© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Geographies of Identity An Introduction to Human Geography

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Objectives for the Chapter  Describe the difference between race and ethnicity.  Identify and explain the settlement patterns of different ethnic and racial groups in the United States and explanations for these patterns.  Discuss the concept of institutional discrimination and how it has impacted the spatial arrangement of ethnic groups.  Identify patterns behind ethnic conflicts.  Discuss the difference between gender and sexuality and how norms influence activities in public space.  Evaluate the gender gap and implications this has on peoples’ lives.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Ethnicity and Race Ethnicity - personal and behavioral basis of identity that gives membership to a group. Ethnic groups – share identity based on history, language, ancestry and know they belong to a certain group. Ascription – the assignment of certain characteristics to a person Othering Race – categorizations of people based on the genetic traits of a person (both visible and invisible) Contributed to racism, an ideology Both are social constructions.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Great Chain of Being Originated during the European Enlightenment Three aspects The Great Chain of Being was a God- given, natural construction—society didn’t make it up. Promoted idea that differences were a way to organized genetic and inherent inferiority in other peoples. Whiteness was the standard. Used to justify colonization and slavery Slavery still occurs—human trafficking Figure 6.3 C from the text – Estimated # of Forced Laborers by Region

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Institutional Discrimination When the policies, practices, or laws of an organization or government disadvantage certain groups of people. (pg. 166) Examples: Chinatown in Vancouver, Canada (1880s-1920s) Apartheid: segregation sponsored by the South African government and created by the Afrikaners Nationalist Party. Various policies and practices associated with segregation or discrimination of African Americans in the US

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + African American Discrimination and Geography Regionally Clustered in US Southeast as a result of forced migration from Africa Migration for better jobs and lives to cities in the North beginning in the early 1900s. At the local level Migration from inner city ghettos to other urban neighborhoods in 2 nd half of 20 th century. Ghettos came about because Whites wanted to avoid integration in schools, so moved away. Called “White Flight.” Detroit is a clear ex. “Blockbusting”: real estate agents convinced white home owners to sell prices at cheap prices-preying on fear of whites. Then, turned around and sold homes to African Americans at higher prices Redlining – Denying financial/real estate services to people in specific neighborhoods because of race/poverty. Redlining

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Ethnicity, Race, and the Census The Census Bureau collects data on two ethnicities: Hispanic and Not Hispanic or Latino Six races: African American/Black, White, Asian, American Indian or Native American, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander and “Some Other Race.” Based on Directive 15 about uniform racial/ethnic data collection from 1977

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Ethnicity, Race, and the Census Creates a certain institutionalized discourse ( insight on social attitudes, beliefs, and ways of understanding the world) Reinforces certain ideas That race can be objectively defined and is real The use of ethnicity and race are both still based on skin color and ancestry Redefining Race and Ethnicity in the United States

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Clustering of Ethnicities in the U.S. Occurs regionally and within cities. Let’s look at Census Bureau data. What is the distribution of different racial and ethnic groups in the US? What are examples of some ethnic clusters in our cities? For more of a local look, at the city scale, let’s look at a NY Times feature based on the American Community Survey.NY Times feature

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Regional Concentrations of Ethnicities

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Regional Concentrations of Ethnicities

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Ethnicity in the Landscape Three models for understanding ethnic interaction and globalization Assimilation – the cultural characteristics that make a person/group unique will gradually fade. Pluralism – cultural characteristics will be reinforced and preserved. Heterolocalism – people will maintain cultural identities despite dispersal.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Ethnic Settlements Three common types of ethnic settlements or ethnic enclaves Ethnic islands Ethnic neighborhoods Ethnoburbs – not dominated by a specific group Ethnic Islands – Hopi and Navajo Reservations

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Sexuality and Gender: Other Aspects of Identity Sexuality – aspects of personal identity based on sexual orientation, attitudes, desires, and practices. Gender – the characteristics society assigns to males and females Sex is based on chromosomes---more possibilities than female (XX) and male (XY) Gender roles – the expectations, or discourse, associated with being female and male Transgendered – individuals who do not identify with their born sex. Heterosexual norm – binary vision of the sexes Can influence what is “okay” in public space

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Changing Landscape on Same-Sex Marriage CNN Interactive 1996 Defense of Marriage Act declared unconstitutional in 2013 Also supported ruling of a lower court ruling that struck down Proposition 8 in CA

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Questions What qualities is a woman supposed to have? A man? How do we learn these qualities? What kinds of roles do we have? Think back to a time when you were aware of your gender identity. Describe what happened.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Half the Sky Gender Gap – A disparity between men and women in their opportunities, rights, benefits, behavior, or attitudes. yl_wudunn_our_century_s_gr eatest_injustice.html

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. + Review Describe the difference between race and ethnicity, and why they are socially constructed. How did racism develop as and ideology? Be able to describe the Great Chain of Being and how it was used. What is institutional discrimination? Be able to describe examples from the reading and class. Describe the use of race/ethnicity in the Census, and potential concerns. Identify/define the three types of ethnic interaction and ethnic settlements. What factors were involved in Sudan’s ethnic conflict? Why can we say gender is socially constructed? How can gender roles and heterosexual norms influence public space? Other terms: Apartheid, ascription, ethnic cleansing, ethnic group, ethnoscape, gender gap, and othering.