1. Race and Ethnicity

2. Race
A group of people with inherited physical characteristics that distinguish it from another group
2 myths about race:
One race is superior to another
“pure” races exist
Race and ethnicity are often confused b/c of the cultural differences people see and the way they define race

3. Ethnicity Refers to cultural characteristics that distinguish a people
Common ancestry and cultural heritage
A person’s sense of belonging to a certain ethnicity may center on:
Nation or region of origin
Distinctive foods
Clothing
Language
Music
Religion
Family names

4. Minority Groups
People who are singled out for unequal treatment and are objects of discrimination
Worldwide there are shared characteristics of minorities:
The physical or cultural traits that distinguish them are held in low esteem by the dominant group
They are unequally treated by the dominant group
They tend to marry within their own group
They tend to feel a strong group solidarity

5. Dominant Group Dominant group-those who do the discriminating
Have greater power, more privileges, and higher social status
Uses its position to discriminate against those who are different
Considers its privileged position to be the result of its own innate superiority

6. Constructing a racial-ethnic identity
Some people feel an intense sense of ethnic identity, while others feel very little
Influenced by:
the relative size and power of the ethnic group
The appearance
The level of discrimination aimed at the group
If a group is relatively small, has little power, has a distinctive appearance, and is an object of discrimination, it’s members will have a heightened sense of ethnic identity

7. Ethnic Work Refers to the way people construct their ethnicity
For people with strong ethnic identity:
How they enhance and maintain their group’s distinctions
Clothing, food, language, religious practices, holidays
For people who lack a firm ethnic identity:
Attempts to recover their ethnic heritage
Tracing family lines or visiting country of origin

8. Write about it
Tell us about your race and ethnicity. How do you identify yourself and why? Is your background a source of pride, confusion, discomfort or something else? How do others react to your perceived and expressed identity?