1. Vincent N. Parrillo Strangers to These Shores
The Study of America’s Minorities
America’s Immigrants

2. The Study of Minorities
Are we a nation of immigrants? Are we the great melting pot of all races, religions, and nationalities?
What is the American dream, is it alive?
Native-born Americans have not always welcomed newcomers with open arms.
We continue to face serious race (ethnic) related problems.

3. The Stranger as a Social Phenomenon
Similarity and Attraction
We like those who are like us and engage in the same pursuits.
Those with similar attitudes, .. Values, .. Beliefs, .. Social status, .. or physical appearance
Studies show greater receptivity to strangers who are perceived as similar than to those who are perceives as different

4. Social Distance Emory Bogardus (1926)
Measured the degree of social closeness or distance personally acceptable to members of a particular group
A number of studies spanning over 75 yrs.
With few exceptions, the positioning of response patterns is relatively consistant.

5. Social Distance Cont.
Measured the degree of closeness of different groups that would be acceptable
Would accept marrying in my family
Would accept as a personal friend in my social circle
Would accept as a neighbor on my street
Would work in the same office
Would only have as speaking acquaintance
Would only have a visitors to my country
Would bar from entering my country

6. Social Distance Cont. Note the results by thirds of the 30 groups
Note how consistent the results have been over the years
The results reflect sociohistorical conditions / situations
Note the position of Muslims and Arabs

7. Perceptions Strangers are perceived through categoric knowing
Classifications made on the basis of limited information
Native-born Americans, in the past, perceived first generation immigrants as a particular kind of stranger

8. Interactions
People from the same social world “know” the language,.. Customs,.. Symbols, .. and normative behavior patterns, the stranger usually does not.
Strangers lack a sense of historicity
A lack of experience, … memory

9. The Sociological Perspective
Sociologists use scientific investigation
Scientific investigation requires theories
Three main theoretical paradigms
Functional Theory
Conflict Theory
Interactionist Theory

10. Functional Theory
Society is seen as a stable,, cooperative social system where everything has a function contributing to harmony
Societal elements function together to maintain order, stability, and equilibrium
Social problems are dysfunctional resulting in temporary disorganization
Rapid change is dysfunctional
Necessary adjustments restore harmony

11. Conflict Theory Based on Marxian theory
Society is continually engaged in conflict
Conflict is inevitable as people (social classes) struggle to meet their interests
Social change is the result of class struggles related to social inequalities
The Question, “Who benefits from inequality, exploitation , discrimination?”
The “powerful class” benefits

12. Interactionist Theory
Focus is on everyday, personal interaction
This is a “micro” theory
Seek to determine the “social construction of reality”
Shared expectations and cultural understandings explain intergroup relations
Better communication and intercultural understanding improve minority-majority relations

13. Minority Groups Development of a Definition
Groups and group identity are important components of race and ethnic relations
Minority Group: Sociologists use it to indicate a groups relative power and status in a society
May be by Race, … Ethnicity, … Gender

14. Minority-Group Characteristics
Wagley and Harris: Five Characteristics
The group receives unequal treatment
The group is easily identifiable by physical and cultural characteristics
The group feels a sense of peoplehood
Membership is an ascribed status
Group members practice endogamy, … they usually marry within their group

15. Racial and Ethnic Groups
Race: People sharing visible biological characteristics, .. Body build, .. Hair texture, .. Facial features, … Skin color
Caucasoid, ..Negroid, .. Mongoloid
Quickly broke down when applied
We generally use “Color” for race
White, Black, Yellow, Red, Brown, … ?
Ultimately race is a social definition
Ashley Montagu: “Only one race exists, the human race, … a dangerous concept”

16. Racism
Racism: Asserts the superiority of one group over another because of biological conditions and sociocultural capabilities
Subordinate group experiences prejudice and discrimination
Dominant group justifies racism on the basis of its definitional perceptions
Perceptions become reality for them

17. Ethnic Group
Groups which share a national (cultural) heritage with distinct religious, linguistic or cultural characteristics
They may be racially different but have the same cultural heritage
Japanese, Arabs, Basques, Indians, and Jews are often misidentified as racial groups
They could all be American

18. Ethnocentrism
One’s own group (culture) is used as a reference to evaluate other cultures, ethnicities.
Evaluations of others are often negative
One’s group is the ingroup the other is an outgroup, … we / they
Negative evaluations often result in prejudice and discrimination
The outgroup is sometimes seen as a threat

19. Eurocentrism & Afrocentrism
Eurocentrism: A variation of ethnocentrism
Emphasis on Western culture, history, literature, achievements, ...
Afrocentrism: A viewpoint emphasizing African culture and achievements and its influence on American culture
A counterbalance to the suppression of African influence and achievement
Another variation of ethnocentrism

20. The Dillingham Flaw
Refers to an error in analysis when we apply modern (current) classifications or conditions to a condition of earlier times
Comparing current immigration and assimilation conditions and outcomes to those of the past ( 2000 to 1900)
“Why don’t they learn English and assimilate?”
Previous immigrant groups went through the same gradual acculturation process

21. Personal Troubles and Public Issues
C. Wright Mills: The Sociological Imagination
“There is an intricate connection between the patterns of individual lives and the larger historical context of society.”
“What we experience in diverse and distinct social settings is often traceable to structural changes (conditions) and institutional contradictions.”

22. C. Wright Mills Cont.
Illustration: … a handful of undocumented aliens, … sweatshop, … their personal trouble, …
But, if large scale smuggling of undocumented workers, …
Resulting in an underground economy, … need to consider the economic and political institutions of the society, …

23. The Dynamics of Intergroup Relations
Patterns of intergroup relations change and depend on industrialization, urbanization, migration patterns, social movements and economic trends.
Recent large migrations of diverse peoples into Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States provides a good example. … A general backlash, …

24. Ethnoviolence
Def.: Hostile behavior against people solely because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.
Examples: Hate Groups, … Others?, …

25. Key Terms Afrocentrism Ascribed Status Categoric Knowing
Conflict Theory
Dillingham Flaw
Dominant Group
Ethnocentrism
Ethnoviolence
Eurocentrism
Functional Theory
Ingroup
Interactionist Theory
Latent Functions
Minority Group
Outgroup
Race
Racism
Social Distance
Secondary Group
Values