1. Race and ethnicity: All too often a basis for social inequality
Sociology 111
Fall 2008

2. Race or ethnicity?
Race refers to perceived physical or genetic characteristics
Skin color
Lineage (ancestors)
Nose width and body type (Hutus and Tutsis)
Ethnicity refers to cultural characteristics
Nation of origin
Distinctive foods
Language
Religion
Dress

3. Discrimination and prejudice
Discrimination refers to the action of unfair treatment.
Discrimination based on a person’s race (and/or ethnicity) is called racism.
Can also be based on gender, age, weight, marital status, etc.
Prejudice refers to the attitudes that underpin discriminatory practices.
Negative prejudice: judging a group as inferior
Positive prejudice: exaggerating positive traits

4. Learning prejudice Research indicates prejudice is learned.
It is not an innate characteristic.
Most research indicates that people generalize their racist prejudices.
Tend to not only be prejudiced against Asians but also African Americans, Latinos, Jews….
Prejudice does not depend on negative experiences with a group
Contact decreases prejudice.

5. Decline in discrimination and prejudice
25 years ago inconceivable to have a serious contender for president
Jesse Jackson a 2x pres candidate was rarely taken seriously
Yet, some voters still report they won’t vote for him strictly because of race

6. Why are racism and discrimination so persistent?
Frustration-Aggression Theory
Dollard (1939)
Experiences a stressor
Unable/unwilling to confront
Target a scapegoat
Authoritarian Personality Theory
Adorno (1950)
Found that those with high prejudice also scored high in the need for structure/authority
Anxious with ambiguity/differences

7. Functionalist theory
Prejudice and discrimination can serve a “function” within a society.
In Nazi Germany, Fritz Hippler was instructed to create Anti-Semitism via the film industry.
Jews as “rats”
Most integrated in Europe
Jews held key positions in society and wealth that the Nazis could confiscate.
Fill the coffers of the government and put Nazi officials in power.

8. Conflict theory How does this division benefit those in power?
Workers want good wages, safe working conditions, and job security…..which undermines corporate profits.
Exploit racial and ethnic strife (“if you don’t want to work, I’ve got 15 Mexicans lined up”)
Rubin’s studies
Direct attention away from the corporations