Chapter 11Introduction to Race and Ethnicity11 1 Racial Ethnic and Minority Groups race superficial physical differences that a particular society considers significant ethnicity a term that describes shared culture minority groups describes groups that are subordinate or lacking power in society regardless of skin color or country of origin EX elderly in the US elderly are subject to economic social and workplace discrimination What Is Race social construction of race is a far more common way of understanding racial categories race is not biologically identifiable What Is Ethnicity ethnicity is a term that describes shared culture the practice values and beliefs of a group meaning changes over time just like the meaning of race What Are Minority Groups minority group was defined by Louis Wirth as any group of people who bc of their physical and cultural characteristics are singled out from the others in society in which the live for differential and unequal treatment and therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination subordinate describes the minority lack power compared to the dominant group given society dominant describes the majority holds the most power in a the minority group is not always numerically in the minority distinguished by five characteristics 1 unequal treatment and less power over their lives 2 distinguishing physical or cultural traits like skin color or langauge 3 involuntary membership in the group 4 awareness of subordination 5 high rate of in group marriage Scapegoat Theory developed from Dollard s Frustration Aggression theory suggests that the dominant group will displace their unfocused aggression onto the subordinate group EX Adolf Hitler used Jewish people as scapegoats for Germany s problems Multiple Identities basically you can be a quarter black a quarter asian a quarter white and a quarter Dutch 11 2 Stereotypes Prejudice and Discrimination Stereotypes stereotypes oversimplified ideas about groups of people can be positive or negative based on race ethnicity age gender sexual orientation etc rarely created but recycled prejudice the thoughts and feelings about those groups discrimination actions towards those groups racism a type of prejudice that involves set beliefs about a specific racial group Prejudice and Racism prejudice is not based on an experience its a prejudgment originating outside of actual experience racism is a type of prejudice that is used to justify the belief that superior races exist Discrimination there are anti discrimination laws EX unfair housing practices EX biased hiring systems Emeli Durkheim calls racism a social fact unprejudiced nondiscriminators open minded tolerant and accepting individuals unprejudiced discriminators EX unthinkingly practice sexism in their workplace by not considering females for certain positions that are usually held by men prejudiced nondiscriminators hold racist beliefs but do not act on them prejudiced discriminators actively make remarks about others or who perpetuate hate crimes white privilege dominant groups often accept their experience as the norm experience 11 3 Theories of Race and Ethnicity Theoretical Perspectives Functionalism racial and ethnic inequalities serve an important function since they have existed a long time the sociologists with these views contribute positively to the dominant group Conflict Theory numerous past and current struggles between the white ruling class and racial and ethnic minorities noting specific conflicts have arisen when the dominant group perceived a threat form the minority group Patricia Hill Collins developed intersection theory which says we cannot separate the effects of race class gender sexual orientation and other attributes Interactionism race and ethnicity provide strong symbols as sources of identity Herbert Blumer said that racial prejudice is formed through interactions between members of the dominant group Culture of Prejudice culture of prejudice the theory that prejudice is embedded in our culture 11 4 Intergroup Relationships either tolerance or intolerance Genocide genocide the deliberate annihilation of a targeted subordinate group the most toxic intergroup relationship EX Hitler and the Jews Expulsion expulsion when a subordinate group is forced by a dominate group to leave a certain area country EX Trail of Tears EX Holocaust Segregation segregation the physical separation of two groups in residence workplace and social functions de jure segregation segregation enforced by law EX apartheid movement in South Africa stopped in America with the Jim Crow laws de facto segregation segregation that occurs without laws but because of other factors cannot be abolished by any court mandate Pluralism pluralism a great mixture of different cultures where each culture retains its own identity and yet adds to the flavor of the whole EX United States true pluralism is difficult to reach salad bowl Assimilation assimilation the process by which a minority individual or group gives up its own identity by taking on the characteristics of the dominant culture assimilation is a function of immigration assimilation is the opposite of pluralism assimilation can be measured by four things 1 socioeconomic status 2 spatial concentration 3 language assimilation 4 intermarriage Amalgamation amalgamation the process by which a minority group and a majority group combine to form a new group melting pot also known as miscegenation achieved through intermarriage between races 11 5 Race and Ethnicity in the United States Native Americans How and Why They Came they came in search of big game to hunt History of Intergroup Relations Intergroup relations between European colonists and Native Americans European settlement basically destroyed the Native American indigenous population lack of immunity of diseases mistreatment fought over land Current Status The Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968 guaranteed Indian Tribes most of the rights stated in the Bill of Rights African Americans How and Why They Came slaves basically History of Intergroup Relations slavery Civil War Current Status Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned discrimination still some racism in America Asian Americans How and Why They Came immigrants History of Intergroup Relations Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 stopped Chinese immigration many more acts prevented or lessened Asian immigration to America Current Status model minority applied to a minority group that is seen as reaching