Identity: Race, Ethnicity, Gender Chapter 5

Ethnicity EthnicityEthnicity –ethnos = “people” or “nation” –a constructed identity that is tied to a place … it is often considered “natural” because it implies ancient relations among people over time. –Ethnicity can overlap with race –Ethnicity is not dependant on race

Immigration Waves of immigration into USWaves of immigration into US –1 st wave – to 1870 North/Western Europe –2 nd wave – to 1914 East/Southern Europe East Asia Quota systems Immigration slowed until after WWII –3 rd wave – current wave Quotas eliminated in 1965 Latin America, Asia, Africa Some come illegally (without going through the legal immigration process)

Population in the U.S. by Race, 2000 In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau allowed Americans to categorize themselves as one race or more than one race.In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau allowed Americans to categorize themselves as one race or more than one race.

Demographic Shifts in US Estimated Percentage of U.S. Population by Race and Ethnicity until 2050Estimated Percentage of U.S. Population by Race and Ethnicity until 2050 In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau calculated race and Hispanic origin separately. Estimates are that by 2050, the “White, non- Hispanic population will no longer be the majority.

Acculturation & Assimiliation Amalgamation theoryAmalgamation theory –“Melting pot” – ethnicities blend into one AcculturationAcculturation –Immigrants adopt the mainstream culture –Leads to loss of cultural identity –Generational AssimilationAssimilation –Complete integration –Sometimes forced. Ex: Native Americans early 20 th century –Competition theory: minorities in close proximity experienced heightened ethnic identity

Identity Identity – “how we make sense of ourselves” – RoseIdentity – “how we make sense of ourselves” – Rose –identity is a snapshot of who we are at a point in time –Identities are fluid, constantly changing, shifting, becoming. –Identities vary across scales, and affect each other across scales. How do we establish identities?How do we establish identities? –experiences, emotions connections, and rejections. –identifying against (defining the other and then defining ourselves as “not that.”)

Gender “A culture’s assumptions about the differences between men and women: their ‘characters,’ the roles they play in society, what they represent.” - Domosh and Seager“A culture’s assumptions about the differences between men and women: their ‘characters,’ the roles they play in society, what they represent.” - Domosh and Seager

Race Categorization of humans based on skin color and other physical characteristics. Racial categories are social and political constructions because they are based on ideas that some biological differences are more important than others.

Racial DistinctionsRacial Distinctions –Often assigned or imposed by others –Often become ‘institutionalized’ and cause division within a country Residential segregation Racialized divisions of labor Racial categories defined by governments –With globalization and migration, divisions are becoming blurred. Race

Residential Segregation The “degree to which two or more groups live separately from one another, in different parts of the urban environment.”The “degree to which two or more groups live separately from one another, in different parts of the urban environment.” –Massey and Denton Sometimes done through legal meansSometimes done through legal means Sometimes done as custom/traditionSometimes done as custom/tradition –Self-imposed (esp. because of migration) –External causes (real estate agents, etc.) Sometimes happens due to economicsSometimes happens due to economics

Highest Rate of Residential Segregation for African Americans: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Lowest Rate of Residential Segregation for Hispanics/Latinos: Baltimore for Asians/Pacific Islanders: Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland

Invasion and Succession: Identities in Neighborhoods change over timeIdentities in Neighborhoods change over time –new immigrants to a city often move to areas occupied by older immigrant groups.

Ethnic Groups in Los Angeles BarrioizationBarrioization –when the population of a neighborhood changes over largely to Hispanics. cultural landscapes change to reflect changing populations.cultural landscapes change to reflect changing populations. strife is usually tied to economic change.strife is usually tied to economic change.

How do different places (eg. Switzerland vs. New Glarus, Wisconsin) create different identities (Swiss vs. Swiss American)? Ethnicity and Place

Ethnicity & Place Places change when the people who live there change. Ex: Mexicali

Identity and Space Space – “social relations stretched out”Space – “social relations stretched out” Place – “particular articulations of those social relations as they have come together, over time, in that particular location.”Place – “particular articulations of those social relations as they have come together, over time, in that particular location.” –Massey and Jess When people make places, they do so in the context of surrounding social relationships.When people make places, they do so in the context of surrounding social relationships.

Power Relationships Power Relationships:Power Relationships: –Assumptions and structures about who is in control, who has power over others –Subjugate groups of people, enables society to enforce cultural and social norms. Ex: Jim Crow laws How are power relationships reflected in cultural landscapes (the visible human imprint on the landscape)?How are power relationships reflected in cultural landscapes (the visible human imprint on the landscape)? –Affect the cultural landscape by determining what is seen and what is not. –Dominant cultures tend to leave a more lasting imprint.

Conflict affects cultural landscape Belfast, Northern Ireland

How do Power Relationships Determine How People are Counted? The U.S. Census undercounts:The U.S. Census undercounts: –minority populations –the homeless The Gross National Income (GNI) does not count:The Gross National Income (GNI) does not count: –unpaid work of women in the household If women’s productivity were given a dollar value, annual GNI would increase by 1/3 –work done by rural women in poorer countries In difficult economic times, women experience job contraction first.

Informal Economy Private, often home-based activities such as tailoring, beer brewing, food preparation, or vegetable gardening.Private, often home-based activities such as tailoring, beer brewing, food preparation, or vegetable gardening.

Women in Sub-Saharan Africa populate much of the rural areas, as men migrate to cities for workpopulate much of the rural areas, as men migrate to cities for work produce 70% of the region’s food.produce 70% of the region’s food. only a small percentage of women have legal title to their land.only a small percentage of women have legal title to their land.

Dowry Deaths in India Murders of brides (often by burning) when a dispute arises over a dowry.Murders of brides (often by burning) when a dispute arises over a dowry. Difficult to “legislate away” the power relationships that lead to dowry deathsDifficult to “legislate away” the power relationships that lead to dowry deaths female infanticide is also tied to the disempowerment of womenfemale infanticide is also tied to the disempowerment of women