1. How do sociologists define by minority? A minority is a group of people who, because of their physical or cultural characteristics, are singled out from the others in the society in which they live for differential and unequal treatment, and who therefore regard themselves as objects of collective discrimination. Minority carries with it the exclusion from full participation in the life of the society.

2. Identify the five key features of a minority. 1) distinctive physical or cultural characteristics that can be used to separate it from the majority, 2) domination by the majority 3) traits labeled by the majority as inferior 4) a common sense of identity, with strong group loyalty 5) ascribed status

3. Explain the difference between how biologists and sociologists view race. Biologists use characteristics such as skin color, hair color, hair texture, facial features, head form, eye color, and height to determine race. Sociologists consider racial classifications arbitrary and misleading. For students of sociology, social attitudes and characteristics that relate to race are more important than superficial physical differences.

4. Define assimilation and explain the four patterns of racial relations that occur in the United States when minority groups are accepted by the majority. Assimilation refers to the blending or fusing of minority groups into the dominant society. When a racial or ethnic minority is integrated into a society, its members are given full participation in all aspects of the society. Assimilation has taken several forms in the United States: Anglo-conformity, in which traditional American institutions are maintained; melting pot, in which all ethnic and racial minorities voluntarily blend together; cultural pluralism, the idea of a “tossed salad” in which traditions and cultures exist side by side; and accommodation, in which the minority maintains its own culturally unique way of life.

5. Identify and explain the three patterns of racial relations that occur when minority groups are rejected by the majority. When minority groups are rejected by the dominant group, three basic patterns of conflict occur: genocide, the systematic effort to destroy an entire population; population transfer, in which a minority is forced either to move to a remote location or to leave entirely the territory controlled by the majority; and subjugation, in which a minority is denied equal access to the culture and lifestyle of the larger society.

6. Explain why racism is an extreme form of prejudice. Racism is an extreme form of prejudice because it not only involves judging people unfairly, it assumes that a person’s own race or ethnic group is superior. Racists believe that discrimination or exclusion is morally justified because of their own natural superiority.

7. Discuss the relationship between prejudice and discrimination. While prejudice involves holding biased opinions, discrimination involves treating people unequally. Prejudice doesn’t always result in discrimination, but it often does.

8. Explain the relationship between hate crimes and stereotypes. Stereotypes are sometimes created to justify unethical behavior against minority groups. People who commit hate crimes have vocabularies filled with demeaning stereotypes that attempt to justify violence against the targets.