Download Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity

Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity
• Race and Ethnicity
• Prejudice and Discrimination
• Racial and Ethnic Interactions
•Sociological Analysis of Ethnic and Racial Inequality
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.
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
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.
Sociological Perspectives on Race and
Ethnicity
•
•
a)
b)
c)
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
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.
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.
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”.
“Not economically viable”
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
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
•
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
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
• 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
• VERBALIZATION
– 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
• 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
• EXCLUSION and AVOIDANCE
– Marginalizing persons and separating them
– Avoiding them in social situations
• PHYSICAL ABUSE
– PHYSICAL ATTACKS
• GENOCIDE
– SYSTEMATIC KILLING OFF OF A GROUP FOR RACIAL,
ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC
OBJECTIVES
Europe, World War II 1943
Wounded Knee South Dakota, United States 1890
Rwanda, Africa 1994
Darfur, the Sudan, North Africa 2006
Cambodia, 1977
Bosnia, 1996
Genocide
• There are 8 stages of genocide, as
identified by Genocide Watch. They are:
Classification, Symbolization,
Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization,
Identification, Extermination, and Denial.
(Armenia)
• 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
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
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
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
• 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
• PLURALSIM
– 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
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.
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.