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Published byRyder Witting Modified over 10 years ago
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1 Structural Barriers to Disaster Resilience: Race and Ethnicity I Session 9
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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
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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
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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!
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Session 9 5 There are no distinctive races All humans share common origin African ancestors Common DNA Same species Physical differences evolved
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Session 9 6 Environmental adaptation Sexual selection Random selection Differences evolved through:
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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Session 9 14 How much - prejudice - discrimination exist in U.S. today? Land use patterns Community organizations/leadership? Political power?
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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?
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