? Why or why not?

Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity

Stereotype

a distorted, exaggerated or oversimplified image applied to a category of people

Terms and Definitions

Prejudice – widely held negative attitudes toward a group and its individual members (thoughts)

Discrimination – treating people differently based on ethnicity, race, religion or culture (behaviour)

Racism – an extreme form of prejudice that assumes superiority of one group over others

Inequalities of Race Activity

In a group fill in the following chart with examples of people that fit the

following:

1 3

2 4

Prejudiced

Non-prejudiced

Discriminates Doesn’t discriminate

Discrimination? Prejudice? Racism?

1. A real estate agent purposely does not show a Hispanic couple homes in a white neighborhood.

2. Slavery was justified in the United States by whites who felt the black race didn't possess the innate intelligence of the white race.

Discrimination? Prejudice? Racism?

3. Amy is reluctant to meet her college roommate because she knows the girl is from a very small farming community and will probably be very different.

Discrimination? Prejudice? Racism?

4. Women are not permitted to join, play golf or enter an exclusive golf club.

5. Joe is reluctant to befriend the exchange student from Afghanistan because he feels people from Afghanistan are all the enemy.

Discrimination

Discussion Questions:

o Think about a time in your life when you have been discriminated against.

Have groups at VMC been discriminated against? How?

How are people discriminated by what they wear?Read page 249 “You are What You Wear”

Terms and Definitions

Hate crime

a criminal act against a person or a person’s property by an offender motivated by racial or other bias.

The Truth About Hate

1. Why do you think many of the teenagers in the video had prejudiced opinions at first?

2. Which part of the video was most memorable to you? Why?

3. Do you think that racism and prejudice are being eliminated in Canada? Are things staying the same or getting worse? Explain your answer.

49 Up Assignment Part A

While you are viewing the documentary, fill in the following information about each person:

Past life: social class, family life, future hopes, accomplishments, jobs, happy?

Present: social class, married/divorced/single, children, job, regrets. Happy?

49 Up Assignment Part B

1. What did you learn from the people in the video about the class you are born into?

2. What person did you feel attached to and why?3. What person surprised you and why?4. You are part of a video production called 5 Up.

Starting at age 5 write down social class, family life, future hopes, accomplishments…happy?...for the following ages:

Age 5Age 10Age 15Age 20

Social Class and Poverty in Canada

Social Stratification

• Ranking of people or groups according to their unequal access to scarce resources

• Creation of layers of people who possess unequal shares of scarce resources

Social Class

• “The Layers”

• Segment of the population whose members hold similar amounts of resources and share values, norms and an identifiable lifestyle.

1. Economic Dimensions

Income – amount of money received by an individual or group over a specific time period

Wealth – total economic resources held by a person or group

2. Power Dimension

Power – ability to control the behaviour of others, even against their will

3. Prestige Dimension

Prestige – recognition, respect, and admiration attached to social positions

Social MobilityThe movement of individuals or groups

between social classes

Horizontal Mobility – a change in occupation within the same social class

Vertical Mobility – a change in upward or downward in occupational status or social class

Social Systems

Open Class Systeman individual’s social class is based on merit and individual effort. Individuals move up and down the stratification structure because of their abilities, education and resources

Caste Systema stratification structure that does not allow for social mobility

Upper Class

3-5% of the population Most have inherited their wealth Some have earned their fortunes Go to expensive private schools and universities Work as top executives in large corporations

Upper-upper class – 1% of this class, distinguishedprimarily by “old money”

Lower-upper class – remaining 2-4%...”nouveau riche.”http://www.forbes.comhttp://www.forbes.com/2010/03/09/youngest-billionaires-mark-zuckerberg-sergey-brin-billionaires-2010-

page_slide_2.html?partner=cbc

Middle Class

40-50% of the population Often are white collar workers Attend university or college Professional and business occupations Mass media are largely aimed at a middle-class

audienceUpper Middle – family incomes of $100,000+Middle-Middle – family incomes of $50,000 - $100,000Lower Middles typically works in less prestigious white-

collar occupations or highly skilled blue-collar jobs – average family incomes under $50,000 ($35,000-$50,000)

Working Class

30% of the population Blue-collar workers Essentially, members of the working class work in unskilled or

semiskilled professions for wages which are typically low. Many work in factories or at manual labour jobs No Accumulated Wealth Jobs provide less personal satisfaction

Lower Class or The Poor 20% of the populationThe Working Poor

Incomes are often insufficient to cover necessities of life

Work for minimum wage or supported entirely by welfare payments

Typically live in less desirable neighbourhoods

Many have jobs below their skill level

The Homeless

Unskilled or unemployed older people

Younger runaways due to abuse or not getting along with parents

Some are alcoholic or drug dependant and about one-third have a mental illness

The poor are less able to rise above their circumstances than the working class, due to lack of resources

Social Stratification Project

Social Class Activity

Class: Percentage of Wealth

Upper Class (3-5%) 89%

Middle Class (40-50%)

Upper Middle (10-15%) 5% Middle (30-40%) 3%

Working Class (30%) 2%

The Poor (20%)

Working Poor (13%) 1%

Homeless (12%) 0%

Social Class “candy” Activity

Reflect on the activity:

How did you feel about this activity and the class you were ascribed?

Do you experience class division in your own life or witness it in the world around you?