1. Introduction to Sociology Chapter 11 - Race and Ethnicity
Roderick Graham

2. The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Race - A socially constructed category of people who share biologically transmitted traits that members of a society consider important
We think of race in biological terms but it is a socially constructed concept
The meaning and importance of race not only differ from place to place but also change over time

3. The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Scientists invented the concept of race to organize the world’s physical diversity
Caucasoid
Negroid
Mongoloid
Sociologists consider such terms misleading and harmful
There is more genetic variation within each category than between categories
From a biological point of view, knowing people’s racial category allows us to predict nothing about them

4. Racial Categories??
Caucasoid Congoid Capoid
Mongoloid Australoid

5. The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Ethnicity - A shared cultural heritage
Common ancestors
Language
Religion
Like race, ethnicity is socially constructed
Race is constructed from biological traits and ethnicity is constructed from cultural traits

6. Hispanic – Race or Ethnicity?

7. Hispanic – Race or Ethnicity

8. The Social Meaning of Race and Ethnicity
Minorities - Any category of people distinguished by physical or cultural difference that a society sets apart and subordinates
Based on race, ethnicity, or both
Two important characteristics:
Share a distinct identity
Experience subordination
Not all members of a minority category are disadvantaged
Usually make up a small proportion of a society’s population

9. Prejudice and Stereotypes
Prejudice - A rigid and unfair generalization about an entire category of people
Prejudice may target people of a particular social class, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation, race, ethnicity
A powerful form of prejudice is racism – the belief that one race is superior to the other
Prejudice often takes the form of stereotypes
An exaggerated description applied to every person in some category
Especially harmful to minorities in the workplace

10. Measuring Prejudice: The Social Distance Scale
Recent study found three major findings
Student opinion shows a trend toward greater social acceptance
People see less difference between various minorities
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, may have reduced social acceptance of Arabs and Muslims

12. Theories of Prejudice SCAPEGOAT THEORY
Prejudice springs from frustration among people who are themselves disadvantaged
SCAPEGOAT
A person or category of people, typically with little power, whom other people unfairly blame for their own troubles
Minorities often are used as scapegoats
They have little power
Usually are “safe targets”

13. Theories of Prejudice AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY THEORY
Extreme prejudice is a personality trait of certain individuals
Conclusion supported by research
Indicated that people who show strong prejudice toward one minority are intolerant of all minorities
Authoritarian Personalities
Rigidly conform to conventional cultural values
See moral issues as clear-cut matters of right
and wrong

14. Theories of Prejudice CULTURE THEORY CONFLICT THEORY
Claims that although extreme prejudice is found in certain people, some prejudice is found in everyone
“culture of prejudice”
Taught to view certain categories of people as “better” or “worse” than others
CONFLICT THEORY
Proposes that prejudice is used as a tool by powerful people to oppress others
Another conflict based argument
Minorities encourage “race consciousness” to win greater power and privileges

15. Discrimination
Discrimination - Unequal treatment of various categories of people
Prejudice refers to attitudes
Discrimination is a matter of action
Positive or negative
Subtle to blatant

16. Discrimination Institutional Prejudice and Discrimination
Bias built into the operation of society’s institutions
Schools, hospitals, police, workplace, banks
People are slow to condemn or recognize institutional prejudice
Prejudice and discrimination reinforce each other
Situations that are defined as real become real in their consequences

17. Powerful Members of Minority Groups…Is there a Pattern?

18. Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Four models
Pluralism
Assimilation
Segregation
Genocide

19. Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Pluralism - A state in which people of all races and ethnicities are distinct but have equal social standing
US is pluralistic to the extent that all people have equal standing under the law
US not pluralistic for three reasons
Although most of us value our cultural heritage, few want to live with only people exactly like ourselves (we are forced to)
Our tolerance for social diversity goes only so far
People of various colors and cultures do not have equal social standing

20. Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Assimilation - The process by which minorities gradually adopt patterns of the dominant culture
Assimilation is…
Avenue to upward social mobility
Way to escape prejudice and discrimination directed against more visible foreigners
Amount of assimilation varies by category
Assimilation involves changes in ethnicity but not in race

21. Majority and Minority: Patterns of Interaction
Segregation - the physical and social separation of categories of people
Segregation enforces separation that harms a minority
de jure segregation (by law)
de facto segregation (in fact)
Continues in the US (de facto)
Hypersegregation
Having little contact of any kind with people beyond the local community

22. Genocide
Genocide - The systematic killing of one category of people by another
Deadly form of racism and ethnocentrism
Common throughout history
Even the US committed genocide against Native Americans