C HAPTER 10: R ACE AND E THNICITY

R ACE AND E THNICITY What is race? A category of people who have been singled out as inferior or superior, often on the basis of real or alleged physical characteristics such as: skin color, hair texture, eye shape, or other attributes Sociologists emphasize that race is a socially constructed reality In fact, most humans are practically identical (genetically) to each other, so classifying by race is overwhelmingly phonotypical (or only skin deep) Ethnic groups An ethnic group is a collection of people distinguished, by others, or by themselves, primarily on the basis of cultural or nationality characteristics Such as Irish Americans, Jewish Americans, Italian Americans, etc. They all share five main characteristics Cultural traits, community sense, ethnocentrism, ascribed membership, and territoriality

D OMINANT AND S UBORDINATE G ROUPS A group that is considered to be advantaged, and has superior rights in a society In the U.S.; whites with European ancestry (particularly males) A group whose members are disadvantaged and subjected to unequal treatment by the dominant group In the U.S.; persons of color, women, and most immigrants Most members of subordinate groups regard themselves as being subject of collective discrimination Dominant GroupsSubordinate Groups

P REJUDICE A negative attitude based on faulty generalizations about members of selected racial and ethnic groups Prejudice can be positive or negative From the Latin “prae-judicium,” meaning “before judgment” Stereotypes and racism Stereotypes: Overgeneralizations about the appearance, behaviors, or other characteristics of members of particular categories i.e. the misunderstandings of Native American culture, portrayed in college and professional mascots Racism: A set of attitudes, beliefs, and practices that is used to justify the superior treatment of one racial or ethnic group, and the inferior treatment of another racial or ethnic group Can be overt or subtle (blatant or inferred); overt would be derogatory remarks, subtle would be implying a certain race is “better suited” or “natural” in positions like sports or leadership

T HEORIES AND M EASURING OF P REJUDICE Keep in mind that a prejudice is an attitude, whereas discrimination is taking action Frustration-aggression hypothesis Scapegoat: A person or group that is incapable of offering resistance to the hostility or aggression of others Often blaming a minority group for societal problems, or a focal point for their frustrations According to Symbolic-Interactionists; prejudice is a learned behavior Children growing up do not have a frame of reference for prejudice. Being praised for, or encouraging, certain jokes or remarks reinforces prejudice Theodor W. Adorno and the authoritarian personality Prejudiced individuals tend to enforce excessive conformity, submissiveness to authority, intolerance, insecurity, a high level of superstition, and rigid, stereotypic thinking Social distance The extent to which people are willing to interact and establish relationships with members of racial and ethnic groups other than their own Some groups are identified as more desirable among various ethnic groups

D ISCRIMINATION Involves actions or practices of dominant-group members (or their representatives) that have a harmful impact on members of a subordinate group Prejudiced attitudes do not necessarily lead to discriminatory behavior Genocide is the deliberate systematic killing of an entire people or nation Merton’s Typology of Prejudice and Discrimination Prejudiced Attitude? Discriminatory Behavior? Unprejudiced Non- Discriminator No Unprejudiced Discriminator NoYes Prejudiced Non- Discriminator YesNo Prejudiced Discriminator Yes

S OCIOLOGICAL P ERSPECTIVE ON R ACE Symbolic-Interactionist Contact hypothesis Contact between people from divergent groups should lead to favorable attitudes Functionalist Assimilation A process by which members of subordinate racial and ethnic groups become “absorbed” into the dominant culture Can occur at various levels; such as, cultural, structural, biological, and psychological Conflict Economic stratification of races and classes, particularly caste and class based discrimination Others include internal colonialism, split-labor-market theory, and gendered, racial, and social theories *Critical Race Theory* Derived from ideas of civil rights leaders Racism as an ingrained feature of society that affects everyone’s daily life

Native Americans Believed to have migrated from Asia more than 10,000 years ago, currently about 1.5% of population. Received full citizenship in 1924; historically, have had limited opportunities and high unemployment and crime White Anglo- Saxon Protestants (WASPs) Perhaps the most privileged group, biggest divergence in privileges is gender. Many consider themselves as having no race or ethnicity. African Americans Roughly 40 million in U.S., involuntarily brought to America in mid 1600’s as indentured servants and eventually slaves. Though freed in 1863, whites in particular have subject them to many indignities. Though less prevalent today, there are still prejudicial and discriminatory practices occurring. White Ethnic Americans Includes Irish, Italian, Jewish among many subgroups, prejudicial and discriminatory practices shifted as immigration increased for different groups. Now heavily assimilated, most people do not view having such an ethnic background as negative. Asian Americans Includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino. Currently the fastest growing minority group (5% and increasing), almost all received a high degree of discrimination and even violence until after World War II. Hispanic Americans From either Latin-America or Iberian peninsula, with recent immigration and societal issues, they are currently receiving the majority of the stereotyping. Many however are making a lasting impact on the country in terms of literature, sports, and cultural preferences. Middle Eastern Americans Around 1970’s immigration became prevalent, and up until the September 11 attacks had been an integral part of society. After the attacks, they received intense scrutiny and in some instances, “hate” crimes. R ACIAL AND E THNIC G ROUPS IN THE U.S.

R EFERENCES AND A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS o Sociology In Our Times (Seventh Edition) o By: Diana Kendall o Notes incorporated o By: James V. Thomas, NIU Professor (Emeritus) o Formatted By: Jacob R. Kalnins, NIU student o Pictures Incorporated o Clip Art (PowerPoint: 2007) o Google Images: Sociology In Our Times