1 Structural Barriers to Disaster Resilience: Race and Ethnicity I Session 9

2 Session Objectives  To conceptualize race as a socially constructed attribute  To understand why race is considered a master status in the United States  To analyze how ethnicity differs from race in ways that affect social discrimination

Session 9 3 What do we mean when we refer to race?  Biological attributes that are hereditary  Easily distinguished features serve as visual markers  Assumption that races of biologically different  Trait generalizations often made based upon groupings

Session 9 4 Skin color? What genetic traits to use? Hemoglobin? Nose type and size? Body shape? Fingerprint type? Hair type? Each results in a different grouping – and not as expected More genetic difference within common groupings than between them!

Session 9 5 There are no distinctive races  All humans share common origin  African ancestors  Common DNA  Same species  Physical differences evolved

Session 9 6  Environmental adaptation  Sexual selection  Random selection Differences evolved through:

Session 9 7 Common racial groupings:  Three major ones come from European culture  Describe people at ends of early trade lines  Other groups added more recently

Session 9 8 Why do we pay so much attention to race?  Differentiates “us” from “them”  Convenient system to segregate, discriminate  Most important where a cultural history of extensive inequality such as slavery

Session 9 9 In 1990 Americans claimed membership in: 300 races or ethnic groups 600 American Indian tribes 70 Hispanic categories! Land use patterns Community organizations/leadership? Political power?

Session 9 10 Race is a master status  What people “see” first  Takes precedence over other attributes of person  Based on acquired, not achieved, traits  Overshadows achieved statuses  Sometimes compounded –Black woman –Black elder

Session 9 11 How can our history help explain prejudice against: Blacks? Blacks? Native Americans? Native Americans? Latinos? Latinos? Why are Americans so race conscious?

Session 9 12 Ethnicity refers to: Culture, not appearance Usually associated with a region Learned through socialization Can be changed with resocialization Can be assimilated Assimilation easiest for those lacking racial distinction from majority

Session 9 13 How much should minority cultures assimilate?  Controversial topic  “Melting pot” or cultural pluralism?  Greater acceptance of diversity if: –Similar in appearance and culture to majority culture –Small in number –Good economy, less competition for job –Educated  Always some cross-effects

Session 9 14 How much - prejudice - discrimination exist in U.S. today? Land use patterns Community organizations/leadership? Political power?

Session 9 15 Distinct differences such as skin color make it easier to keep track – and to stereotype Which is most likely to be the basis for prejudice and discrimination - Race? - Ethnicity?