Kinship and Society
“Non-Kin” Organizing Principles Age Sets Special Interest Groups Ethnicity
Types of Sociocultural Integration Band Tribe Chiefdom State Empire
Culture, Race and Ethnicity Culture = the abstract, learned, shared rules/standards/patterns that people use to understand the world and to generate behavior acceptable to their group. Race = a social category used for purposes of discrimination, usually based on ancestry. Ethnicity = a group with which individuals choose to identify on the basis of shared ancestry and/or heritage.
Theoretical Approaches to Ethnicity as a Component of Identity Primordialism Instrumentalism Neo Primordialism Constructionist Cultural Constructionist Political constructionist Radical Historicism Relationalism
Primordialism Ethnicity is a group into which one is born. Ethnicity as a group that includes others with the same or similar heritage and ancestry. Ethnicity is a relatively permanent, unchanging group identity. People can be from the same ethnic group even though they have never met. Ethnicity is used in place of family, lineage and/or clan as a way of organizing for political and economic solidarity.
Instrumentalism Ethnic groups form to pursue common goals or interests. Ethnic groups only exist in the face of the need for solidarity in pursuing goals.
Neo-Primordialism Ethnicity replaces weakened primordial ties used to maintain collective control of economic, geographic or cultural resources. Ethnicity replaces weakened primordial ties in opposing government or colonial control.
Constructivism Ethnicity is constructed situationally and changes constantly, based on the nature of the present situation. Ethnicity is not a permanent part of identity, but a label and group membership that can shift with shifting conditins.
Cultural Constructivism Ethnicity is based entirely on shared culture as the basis of group membership and solidarity. The sense of belonging that comes from shared cultural symbols, values and behavior patterns creates a sense of community.
Political Constructivism Dominant culture members designate certain ideologies, practices, symbols, language usage, etc. as desirable, and relegate all others to a lower status. Ethnic groups form around the discrimination caused by dominant ethnocentrism and elitism.
Definitions of Love Schneider Love is “enduring, diffuse solidarity” Enduring = long lasting Diffuse = pertains to a wide variety of things Solidarity = loyalty and group affiliation - support network Personal Spiritual Is a natural part of family An intense sexual or romantic attachment to another person. What is attachment? Strong feelings of loyalty, affection toward someone or something. A bond with someone or something. What does attach mean? To fasten or bind something to something else. An intense feeling of deep affection What is affection? A feeling of liking or caring for someone or something.
Radical Historicism Ethnicity is created over long periods of time and emerges from class differences in the division of labor. Ethnicity is a result of class consciousness and the struggle for control over resources and the modes of production in the society. Marxist based approach.
14 Relationalism Ethnicity is based on relationships between individuals and groups that are unequal to one another. Ethnic identity is an emotionally charged aspect of personal identity. Ethnicity begins with primordial ties, however it may eventually move to other criteria for membership in the group.
15 What are the things that show you are a member of a particular Ethnic Group? Do the labels that you use to describe your ethnic identity change from one situation to another? Are there symbols that characterize the ethnic group with which you identify? Are there behavior patterns that characterize the ethnic group with which you identify? Is there a difference between WHY ethnic groups and ethic identity exist and what people base membership on?