1. Inequalities of Race & Ethnicity
Ch. 9 p

3. Minorities What are the characteristics of a minority?
Distinctive physical or cultural characteristics that can be used to separate if from the majority.
Dominated by the majority.
Minority traits are often believed by the dominant majority to be inferior.
Members of the minority have a common sense of identity, with strong group loyalty.
Majority determines who belongs to the minority through ascribed status.

4. Defining Race
Race- People sharing certain inherited physical characteristics that are considered important within a society.
Traditionally scholars maintained there were three races:
Negroid
Mongoloid
Caucasoid
* Today there is a much more complex understanding of race.

5. Ethnicity
Ethnic Minority- is socially defined by unique characteristics related to culture or nationality.
An ethnic minority is a subculture defined by its own language, religion, values, beliefs, norms & customs.
Ethnic minorities are also separate from the larger culture.
Negative attitudes toward ethnic minorities exist in part because of ethnocentrism.

7. Patterns of Assimilation
When a racial or ethnic minority is integrated into a society, its members are given full participation in all aspects of society.
The most common pattern of assimilation is Anglo- conformity.
2nd form of assimilation is the melting pot, all ethnic & racial minorities voluntarily blend together.
Cultural Pluralism- desire of a group to maintain some sense of identity separate from the dominant group.

9. Patterns of Conflict
3 basic patterns have emerged to describe approaches taken by dominant cultures in rejecting minority groups:
Genocide
Population Transfer
Subjugation
*Subjugation is the most common pattern of conflict. May be based on law or everyday practices of people.*

11. Prejudice, Racism, & Discrimination
Prejudice- involves a generalization based on biased or insufficient information.
Prejudiced attitudes are based on strong emotions; difficult to change
Racism- not only judge’s people unfairly, but it assumes a race/ethnic group is superior.
Racists believe discrimination/exclusion is morally justified due to their own natural superiority.
Discrimination- involves acting on own opinions of treating people unfairly.

12. Hate Crimes Criminal act motivated by extreme prejudice
Involve bias related to race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability
Data not formerly collected until 1990, due to the Hate Crimes Statistics Act.
Occur in relatively small numbers, but the frequency is increasing.
Theoretical Perspectives: on Hate Crimes
Members of a group are bolstering their sense of unity against a common enemy
Victim is somehow threatening the person’s livelihood or self-interest
Involve labeling

13. Stereotypes
Sometimes created to justify unethical behavior against minority groups
Appear throughout any society
Based on distortion, exaggeration and over simplification
For example- Politicians are corrupt.
Athletes are “all brawn & no brain”

14. Functionalist Perspective
Focus on dysfunctions caused by prejudice & discrimination
By fostering prejudice, a dominant group can create a feeling of superiority over minority groups
Can strengthen its members own self-concepts
Positive aspect to discrimination

15. Conflict Perspective
A majority uses prejudice & discrimination as weapons of power to a minority
Majority does this to increase its control over property, goods, and resources
Different minorities tend to view one another as competitors rather than as allies in their struggle against the majority (Olzak & Nagel, 1986)

16. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Members of a society learn to be prejudiced in much the same way they learn to be patriotic.
Gordon Allport (1979) described two stages in the learning of prejudice:
Pre-generalized learning period: overhear parents make racist or prejudiced statements, but not yet learned to separate people by race or ethnic groups
Total rejection stage: able to use physical clues to sort people into groups

17. Symbolic Int. cont.
Point out language itself can reflect prejudices: black list, black eye, etc.
Underlies the concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy
Negative interaction & lack of opportunity to develop their abilities, members of a minority may become locked in low-level jobs

18. Institutionalized Discrimination
Discrimination resulting from unfair practices that are part of the structure of society & traditional, accepted behaviors.
Seniority systems- promotion & pay increase determined by years of service
Public Education:
minority students in larger urban areas
Concentrated in school districts w/a tax base too low to provide resources = to those in wealthier suburbs
Lack of funding: outdated textbooks, poor facilities, less/no technology
Lack of Parental/Community support

19. African Americans
Largest racial minority, over 37 million, & the oldest in the U.S.
Barriers to African American assimilation:
Skin color & physical features make it easy for the dominant group to create negative stereotypes
Brought in for labor (indentured servants) on plantations, lowest class
Abolishing slavery later made it difficult for social mobility

20. African Americans cont.
Gap between whites in education, income, & employment represents the legacy of centuries of prejudice & discrimination
Avg. income is 62% of whites.
2x likely to work in low-level service jobs (U.S. Dept of Labor, 2004)
>25% now work in professional & managerial occupations.
As a result of upward mobility two classes exist:
Growing black middle class
Black underclass

21. Latinos Mexico, Central & South America, islands of the Caribbean.
High birth rates & immigration rates make it the fastest growing minority population
Nearly 67% of Latinos are of Mexican descent
About 57% of adult Latinos have completed high school compared w/85% non-Latinos
Mexican Americans have the lowest levels of educational attainment
Cubans are the most affluent & educated of Latinos
Avg. income of Latinos is higher than African Americans

22. Latinos cont.
Poorest of Latinos are Puerto Rican- income level is ½ of whites
Many Latinos work in low-paying & low-status jobs as semi-skilled workers & unskilled laborers
Mex-Americans make up the majority of migrant workers
Politically, they are becoming a force, shaping Amer politics
As of 2005, 29 Latinos are in Congress
> than 4,400 are elected officials
Focus on issues of: education, employment, immigration & income

23. Native Americans
More than 500 separate tribes & bands identified in the U.S.
Suffering from the effects of hundreds of yrs of discrimination
Over 24% live below the poverty line
More than 24% work in professional & managerial positions.
24% hold sales & office positions
13% blue-collar jobs (maintenance & construction)

24. Native Americans cont.
Development of gaming industry has improved tribal life by gaining economic independence.
Attempted downtown development of the US Grant Hotel
However, several challenges still exist to improve their lives:
Healthcare
Education
Income
Housing

25. Asian Americans Nearly 12 million live in the U.S.
Largest groups are from: China, the Philippines, Japan, India, Korea & Vietnam.
Chinese Americans
Immigrated during the gold rush- worked as agricultural laborers & railroad crews.
During hard times, many were forced into urban ghettos, Chinatowns, where many are still today
Many Americans recognize their willingness to work hard, dedication to education & their contributions

26. Japanese Americans Suffered same discrimination as Chinese.
Many were successful farmers, leading to anti-Japanese legislation.
During WWII, Executive Order 9066, led to the forced interment of Japanese away from the West Coast.
In the ’80s, U.S. govt. apologized & they received $20,000 in compensation.
Overcame great hardship & became one of the most successful racial minorities.
Used the educational system for upward mobility
Nearly 50% have completed 4yrs of college opposed to 28% of whites (2005)