1. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Prejudice and Discrimination
Racial and Ethnic Interactions
Sociological Analysis of Ethnic and Racial Inequality

2. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Race – A group of people who have been identified as having real or alleged physical characteristics. It is the fact that these biological traits are endowed with social meaning that brings them into the realm of the social sciences.
Ethnicity – refers to people who share common cultural characteristics and ethnic identity; they share a sense of “oneness”, and a shared fate.
Marriage across racial and ethnic lines, while not uncommon, is not typical for sociological and demographic reasons; attitudes, beliefs, access.

6. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Minority – a group that has less power than the dominant group, has less esteem and prestige, and is often the target of discrimination. The two major characteristics are distinctive identity and subordination. The sociological meaning of minority does not refer to the numerical size of a group, nor to any specific ethnicity, race, or other real or imaged factors as these factors are relative to a specific society.
esteem – the honor that accrues to an individual filling a position
prestige – the honor associated with an occupation or other position in a social system

7. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Prejudice – an attitude which predisposes an individual to prejudge entire categories of people unfairly. This attitude is rigid, often emotionally loaded, and resistant to change; “re-fencing” and closed mindedness.
Discrimination is a behavior resulting in unfair, unequal, or harmful treatment based upon a prejudice.
One may confront discrimination by focusing on attitudes, behaviors, or both. It is usually most effective to begin with the discriminatory behaviors in order to provide some relief for those discriminated against. The official organs of the state must support these efforts to eliminate discriminatory behaviors or they will most likely continue; institutional discrimination.

8. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Stereotype – a rigid and often inaccurate image that summarizes a belief. Because stereotypes reflect beliefs rather than facts, they are often illogical and self-serving. (Discussion)
Stereotypes persist in culture because: (functions for those using them)
stereotypes can work to elevate the status of the group which engages in it;
stereotyping reduces the need to think by creating “universals”, and not having to acknowledge individualistic characteristics; and,
Stereotyping can work as a social-psychological mechanism for reducing guilt in the minds of those who practice prejudice and discrimination

9. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Stereotype –particular stereotypes are often used for different groups, such as the concept of “laziness”. Laziness has been applied to Blacks, Hispanics, Polish, Irish, and Native-Americans. It has also been used to explain why someone is the member of a lower class or poor.

10. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Salience Principle – we categorize people on the basis of what appears initially prominent and obvious- that is, what is salient- about them. The choice of salient characteristics is culturally determined. Thus, race, ethnicity, gender, social class, and religion are among the most prominent features by which people are categorized.

11. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
Institutional Discrimination – discriminatory practices often become an integral part of the social practices and institutions of a society. The more complex and bureaucratic the organization, the less people pay attention to the discriminatory practices embedded in the rules and procedures, largely because it is not an individual’s responsibility, but a corporate or organizational responsibility; “I am just doing my job”, “I am just following orders” ; or, “I just enforce the laws, I do not create them”.

12. “Not economically viable”

13. DEMOGRAPHICS of the United States
In the Year 2050
DEMOGRAPHICS of the United States
2000 *
WHITE 80% OF POPULATION
HISPANIC 12.5%
BLACK 12.3%
ASIAN 3.9%
2050
WHITE 53% OF POPULATION
HISPANIC 21%
BLACK 16%
ASIAN 10%
* Percentages taken from previous slide 4 4

14. Median Family Income Social Standings Based on Median Income
Native Americans
(27.1% live in poverty)
African Americans
(22.1% live in poverty)
Asian Americans
(10.8% live in poverty)
Hispanic Americans
(21.2% live in poverty)
Entire U.S
(11.3% live in poverty)
30000
38000
42000
46000
50000
54000
58000
Median Family Income
U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2001 7

15. ACTION-ORIENTATION LEVEL
COGNITIVE LEVEL
THE IDEA OR THOUGHT
JEWISH PEOPLE ARE GREEDY
EMOTIONAL LEVEL
ATTACHING FEELINGS TO IDEA
LEARNING TO FEEL ANGER TOWARDS WHITES
ACTION-ORIENTATION LEVEL
PREDISPOSITION TO ACT (discrimination)
MORE LIKELY TO VERBALLY OR PHYSICALLY ATTACK A TARGETTED GROUP 9 9

16. A VERY POWERFUL AND DESTRUCTIVE FORM OF
PREJUDICE THAT REMAINS VERY MUCH ALIVE TODAY
THE BELIEF THAT ONE RACIAL CATEGORY IS INNATELY SUPERIOR OR INFERIOR TO ANOTHER
INDIVIDUAL RACISM
INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM
RECALL WHAT RACE IS AND SEE THE IRRATIONAL THOUGHT PROCESS
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A “PURE RACE” THESE DAYS; A CONTINUUM
RACE IS BIOLOGICAL, BUT WHAT PEOPLE MAKE OF IT IS SOCIAL 10 10

17. AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY CULTURE OF PREJUDICE
SCAPEGOAT THEORY
BLAMING OTHERS FOR PERSONAL TROUBLES
TARGET SELECTION AND THEN AGGRESSION
AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
THE “ARCHIE BUNKER” THEORY
CULTURE OF PREJUDICE
THE SOCIALIZATION EXPERIENCE
IT’S “NORMAL” FOR PEOPLE TO PREJUDGE OTHERS
CONFLICT THEORY
SELF-JUSTIFICATION FOR THE RICH AND POWERFUL IN AMERICA
USE OF “RACE CARD” BY MINORITY GROUPS CAN LEAD TO “WHITE BACKLASH” MOVEMENTS 11 11

