Exploring Race and Ethnicity

Discussion Outline 1.Ranking Groups 2.Types of Groups 3.The Social Construction of Race

Race as a Complex Social Reality Changing Racial demographics Effects of Immigration A Multiracial President Perpetuation of Racial Stereotypes Racial Tension and hate move to the internet Feuling violenc

What is a minority group?

Ranking Groups Minority Groups – 5 main characteristics Dominant Groups

Types of Minority Groups Racial Groups – Each society defines what is obvious – Physical differences, not cultural – Socially constructed

Ethnic groups Religious groups

Gender groups – If women make up more than half of the population, aren’t they the majority/dominant group? – In what ways do women lack power in contemporary American Society? Do they?

Dominant and Minority Groups Other characteristics that may make a group subject to unequal treatment: gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, skin color, age, disability status, physical appearance.

The Social Significance of Race Does race matter?

Why talk about Race? Is Racial Inequality a Social Problem? One Argument: Race no longer matters – There is equal opportunity due to civil rights movement – We live in a color-blind society Do we? Have we reached the promise land that MLK spoke of in 1963? Opposition (Sociological): Race structures society and is highly significant. While trends may be encouraging, and there are no longer legally enforced forms of racial domination, racial inequality is widespread and racism is much less overt.

Biological Meaning and Race A mistaken notion Race is not a biological reality The absence of pure races

Race-A Social Construction – Each society socially constructs the meaning of symbols Social Construction of Race – What does this mean?

Race as a social construct We know race is socially constructed because the meaning of race has been inconsistent. The meaning of race has changed – Over time – Across cultures

Example: Race changing over time The idea of “white” has evolved over time. Some scholars predict that Latinos and Asians will be the new “whites” in the next 50 years. – Thoughts?

Example: Race changing over time Since 1790, the census has never measured race in the same way in the U.S. “Mulatto” was in the 1800 census, but taken out a few decades later “Mexican” was considered a race in 1930, but in the next census, they were counted as white Asian Indians were considered white in 1970 The term “negro” still appears on today’s census, in addition to “African American” In the earliest census measurements, survey takers would assign your race to you.

Example: Race across cultures How many races are in the United States? Brazil? –

The Social Construction of Race Racial Formation: Basically, racial categories have been created, shaped, re-shaped, and destroyed throughout history depending on the social and historical context. Race is NOT biologically/genetically real, but it is very real in the social sense. – Who has had the power to define groups and the meanings attached to them? How does this happen?

A Brief History of Race Race became the tool through which Europeans could justify the domination, enslavement, and exploitation of racially “othered” groups. Which groups? Since race became a social construct, it has been used by those in power (dominant groups)to deny “others” (minority groups) access to valued resources. What types of resources?

A System of Racial Hierarchy Racism  doctrine of racial supremacy that states one race is superior to another