1. Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Chapter Three:
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
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2. Chapter 3 Outline Basic Definitions Social Behavior Racial Group
Ethnic Group
Dominant vs. Subordinate Group
Social Behavior
Racism
Prejudice
Individual and Institutional discrimination
Sociological Perspectives on Race
Social –Psychological
Symbolic Interactionist
Functionalist
Conflict
Inequalities among racial & ethnic groups
Native Americans
African Americans
Latinos (Hispanic Americans)
Asian and Pacific Americans
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Defining race
Biological definition of race:
Population differs from another because of some genes.
Today no “pure” races exist due to generations of intermixing.
Sociologists view race as a social construct
Classification based on social and political values
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4. Racial Group A racial group is: Examples of Racial Groups
A category of people who have been singled out
Seen as inferior or superior than other groups
Determined by subjectively defined physical characteristics (such as skin color, hair texture, eye shape).
Examples of Racial Groups
African Americans
Native Americans
Asian Americans
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5. Ethnic Group An Ethnic Group is: A group distinguished from others.
Seen as inferior or superior.
Distinguished on the basis of cultural or nationality characteristics.
Characteristics
of an
ethnic group
Unique cultural characteristics
Sense of community
Belief your group is best
Born into category
Tendency to occupy distinct area
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6. Dominant and Subordinate Groups
Dominant Group:
Subordinate Group:
Advantaged compared to other groups in society
Have superior resources and rights in a society
Can be determined by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other factors
In the U.S. the dominant group is associated with white-skin privilege.
Are disadvantaged compared to other groups
Face unequal treatment, prejudice, or discrimination
See themselves as objects of discrimination
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Racism and Prejudice
Racism: beliefs and practices which justify unequal treatment of racial and ethnic groups.
White racism is present in the U.S. and denies people of color opportunities.
Prejudice: negative attitude toward a particular group.
Based on faulty generalizations
Stems from ethnocentrism (assumption one’s group is superior)
Also influenced by stereotypes (overgeneralizations about all members of a group.)
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Discrimination
Individual Discrimination:
One on one acts against subordinate group by dominant group.
Generally stems from prejudice.
Institutional Discrimination:
Involves day to day practices of institutions.
results in harmful impact on subordinate group members.
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9. Sociological Perspectives on Race
Social Psychological Perspective:
Frustration-aggression hypothesis:
Individuals who are unable to achieve a set goal become frustrated
Individuals then develop aggression
Aggression taken out on scapegoat (person blamed for causing the problem can either be real or perceived.)
Authoritarian Personality:
Tendency to be more prejudice
See world as threatening and are intolerant of subordinate groups
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10. Symbolic Interactionist
Racial Socialization:
Process of social interaction containing messages about one’s racial/ethnic group.
Can be direct via contact with parents, peers, teachers, others
Also indirectly through media images
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Functionalist:
Focus on social order and stability as being important.
Assimilation:
Process where subordinate group members become absorbed in dominant culture
Seen by functionalists as stabilizing
In complete form it becomes amalgamation (melting pot; characteristics of different groups blend together into new group)
Anglo-conformity model: assimilation whereby subordinate group is expected to conform to Anglo-Saxon population
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Functionalist (cont.)
Ethnic Pluralism:
Diverse racial and ethnic groups coexist
Maintain separate identities and cultures
Segregation:
Spatial and social separation of people
Based on race/ethnicity, class, gender, religion or other social characteristics.
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Conflict
Class perspectives:
Historically African Americans were enslaved because they were the cheapest and best workers
Contemporary theory
Split-labor market theory: U.S. economy divided into 2 sectors.
Primary sector: higher paid workers with job security
Secondary sector: lower paid workers in more hazardous jobs.
Dominant group generally in primary sector
Subordinate group generally in secondary sector
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Conflict (cont.)
Gendered Racism:
Interaction of gender and race resulting in exploitation of woman of color.
Women of color face double discrimination in labor force.
Internal Colonialism:
Members of a racial/ethnic group are placed under control of the dominant group.
Racial/ethnic groups who have experienced this remain in subordinate positions longer than those who haven’t.
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Conflict (cont.)
Theory of racial formation:
Government has large role in defining racial and ethnic relations.
Policies and actions placing one group in a subordinate position
Immigration and naturalization laws also influence relations between racial and ethnic groups.
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16. Racial Composition in the U.S.
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Native Americans
Population of 15 million inhabited land when Columbus arrived in 1492.
White Europeans conquered and colonized the Native Americans
Engaged in genocide (deliberate killing of a people)
1830: Indian Removal Act passed:
Became wards of the government
“Trail of tears”
Children were Americanized.
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18. Native Americans (cont.)
Today Native Americans:
Make up 1.5% of population
1/3 live on reservations
Are the most disadvantaged racial/ethnic group in the U.S.
Have high rates of unemployment, school dropout, suicide and infant mortality.
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African Americans
First brought to North American as slaves in 1619.
Slavery abolished in 1863:
In South: de jure segregation- laws that enforced segregation
In North: de facto segregation- separation and inequality due to custom.
Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 ended de jure segregation.
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20. African Americans (cont.)
Today African Americans:
Make up 13% of population
Have made significant political gains
Still face significant discrimination in many areas of society.
Are portrayed stereotypically as “welfare mothers” and “criminals”
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21. Latinos (Hispanic Americans)
Puerto Rico became a U.S. possession in 1917 and citizens allowed unrestricted migration to U.S.
In late 1950’s refugees immigrated to U.S. from Cuba to flee from Fidel Castro’s communist takeover.
Mexicans have immigrated to the U.S. when there has been a need for agricultural workers
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Latinos (cont.)
Today Latinos:
Are growing in number in the U.S.
Have a high poverty rate
Have a high unemployment rate
Still face significant discrimination in many areas of society.
Depicted by media as drug lords or illegal aliens.
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23. Asian and Pacific Americans
Chinese workers came to America between 1850 and 1880.
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 ended immigration
Japanese immigrants forced into internment camps during WWII.
Today many highly educated professional immigrating from India and Pakistan.
Many immigrants have come recently from other parts of Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, and others)
Hawaiian Islands became 50th state in 1959 (many people of Asian decent inhabit the islands)
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24. Asian and Pacific Americans (cont.)
Today Asian and Pacific Americans:
Have high educational levels
Have high median income levels
Have relatively low poverty rates
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Median Family income
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26. Solutions to Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Functionalist:
Restructure Social Institutions
Conflict:
Struggle and Political Action
Interactionist:
Teach cultural diversity to unlearn prejudice and discrimination
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