1. Module – What does it mean to be multicultural?
An exploration

2. How to Navigate Tutorial
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3. Multicultural Index Lesson 1 – Speaking the same language. References
Defining race, culture, and ethnicity
References

4. Race as a Biological Construct
Physical Differences
Skin color
Hair texture
Nose width
Lip width
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Genetic Differences
Intelligence, personality
Athletic ability
Disease
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5. Which race is this? Skull length (long - short)
Orbital openings (narrow - wide)
Nasal openings (angular – rounded - rectangular)
Face breadth (narrow - wide)

6. (Jones, 2002)
“Race is like an avocado which can be classified as a vegetable or a fruit depending on who is doing the classifying.”

7. Debunking Race as Biology
Physical Differences
Genetic Differences
Geographical
Melatonin
Vitamin D
99.9% similar DNA
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Therefore there is no biological basis for racial classification.
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8. Race as Social Construct
Implications for race (Smedley and Smedley, 2005)
Physical characteristics make groups distinct
Skin color, nose width, hair texture, lip thickness
All races are unequal, creates a hierarchy
Each race has distinctive cultural bx, etc.
Physical and bx are innate and inherited
Physical and bx are unalterable, justifying segregation
Laws reflect these beliefs
White
Black
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9. Dominant Majority Minority Subordinate
Why a racial hierarchy?
Dominant
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Majority
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Power
Privilege
Wealth
Minority
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Subordinate

10. Defining culture

11. Characteristics of Culture
Most common responses
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Nationality
Race
Ethnicity

12. Social Cultural Groups
Sexual Orientation
Gender
Abilities
Class
Age

13. Kroeber and Kluckhorn (1952)
Descriptive (bx)
Historical (traditions)
Normative (rules of group)
Psychological (e.g., learning)
Structural (organizational)
Genetic (origins)

14. Simultaneous Group Membership
Defining Culture
Narrow Definition
Broad Definition
Excludes other marginalized groups from recognition
Ability
Sexual orientation
Gender
Age
waters down meaning or relevance
Obscures sub-categories
Asians – very diverse
Simultaneous Group Membership
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15. What is ethnicity?
Race + Culture

16. Questions

17. References
Hockenbury, D. & Hockenbury, S. (2006). Psychology (4th ed.). New York, NY: Worth.
Jones, M. (2002). The Psychology of Prejudice. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Miller, J. B. (2007). Domination and Subordination. In Paula Rothenberg (Ed.), Race, Class, and Gender in the U.S. (7th ed., pp ). New York, NY: Worth.
Mio, J.S., Barker, L., & Tumambing, J. (2009). Multicultural Psychology: Understanding Our Diverse Communities (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Smedley, A. & Smedley, B. (2005, January). Race as Biology is Fiction, Racism as a Social Problem is Real. Retrieved on August 28, 2009 from