1. RACE AND ETHNICITY

2. Unit Objectives Explore the concepts of race and ethnicity
Understand the extent and impacts of racial bias, preference, and segregation
Which is the most useful construct for us to consider when we think about social issues?
In the US?
Globally?

3. Race is a social construct.
Squirming?
Talking about race in the US tends to make people uncomfortable.
Why do you think that is?
RACE IS NOT REAL.
Race is a social construct.
But the effects of our perceptions of race are very real.

4. What do you know about race?
Quiz time!

5. RACE & ETHNICITY
Sociologically, a minority is someone that’s differentiated from the dominant group
Race = large category of people who share certain inherited physical characteristics (i.e. skin color & other physical characteristics)
They are perceived by a given society to be biologically different from others
Genetic traits
There’s more genetic variation within racial groups than between racial groups
Racial classifications are assigned to people on the basis of arbitrary differences like the shape of the nose, the degree of pigmentation in the skin, and the texture of the hair.

6. ETHNICITIES
Race is based on perceived traits; ethnicity is based on cultural characteristics
Ethnic group = people who share a distinctive cultural heritage (language, religion, history, etc.) & feel they are a distinct people
Comes from Greek word “ethnos” which refers to a unique and cohesive group…i.e. us v. them

7. Ethnicity v. Race Ethnicity and race are not the same thing
Ethnicity involves more than biological characteristics. May include that, but goes well beyond to include person’s social and cultural identity….i.e. people of same race can have many different ethnicities
It’s hard to define race and ethnicity clearly: Ambiguity (video 6 min)
a categorization of humans based on skin color and other
physical characteristics. Racial categories are social and
Racial Categories are typically imposed on
people through:
– Residential segregation
– Racialized divisions of labor
– Racial categories defined by governments political constructions because they are based on ideas that some biological differences are more important than others.

8. MINORITY Prejudice = negative attitude toward certain people
Discrimination = unfavorable action against someone b/c they are a member of a certain group
MINORITY
RACIAL OR ETHNIC GROUP THAT’S SUBJECTED TO PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINAT ION

9. Ethnicity – good or bad?
Ethnic Pride – sense of belonging & pride in one’s heritage & culture
Ethnocentrism: idea that one’s own group is superior to others (like racism for an ethnic group)
Ethnic groups usually have ties to a homeland -a place - has led to ethnic cleansing or violence to try to control land by destroying an ethnic group
Ethnicity is a strong force. Even if diffusion and globalization change culture, ethnicity will likely remain.
• Ethnicity –
a constructed identity that is tied to a place … it is often considered “natural” because it implies ancient relations among people over time.

10. Ethnic Groups
Ethnic groups can be difficult to identify….usually self-identified. Do we see ourselves as a unique and cohesive group…i.e. us versus them?
Racial categories used to be simpler…now it is virtually impossible to classify people into “simple” categories of race or ethnicity.
Why?

11. Racial/Ethnic Distributions
In United States:
16% Hispanic
13% African American
5% Asian American
1% American Indian
(63%) White Not-Hispanic (NOT an ethnicity…. why not?)

13. Ethnic Clusters
Ethnic enclave: voluntary residential segregation based on ethnicity (i.e. ethnic neighborhoods…Hispanic barrios, China town, little Havana)

14. Estimates are that by 2050, the “White, non-Hispanic population will no longer be the majority

15. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: Functionalism
Functionalist = emphasizes peace & other positive forms; through 3 forms:
1. assimilation: minority adopts dominant culture
Structural assimilation = social condition where minority is accepted on equal terms (not guaranteed)
2. amalgamation: subcultures are blended together to form a new culture (melting pot)
3. cultural pluralism: peaceful coexistence of various racial & ethnic groups, each keeping it’s own subculture (in Switzerland: Germans, French, & Italians)

16. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: Conflict
To conflict theorists, racial & ethnic relations are negative, by racism = belief one’s own race is superior to others
Possible use of violence to improve own circumstances

17. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: Symbolic Interactionist
If the dominant group defines a minority as inferior or dangerous, then interaction between them will be affected.
It’s a stereotype = oversimplified, inaccurate mental picture of others

18. PREJUDICE & DISCRIMINATION
Over many years, this has been built into you
Institutionalized discrimination = persistence of discrimination in social institutions
Crash Course Video:

19. CAUSES 1. Scapegoating = blaming others for one’s own failure
2. Socialization; if we are taught it, then we will likely play into it
3. Job security & business profit; minorities prevented from competing for jobs
4. Maintaining political and governmental power

20. SOLUTIONS Busing programs and create “magnet schools”
Affirmative action = policy that requires employers & colleges to make special efforts to recruit minorities & women for jobs, promotions, etc.

21. DE JURE vs. DE FACTO SEGREGATION
de Jure = legalized segregation
Plessy v. Ferguson
Apartheid in S. Africa

22. DE JURE SEGREGATION
“Separate but equal” overturned by Brown v. BoE
Nelson Mandela in S. Africa

23. DE FACTO SEGREGATION Not legal – just happens.
Ethnic clustering or ethnic enclaves
Can be based on religion, as well
Northern Ireland: Protestant v Catholic

24. WHY DOES IT MATTER? Minority vs Dominant groups in society:
A minority is the group subjected to prejudice & discrimination.
The dominant group holds greater power, privilege, & prestige within the society.
Why/how did it begin in the US?
Race A History
Seg can happen on 2 scales – within the region of a country or within neighborhoods of a city

25. White Privilege Does it exist? Freakonomics Name Change
White Privilege Debate

26. GENDER
Gender roles = patterns of attitude & behavior that society expects of its members
In US, men are breadwinners & women have secondary incomes/homemakers
But women have many biological advantages over men, despite men having dominance in higher paying fields!

27. INEQUALITIES Sexism = prejudice & discrimination based on gender
Involves sexual abuses like sexual harassment = unwelcome act of a sexual nature

28. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: Functionalism
Assigning different tasks for men & women
1. instrumental role: requires performance of a task (go to work & make money; assertive)
2. expressive role: requires taking care of personal relationships (offer love & attention, warmth, emotional; nonassertive)
BUT this is wrong! Women and men play both roles
Gender roles change, are men out of step? (video)

29. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: Conflict
Conflict theorists think gender inequality arose b/c men were able to exploit women into doing much work with little pay

30. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES: Symbolic Interactionist
Symb. Inter. think the interaction itself between men and women reflects inequality
Example: group meeting—men talk more than women & tend to interrupt more