Minority Groups

What is a Minority Group? A subordinate group whose members have significantly less control or power over their lives than members of a dominant or majority group A group that experiences a narrowing of opportunities (success, education, wealth, etc) that is disproportionately low compared to their numbers in the society

Characteristics of a Minority Group Distinguishing physical or cultural traits, e.g. skin color or language Unequal Treatment and Less Power over their lives Involuntary membership in the group (no personal choice) Awareness of subordination and strong sense of group solidarity High In-group Marriage

Types of Minority Groups Racial Groups who are classified according to obvious physical characteristics, e.g. skin color US Racial Minority Groups: Blacks, American Indian, Asian Americans, Hawaiians Ethnic Groups who are differentiated on the basis of culture such as language US Ethnic Minority Groups: Hispanics or Latinos such as Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, Cuban; Jews are also consider cultural minorities instead of religious minorities.

Minority Groups Cont. Gender Males are a social majority; women demonstrate four out of five characteristics of minority status. There are no in-group marriages Religion Groups who have a religion other than the dominant faith. US Religious minorities - Muslims, Amish, Mormons, Roman Catholics

Creation of Minority Groups #1 Migration Emigration – leaving a country Immigration – coming to a country Both voluntarily and involuntary Can occur within a country – Like the Great Migration

Creation of Minority Groups #2 Annexation Incorporation or attachment of land that is contiguous to the nation Can get from war or purchase The dominant power attempts to suppress the language and culture of the minority groups.

Creation of Minority Groups #3 Colonialism The maintenance of political, social, economic, and cultural domination over people by a foreign power for an extended period.

Stereotype PREJUDICE A belief about a certain group of people. Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. A feeling about a person based on their membership in a group. A belief about a certain group of people. Example: What is the basic idea of a teacher such as their appearance?

Consequence of Minority Group Status Extermination Genocide or the deliberate, systematic killing of an entire race or ethnic group Holocaust Rwanda Sudan Armenian

Consequence of Minority Group Status Expulsion Dominant group forcing a specific minority group to leave a certain area or entire country Native Americans onto reservations Non-communist after Mao take-over Bantu in South Africa

Consequence of Minority Group Status Secession A group secedes to form a new nation or moves to an already established nation where it becomes dominant American Colonization Society – Liberia UN - Israel for Jews post WW II Great Britain – Australia for prisoners

Consequence of Minority Group Status Segregation Physical separation of two groups in residence, workplace, and social functions. Legally imposed – Jim Crow Laws De Facto – schools segregated based on district population being segregated.

Consequence of Minority Group Status Fusion When a minority and majority group combine to form a new group. Both a biological and cultural event

Consequence of Minority Group Status Assimilation Minority individual or groups takes on the characteristics of the dominant group. This would be a majority ideology Whites + Blacks + Asian = Whites