Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity Chapter 9

What are the popular TV programs for high school students?

How often do members of a minority group appear? How often do members of a minority group appear? How are these various minority groups portrayed? How are these various minority groups portrayed? What could you learn about these minority groups if you were watching? What could you learn about these minority groups if you were watching? Are there any stereotypes portrayed? If so, which ones? Are there any stereotypes portrayed? If so, which ones?

Minorities Defined by more than a number; population alone does not define a minority Defined by more than a number; population alone does not define a minority

Minority Having a distinctive physical or cultural characteristic that can be used to separate the group from the rest (majority) Having a distinctive physical or cultural characteristic that can be used to separate the group from the rest (majority) Allowing for different or unequal treatment Allowing for different or unequal treatment Minority is dominated by majority Minority is dominated by majority Majority has unequal share of desired resources (power, money, education, goods, services) Majority has unequal share of desired resources (power, money, education, goods, services) Majority believes minority characteristics are inferior Majority believes minority characteristics are inferior Justifying the unequal treatment Justifying the unequal treatment

Minority Minority implies the exclusion from full participation in society Minority implies the exclusion from full participation in society Minority status is often times ascribed (born into it and very difficult to leave) Minority status is often times ascribed (born into it and very difficult to leave)

Race People that share certain inherited physical characteristics that are considered important to society People that share certain inherited physical characteristics that are considered important to society Defined by physical characteristics Defined by physical characteristics Features of one race can also show up in other races Features of one race can also show up in other races No one racial characteristic (or group of characteristics) makes one race any more or less superior than the others No one racial characteristic (or group of characteristics) makes one race any more or less superior than the others Ethnocentrism – judge others based on your own cultural perspectives Ethnocentrism – judge others based on your own cultural perspectives the belief that your race/culture is superior to others the belief that your race/culture is superior to others Us versus Them Us versus Them Cultural Relativism – the understanding that all cultures are different and that no one is superior because of a particular practice Cultural Relativism – the understanding that all cultures are different and that no one is superior because of a particular practice

Ethnicity Unique characteristics related to culture or nationality Unique characteristics related to culture or nationality Defined by cultural differences Defined by cultural differences Ethnic Minority Ethnic Minority Subculture (part of a larger culture) Subculture (part of a larger culture) Defined by language, religion, values, beliefs, norms, customs Defined by language, religion, values, beliefs, norms, customs

Assimilation vs. Conflict Minority groups are either accepted (and assimilated) or rejected (causing causing conflict) Minority groups are either accepted (and assimilated) or rejected (causing causing conflict) Assimilation Assimilation Blending minority groups into dominant society Blending minority groups into dominant society Integrated into all aspects of main stream society Integrated into all aspects of main stream society “Full participation in society” “Full participation in society” Four major patterns of assimilation Four major patterns of assimilation

Assimilation Anglo-conformity Anglo-conformity “Anglo” meaning an American from English decent “Anglo” meaning an American from English decent Most common form of assimilation Most common form of assimilation Minority group is accepted as long as they conform to the “accepted standards” of society Minority group is accepted as long as they conform to the “accepted standards” of society Minority group must give up or suppress its own values Minority group must give up or suppress its own values Least egalitarian (belief that everyone is equal) Least egalitarian (belief that everyone is equal)

Assimilation Melting pot Melting pot Ethnic and racial minorities voluntarily blend Ethnic and racial minorities voluntarily blend Cultural pluralism (tossed salad) Cultural pluralism (tossed salad) Cultures/traditions exist side by side Cultures/traditions exist side by side Minorities able to maintain elements of the “old” ways Minorities able to maintain elements of the “old” ways This impacts institutions (school, government, TV, churches) This impacts institutions (school, government, TV, churches) Bilingual educational programs Bilingual educational programs Cable – Spanish channel Cable – Spanish channel

Assimilation Accommodation Accommodation Minority maintains its own unique way of life Minority maintains its own unique way of life Interacts with dominant group when necessary but otherwise remains independent with its own language and culture Interacts with dominant group when necessary but otherwise remains independent with its own language and culture Amish – Lancaster, Pennsylvania Amish – Lancaster, Pennsylvania Cubans – Miami, Florida Cubans – Miami, Florida

Conflict Patterns of rejecting a minority Patterns of rejecting a minority Three major patterns Three major patterns Genocide Genocide Population Transfer Population Transfer Subjugation Subjugation