18. VERBALIZATION EXCLUSION AVOIDANCE PHYSICAL ABUSE GENOCIDE
JOKES, COMMENTS, RACIAL SLURS
EXCLUSION
KEEPING PEOPLE MARGINAL
AVOIDANCE
NOT TRAVELING IN CERTAIN AREAS
PHYSICAL ABUSE
PHYSICAL ATTACKS
GENOCIDE
SYSTEMATIC KILLING OFF OF A GROUP 12 12

19. VERBALIZATION JOKES, COMMENTS, RACIAL SLURS
Marginalizing others by the use of language and symbols.
De-humanizing others by identifying them as “things”.
“Do the Right Thing” film excerpt 12 12

20. EXCLUSION and AVOIDANCE
Marginalizing persons and separating them
Avoiding them in social situations 12 12

21. PHYSICAL ABUSE
PHYSICAL ATTACKS 12 12

22. GENOCIDE
SYSTEMATIC KILLING OFF OF A GROUP FOR RACIAL, ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES 12 12

23. Europe, World War II 1943

24. Wounded Knee South Dakota, United States 1890

25. Rwanda, Africa 1994

26. Darfur, the Sudan, North Africa 2006

27. Cambodia, 1977

28. Bosnia, 1996

29. Genocide
There are 8 stages of genocide, as identified by Genocide Watch. They are: Classification, Symbolization, Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization, Identification, Extermination, and Denial.
(Armenia)

30. PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION BEGIN AS ETHNOCENTRIC ATTITUDES
AS A RESULT, GROUPS CAN BE PLACED IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND LABELED
A GROUP’S SITUATION, OVER TIME, IS THUS EXPLAINED AS A RESULT OF INNATE INFERIORITY RATHER THAN LOOKING AT THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE FOR REASONS; THE CYCLE THEN REPEATS ITSELF 14 14

32. RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS
NATIVE AMERICANS
AN AMERICAN STORY OF GROUP GENOCIDE
EURO AMERICANS
QUICKLY FORGOT WHY THEY HAD LEFT THEIR OWN COUNTRIES AND DENIED FREEDOM TO MANY GROUPS
AFRICAN AMERICANS
FORCED IMMIGRATION FOR LABOR
ASIAN AMERICANS
AMERICA’S “MODEL MINORITY GROUP”
HISPANIC AMERICANS
FACING MANY SOCIAL ILLS IN AMERICA

33. EDUCATION MEANINGFUL CONTACT TWO KEY AREAS:
1) ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS
2) INCREASE MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONTACT
EDUCATION
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
LEARN TO APPRECIATE DIVERSITY
MEANINGFUL CONTACT
DESIRE TO CHANGE
HONEST, SELF-CRITIQUE OF LIFESTYLE
PLAN FOR INCREASING SOCIAL CONTACT 16 16

34. Contact Theory Argues that interaction between dominant and minority groups will reduce prejudice on the part of both groups if three conditions are met.
Contact is of equal status
Contact between equals must be sustained
Norms favoring equality must be agreed upon by the participants

35. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
SHARE A “DISTINCT IDENTITY”
RACE, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, THE POOR
SUBORDINATION
OFTEN SADDLED WITH LOWER STATUS
STEREOTYPES, STIGMA, AND LABELING
GROUP SIZE (NUMBERS)
WOMEN IN AMERICA OUTNUMBER MEN
BLACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA OUTNUMBER WHITES

36. PLURALSIM ASSIMILATION SEGREGATION GENOCIDE
DISTINCT GROUPS WITH PARITY
ASSIMILATION
ADOPTION OF MAJORITY GROUP CULTURE
INTERBREEDING
SEGREGATION
PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DISTANCE
DE JURE AND DE FACTO SEGREGATION
GENOCIDE
ONE GROUP “KILLS OFF” ANOTHER GROUP

37. Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity: Patterns of Interaction
Assimilation – refers to the blending of the culture and structure of one racial or ethnic group with the culture and structure of another. There are at least two major possible outcomes related to assimilation;
1. The majority remains very much intact while the minority conforms
2. Both the majority and minority change in a blending; “melting pot”.
Both cultures must then give up at least some of the traditional aspects of their native cultures, which many are reluctant to do.
Pluralism, or multiculturalism – occurs when separate cultures maintain their distinctiveness even though they maintain approximately equal status; “separate but equal”.
Expulsion and/or Annihilation – the members of one racial, ethnic, or social group can be forced to migrate, or they can be exterminated.

38. Social Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Inequality
The Functionalist Perspective
A functional argument may be that until racial and ethnic minorities improve their skills and social positions they will be unable to compete successfully with other groups, however, it is part of climbing the social ladder.
The Conflict Perspective
As the different minority groups struggle for resources and status, the competition between them serves the interests of those in power; “divide and conquer”.
The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
A member of the minority culture can never feel “oneness” with a different culture if they are made to be seen as, and see themselves as, different.