1. 1 Family Sociology Race, Ethnicity, & Families

2. 2 Race, Ethnicity & Families How do we define race? How do we define ethnicity?

3. 3 Racial-Ethnic Groups Racial groups are those with a common set of physical features that distinguishes them from other groups Race is defined as a category composed of people who share real or supposed physical traits that members of a society deem to be socially significant For ex. In the U.S. > we focus on skin color, mostly white vs. black

4. 4 Race, Ethnicity & Families But race is also a social concept Race is socially constructed or created The characteristics associated with each racial group are subjective In other words in the U.S. we decided to focus on skin color or eye shape BUT!!!! Definitions of race:  vary over time  from one society to another  have emerged from interaction of various populations over long periods of human history

5. 5 Race, Ethnicity & Families Why do sociologists argue that race is socially constructed? 1) While racial characteristics may have been biological in origin, the interpretation of those characteristics varies  Societies each decide which racial differences are meaningful

6. 6 Race, Ethnicity & Families Why do sociologists argue that race is socially constructed? 2)Choice of racial characteristics is subjective People differ in many ways, but only some of those differences are emphasized For example, in defining differences in racial characteristics, why have we focused on skin color or the shape of a person’s eyes? Why isn’t race based on different blood types or eye color?

7. 7 Race, Ethnicity & Families Why do sociologists argue that race is socially constructed? 3) The characteristics used to distinguish racial differences and stereotypes change over time 4) And the last reason to argue that race is socially constructed is that definitions of race differences vary from one society to the next

8. 8 Race, Ethnicity & Families How do we define ethnicity? A population that shares a cultural heritage Ethnic Groups have a sense of group identity based on a distinctive cultural pattern or heritage They often share a place of common ancestry (immigrated from the same country), language, or religion that is the basis of their collective identity

9. 9 Race, Ethnicity & Families How do we define ethnicity? ? Ethnic groups often have a sense of brotherhood or sisterhood that is maintained within a larger society. Members of ethnic groups have usually migrated to a new nation or have been conquered by an invading population. Some different ethnic groups include:  Italian-Americans  Mexican-Americans  Irish-Americans

10. U.S. Census Bureau The U.S. Bureau of the Census is a Federal agency charged with counting all Americans every ten years New data from the 2010 Census is being released every week. Take a few minutes to visit the 2010 website and read the home page http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/ 10

11. U. S. Census You may remember receiving the Census form last year The form was the shortest in history Click on the link below to see the form: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/interacti ve-form.php http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/interacti ve-form.php Note questions # 8 & 9 Q. 8 Asks about Hispanic origin (an ethnicity) Q. 9 Asks to select or write in your race. Think about how you would answer those two questions 11

12. U. S. Census If you answered no to Q. 8 and selected African American on Q. 9, the Census would combine your two answers and report you as a non-Hispanic African American How would you answer these two questions? And think about what racial/ethnic category the Census would categorize you as… Is the Census category similar to how YOU define yourself? 12

13. Race & Ethnicity according to the 2010 Census Note the table on the next page. The top half show the % and number of people by race for ALL people who said YES to Q.8 meaning they consider themselves Hispanic/Latino(a) The bottom half shows the % and number of people by race for those who are NOT Hispanic/Latino(a) 13

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15. 15 Race, Ethnicity & Families Need to recognize diversity in families How do families vary by race/ethnicity? How does family structure vary? How does the teen pregnancy rate vary by race/ethnicity How do families’ ties to other social institutions, like education system, the economy, or health care system, vary by race/ethnicity?

16. 16 Race, Ethnicity & Families Different racial groups make their homes in different neighborhoods, and have different access to a set of social institutions Social institutions include the education system, government, healthcare system, religion etc… Social institutions create paths in which families are assigned to a different set of opportunities

17. 17 Race, Ethnicity & Families Minority families/ families of color are: more likely to live in disadvantaged neighborhoods go to under-funded schools have less access to high level colleges have poorer health care options have higher rates of teen pregnancy less access to better, higher paying jobs

18. 18 Social Institutions  Family sociologists examine interactions among social institutions and how they influence behaviors, attitudes, and opportunities in families  All of these interactions take place in the context of racial/ethnic relations in the U.S. Economy Families GovernmentEducation Religion Healthcare Race/ Ethnicity

19. 19 Great differences among individual and families outcomes by racial/ethnic groups Let’s consider the rate of teen pregnancy: Source: http://www.cdc.gov/TeenPregnancy/Massachusetts.htm Race/Ethnic differences

20. 20 For example:  In 2006 4,724 mothers age 15-19 gave in Massachusetts,  This is a birth rate of 21 per 1,000 females in that age group  Significant disparities exist in birth rates for Massachusetts youth by race and Hispanic origin.  In 2006, the non-Hispanic black teen birth rate was nearly three times higher than the white teen birth rate  Hispanic teen birth rate was nearly six times higher Teen Pregnancy by Race/Ethnicity in Massachusetts

21. 21 Sociologist Howard Taylor asks… Why are African-American families different from other racial-ethnic groups? And why is the teen pregnancy rate so much higher for African American women? He makes a “cultural argument” …. African American families rely more on extended family ties, rely less on nuclear family In other words African Americans families are culturally different from white or Asian families

22. 22 Sociologist Howard Taylor asks: Why are African-American families different from other racial-ethnic groups? He also makes an “Economic argument”… As we changed from emphasis on industrial occupations to service ones – A.A. men were displaced from their jobs more than white men African American men, it is argues, “bring less to the table” in terms of economic stability – so African American women are less likely to marry them

23. 23  Union formation - first unions (relationships) formed are twice as likely to be cohabitations compared to whites  Family incomes for black families well below averages for white families  Median Family income: African American families is $32,584 White families: $51861  Economic gains to marriage have declined for black women African-American Families

24. 24 Race, Ethnicity & Families How are the race categories used in Census 2000 defined? To see how the Census defines race and ethnic categories you can download the Census report Go to: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/ Scroll down and click on: “ An Overview: Race & Hispanic Origin in the United States ”

25. 25 Hispanic Families As much variation within the group as between Hispanics and other groups Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans = are the three largest groups of Hispanics living in the U.S. Of all Hispnaics in the U.S.  63 % are Mexican  9.2 % are Puerto Rican  3.5 %Cuban Americans =  24.3 % are other including Dominican, Central & South Americans, and Spaniard (from Spain)

26. 26 Asian-American Families Again Asian is an “umbrella” term that includes diverse groups Less research on Asian-American families as prior to 1965 numbers wee lower than Hispanics But for Example, in 1970 there were 69,000 Korean Americans By 1998 there were 980,000 Asian Americans population grew faster than any other group between 2000- 2010 Source An Overview: Race and Hispanic Origin in the U.S.

27. 27 Asian-American Families In general Asian-Americans emphasize interdependence among family members over individualism favored by western cultures Asian families place more emphasis on children’s loyalty and service to parents Asian-American adults are more likely to live in a household with an adult child who provide most of the income

28. 28 Summary Racial categories were originally based on physical or biological characteristics But sociologists argue that race is also socially constructed (or created) Ethnicity is based on your country of origin, culture, language spoken, traditions. Make sure you know percentages of major racial/ethnic groups The newest numbers are from the 2010 U.S. Census

29. 29 Summary Families vary greatly by race/ethnicity Rates of marriage and fertility rate varies across racial and ethnic groups Teen pregnancy rates vary by race and ethnicity Asians are the fastest growing group from 2000 to 2010