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Transcript
BC Vincent N. Parrillo Strangers to These Shores The Study of America’s Minorities America’s Immigrants BC The Study of Minorities • Are we a nation of immigrants? Are we the great melting pot of all races, religions, and nationalities? • What is the American dream, is it alive? • Native-born Americans have not always welcomed newcomers with open arms. • We continue to face serious race (ethnic) related problems. BC The Stranger as a Social Phenomenon • Similarity and Attraction – We like those who are like us and engage in the same pursuits. – Those with similar attitudes, .. Values, .. Beliefs, .. Social status, .. or physical appearance • Studies show greater receptivity to strangers who are perceived as similar than to those who are perceives as different BC Social Distance • Emory Bogardus (1926) – Measured the degree of social closeness or distance personally acceptable to members of a particular group • A number of studies spanning over 75 yrs. • With few exceptions, the positioning of response patterns is relatively consistant. BC • Social Distance Cont. Measured the degree of closeness of different groups that would be acceptable 1. Would accept marrying in my family 2. Would accept as a personal friend in my social circle 3. Would accept as a neighbor on my street 4. Would work in the same office 5. Would only have as speaking acquaintance 6. Would only have a visitors to my country 7. Would bar from entering my country BC Social Distance Cont. • Note the results by thirds of the 30 groups • Note how consistent the results have been over the years • The results reflect sociohistorical conditions / situations • Note the position of Muslims and Arabs BC Perceptions • Strangers are perceived through categoric knowing – Classifications made on the basis of limited information • Native-born Americans, in the past, perceived first generation immigrants as a particular kind of stranger BC Interactions • People from the same social world “know” the language,.. Customs,.. Symbols, .. and normative behavior patterns, the stranger usually does not. • Strangers lack a sense of historicity – A lack of experience, … memory BC The Sociological Perspective • Sociologists use scientific investigation • Scientific investigation requires theories • Three main theoretical paradigms – Functional Theory – Conflict Theory – Interactionist Theory BC Functional Theory • Society is seen as a stable,, cooperative social system where everything has a function contributing to harmony • Societal elements function together to maintain order, stability, and equilibrium • Social problems are dysfunctional resulting in temporary disorganization • Rapid change is dysfunctional • Necessary adjustments restore harmony BC Conflict Theory • Based on Marxian theory • Society is continually engaged in conflict • Conflict is inevitable as people (social classes) struggle to meet their interests • Social change is the result of class struggles related to social inequalities • The Question, “Who benefits from inequality, exploitation , discrimination?” – The “powerful class” benefits BC Interactionist Theory • Focus is on everyday, personal interaction • This is a “micro” theory • Seek to determine the “social construction of reality” • Shared expectations and cultural understandings explain intergroup relations • Better communication and intercultural understanding improve minority-majority relations BC Minority Groups Development of a Definition • Groups and group identity are important components of race and ethnic relations • Minority Group: Sociologists use it to indicate a groups relative power and status in a society • May be by Race, … Ethnicity, … Gender BC Minority-Group Characteristics • Wagley and Harris: Five Characteristics 1. The group receives unequal treatment 2. The group is easily identifiable by physical and cultural characteristics 3. The group feels a sense of peoplehood 4. Membership is an ascribed status 5. Group members practice endogamy, … they usually marry within their group BC Racial and Ethnic Groups • Race: People sharing visible biological characteristics, .. Body build, .. Hair texture, .. Facial features, … Skin color • Caucasoid, ..Negroid, .. Mongoloid – Quickly broke down when applied • We generally use “Color” for race – White, Black, Yellow, Red, Brown, … ? – Ultimately race is a social definition • Ashley Montagu: “Only one race exists, the human race, … a dangerous concept” BC Racism • Racism: Asserts the superiority of one group over another because of biological conditions and sociocultural capabilities • Subordinate group experiences prejudice and discrimination • Dominant group justifies racism on the basis of its definitional perceptions – Perceptions become reality for them BC Ethnic Group • Groups which share a national (cultural) heritage with distinct religious, linguistic or cultural characteristics – They may be racially different but have the same cultural heritage • Japanese, Arabs, Basques, Indians, and Jews are often misidentified as racial groups – They could all be American BC Ethnocentrism • One’s own group (culture) is used as a reference to evaluate other cultures, ethnicities. – Evaluations of others are often negative • One’s group is the ingroup the other is an outgroup, … we / they • Negative evaluations often result in prejudice and discrimination – The outgroup is sometimes seen as a threat BC Eurocentrism & Afrocentrism • Eurocentrism: A variation of ethnocentrism – Emphasis on Western culture, history, literature, achievements, ... • Afrocentrism: A viewpoint emphasizing African culture and achievements and its influence on American culture – A counterbalance to the suppression of African influence and achievement – Another variation of ethnocentrism BC The Dillingham Flaw • Refers to an error in analysis when we apply modern (current) classifications or conditions to a condition of earlier times – Comparing current immigration and assimilation conditions and outcomes to those of the past ( 2000 to 1900) • “Why don’t they learn English and assimilate?” • Previous immigrant groups went through the same gradual acculturation process BC Personal Troubles and Public Issues • C. Wright Mills: The Sociological Imagination – “There is an intricate connection between the patterns of individual lives and the larger historical context of society.” – “What we experience in diverse and distinct social settings is often traceable to structural changes (conditions) and institutional contradictions.” BC C. Wright Mills Cont. • Illustration: … a handful of undocumented aliens, … sweatshop, … their personal trouble, … • But, if large scale smuggling of undocumented workers, … – Resulting in an underground economy, … need to consider the economic and political institutions of the society, … BC The Dynamics of Intergroup Relations • Patterns of intergroup relations change and depend on industrialization, urbanization, migration patterns, social movements and economic trends. • Recent large migrations of diverse peoples into Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United States provides a good example. … A general backlash, … BC Ethnoviolence • Def.: Hostile behavior against people solely because of their race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. • Examples: Hate Groups, … Others?, … BC • • • • • • • • • • Key Terms Afrocentrism Ascribed Status Categoric Knowing Conflict Theory Dillingham Flaw Dominant Group Ethnocentrism Ethnoviolence Eurocentrism Functional Theory • • • • • • • • • • Ingroup Interactionist Theory Latent Functions Minority Group Outgroup Race Racism Social Distance Secondary Group Values