Ch 9 with narration

Chapter 9: Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity:

Sociology Coach Tate Chapter 9: Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity

Race and Ethnicity:

Race and Ethnicity Race – Category of people who share inherited physical characteristics and whom others perceive as being a distinct group. Sociologists are not concerned with the physical characteristics as much as the reactions to the characteristics. Ethnicity – Set of cultural characteristics that distinguishes on group from another group.

Race and Ethnicity:

Race and Ethnicity Individuals who share a common cultural background and a common sense of identity are known as an ethnic group . Although race and ethnicity refer to two separate sets of characteristics, some ethnic groups are also racially distinct.

Minority:

Minority Five Characteristics of a Minority Group: The group possesses identifiable physical or cultural characteristics that differ from those of the dominant group. Group members are the victims of unequal treatment at the hands of the dominant group. Membership in the group is an ascribed status. Group members share a strong bond and sense of group loyalty. Members tend to practice endogamy (marriage within the group).

Discrimination and Prejudice:

Discrimination and Prejudice Often used interchangeably, they are two separate but related terms. Discrimination - the denial of equal treatment based on group membership. Discrimination can be found on individual and societal levels. There are two types of discrimination: Legal Discrimination Institutionalized Discrimination

Discrimination and Prejudice:

Discrimination and Prejudice Legal Discrimination – Discrimination upheld by law. Examples include: Apartheid (South Africa) Jim Crow Laws (Southern United States) Plessy v. Ferguson 1896 – established the “separate but equal” doctrine that would form the legal base for the Jim Crow Laws. Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas 1954 – reversed Plessy and led the legal challenges to all Jim Crow Laws during the Civil Rights Movement. Legal discrimination can be changed by changing the law.

Discrimination and Prejudice:

Discrimination and Prejudice

Discrimination and Prejudice:

Discrimination and Prejudice Institutionalized Discrimination – An outgrowth of traditional patterns of discrimination. Over time, unequal access to the social rewards of society push some minority group members into less powerful positions in society. Once this occurs, it is no longer necessary to discriminate openly or consciously against these people. Due to its self-perpetuating nature, institutionalized discrimination is more resistant to change.

Discrimination and Prejudice:

Discrimination and Prejudice Prejudice – An unsupported generalization about a category of people. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy – (Robert K. Merton) – A prediction that results in behavior that makes the prediction come true. W.I. Thomas - “If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences.” Reality = What people believe is true, not necessarily what is true.

Discrimination and Prejudice:

Discrimination and Prejudice Racism – The belief that one’s own race or ethnic group is naturally superior to other race or ethnic groups. Racism is used as justification for the worst forms of discrimination. Summary: Prejudice = attitudes Discrimination = actions Racism = mindset

Sources of Discrimination and Prejudice:

Sources of Discrimination and Prejudice Stereotyping – an image is formed about a group and is then applied to all members of the group. People who differ from the stereotype are seen as exceptions to the rule, not proof the stereotype does not exist. Scapegoating – Placing blame for one’s own troubles on an innocent individual or group. Minority groups are often easy targets for the troubles of dominant groups.

Sources of Discrimination and Prejudice:

Sources of Discrimination and Prejudice The Social Environment – Societies which have groups interacting on a close basis tend to have lower levels of prejudice. Societies which stay pluralistic tend to have higher levels of prejudice. Prejudice and discrimination also increases when there is an intense competition for scarce resources in a society.

Patterns of Minority Group Treatment:

Patterns of Minority Group Treatment Assimilation – Blending of culturally distinct groups into a single group with a common culture…also known as a “melting pot” society. Most of the time this is voluntary, but sometimes it is forced with the threat or use of violence. Cultural Pluralism – Each unique group in society keeps their own cultural identity. Opposite of assimilation. Legal Protection – Examples include the Civil Rights Act (1964) and affirmative action laws.

Patterns of Minority Group Treatment:

Patterns of Minority Group Treatment Population Transfer – Dominant group transfers the minority group to a new territory. Kosovo – Dominant group were the Serbs. The Serbs forced the ethnic Albanians into Albania and Montenegro. Resulted in a NATO bombing campaign against Serbia and charges of crimes against humanity against the Serb leader, President Slobodan Milošević . Subjugation – controlling a group through force. Most extreme is slavery. Segregation – physical separation of groups. De jure – by law De facto – using informal norms

Patterns of Minority Group Treatment:

Patterns of Minority Group Treatment Extermination – Most extreme form – Genocide Russia – late 1800’s Czar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881. Russian Jews became the target of scapegoating for the problems of the time and especially the death of the czar. Official government policy: 1/3 were to leave (population transfer), 1/3 were to convert to Orthodox Christianity, 1/3 were to be exterminated. WWII – Holocaust Nazi regime led by Adolph Hitler acquires power in Germany after WWI At least 6 million Jews are killed 400,000 gypsies 2 million Russian citizens