Conflict Genocide Genocide Systematic effort to destroy an entire population Systematic effort to destroy an entire population “ethnic cleansing” “ethnic cleansing” Hitler’s attempt to get rid of the European Jewish population Hitler’s attempt to get rid of the European Jewish population Rwanda: Tutsi tribe slaughtering the minority Hutu tribe (Hotel Rwanda) Rwanda: Tutsi tribe slaughtering the minority Hutu tribe (Hotel Rwanda)

Conflict Population Transfer Population Transfer Minority forced to move to a remote location or leave the territory controlled by the majority all together Minority forced to move to a remote location or leave the territory controlled by the majority all together Native Americans – moving Indians across to the western lands in the US, Trail of Tears Native Americans – moving Indians across to the western lands in the US, Trail of Tears

Conflict Subjugation Subjugation Most common pattern of conflict Most common pattern of conflict Minority is denied equal access to culture and lifestyle of larger society Minority is denied equal access to culture and lifestyle of larger society

Conflict Subjugation Subjugation de jure subjugation de jure subjugation Based on law Based on law Legal racial segregation (prior to Brown vs. Board of Edu. 1954) Legal racial segregation (prior to Brown vs. Board of Edu. 1954) de facto de facto Everyday practices of people Everyday practices of people Minority worker does not get promoted to a higher level of work because of stereotypes Minority worker does not get promoted to a higher level of work because of stereotypes

Do you believe most people are prejudiced or do you believe that most people are free from prejudice?

Stereotype Set of ideas about a group Set of ideas about a group Helps to categorize people Helps to categorize people Do you like being categorized? When lumped into the subgroup of all teenagers? Do you like being categorized? When lumped into the subgroup of all teenagers? Based on distortion, exaggeration, over simplification Based on distortion, exaggeration, over simplification Applied to all members of group Applied to all members of group Ex. – Athletes all brawn no brain Ex. – Athletes all brawn no brain Ex. – politicians are corrupt Ex. – politicians are corrupt

Prejudice Widely held misconceptions of a group (minority or majority) and its members Widely held misconceptions of a group (minority or majority) and its members Attitudes/beliefs based on biased or insufficient information Attitudes/beliefs based on biased or insufficient information Based on strong emotion and can be difficult to change Based on strong emotion and can be difficult to change

Racism Extreme form of prejudice Extreme form of prejudice Involves judging people unfairly AND it assumes that one’s own race/ethnic group is superior Involves judging people unfairly AND it assumes that one’s own race/ethnic group is superior Racists believe discrimination or exclusion is morally justified Racists believe discrimination or exclusion is morally justified

Discrimination Not just a biased opinion but also acting upon that belief by treating people unfairly Not just a biased opinion but also acting upon that belief by treating people unfairly Ex. - avoiding social contact with members of minority group Ex. - avoiding social contact with members of minority group Ex. – blocking a minorities access to a neighborhood (redlining) Ex. – blocking a minorities access to a neighborhood (redlining) Ex – attacking or killing members of a minority Ex – attacking or killing members of a minority

Hate Crimes Crimes that are motivated by extreme prejudice Crimes that are motivated by extreme prejudice Latin Americans, African Americans, gays and lesbians, Asian Americans, Jews, disabled Latin Americans, African Americans, gays and lesbians, Asian Americans, Jews, disabled

Racial Stereotypes in Media Do you think it is ok for comedians to use stereotypes in their work? Do you think it is ok for comedians to use stereotypes in their work? Why? Why not? Why? Why not? Are comedians addressing the issue to confront it and end a practice or do they end up perpetuating the stereotype? Are comedians addressing the issue to confront it and end a practice or do they end up perpetuating the stereotype?

How will you address stereotypes with your children?

Functionalist Perspective The majority uses discrimination and stereotypical practices to promote smooth functioning within society The majority uses discrimination and stereotypical practices to promote smooth functioning within society The majority conforms and establishes a level of sameness – helping things function properly The majority conforms and establishes a level of sameness – helping things function properly

Conflict Theory Perspective Uses prejudice and discrimination as weapons of power to control minority Uses prejudice and discrimination as weapons of power to control minority

Symbolic Interactionism Language Language US culture exhibits its negativity for blacks using the following as examples: US culture exhibits its negativity for blacks using the following as examples: Blacklist Blacklist Black eye Black eye Black ball Black ball Why do all of these have a negative connotation? Why do all of these have a negative connotation?