• A group of people with inherited physical characteristics that distinguish it from another group

• 2 myths about race:– One race is superior to another– “pure” races exist

• Race and ethnicity are often confused b/c of the cultural differences people see and the way they define race

• Refers to cultural characteristics that distinguish a people– Common ancestry and cultural heritage

• A person’s sense of belonging to a certain ethnicity may center on:– Nation or region of origin– Distinctive foods– Clothing– Language– Music– Religion– Family names

• People who are singled out for unequal treatment and are objects of discrimination

• Worldwide there are shared characteristics of minorities:– The physical or cultural traits that distinguish

them are held in low esteem by the dominant group

– They are unequally treated by the dominant group

– They tend to marry within their own group– They tend to feel a strong group solidarity

Dominant group-those who do the discriminating Have greater power, more privileges,

and higher social statusUses its position to discriminate

against those who are differentConsiders its privileged position to

be the result of its own innate superiority

• Some people feel an intense sense of ethnic identity, while others feel very little

• Influenced by:– the relative size and power of the ethnic group– The appearance – The level of discrimination aimed at the group

• If a group is relatively small, has little power, has a distinctive appearance, and is an object of discrimination, it’s members will have a heightened sense of ethnic identity

• Refers to the way people construct their ethnicity

• For people with strong ethnic identity:– How they enhance and maintain their group’s

distinctions• Clothing, food, language, religious practices,

holidays• For people who lack a firm ethnic

identity:– Attempts to recover their ethnic heritage• Tracing family lines or visiting country of origin

Tell us about your race and ethnicity. How do you identify yourself and why? Is your background a source of pride, confusion, discomfort or something else? How do others react to your perceived and expressed identity?