Inequalities of Race and Inequalities of Race and EthnicityEthnicity

Chapter 9Chapter 9

What are the popular TV programs What are the popular TV programs for high school students?for high school students?

How often do members of a minority group How often do members of a minority group appear?appear?

How are these various minority groups How are these various minority groups portrayed?portrayed?What could you learn about these minority What could you learn about these minority

groups if you were watching?groups if you were watching?Are there any stereotypes portrayed? If Are there any stereotypes portrayed? If

so, which ones?so, which ones?

MinoritiesMinorities

Defined by more than a number; Defined by more than a number; population alone does not define a population alone does not define a minorityminority

MinorityMinority

Having a distinctive physical or cultural Having a distinctive physical or cultural characteristic that can be used to separate the characteristic that can be used to separate the group from the rest (majority)group from the rest (majority) Allowing for different or unequal treatmentAllowing for different or unequal treatment

Minority is dominated by majorityMinority is dominated by majority Majority has unequal share of desired resources Majority has unequal share of desired resources

(power, money, education, goods, services)(power, money, education, goods, services)

Majority believes minority characteristics are Majority believes minority characteristics are inferiorinferior Justifying the unequal treatmentJustifying the unequal treatment

MinorityMinority

Minority implies the exclusion from full Minority implies the exclusion from full participation in societyparticipation in society

Minority status is often times ascribed Minority status is often times ascribed (born into it and very difficult to leave)(born into it and very difficult to leave)

RaceRace People that share certain inherited physical People that share certain inherited physical

characteristics that are considered important to societycharacteristics that are considered important to society Defined by physical characteristicsDefined by physical characteristics

Features of one race can also show up in other racesFeatures of one race can also show up in other races No one racial characteristic (or group of characteristics) No one racial characteristic (or group of characteristics)

makes one race any more or less superior than the makes one race any more or less superior than the othersothers EthnocentrismEthnocentrism – judge others based on your own cultural – judge others based on your own cultural

perspectivesperspectives the belief that your race/culture is superior to othersthe belief that your race/culture is superior to others Us versus ThemUs versus Them

CulturalCultural RelativismRelativism – the understanding that all cultures are – the understanding that all cultures are different and that no one is superior because of a particular different and that no one is superior because of a particular practicepractice

EthnicityEthnicity

Unique characteristics related to culture or Unique characteristics related to culture or nationalitynationalityDefined by cultural differencesDefined by cultural differences

Ethnic MinorityEthnic MinoritySubculture (part of a larger culture)Subculture (part of a larger culture)Defined by language, religion, values, beliefs, Defined by language, religion, values, beliefs,

norms, customsnorms, customs

Assimilation vs. ConflictAssimilation vs. Conflict

Minority groups are either accepted (and Minority groups are either accepted (and assimilated) or rejected (causing causing assimilated) or rejected (causing causing conflict)conflict)

AssimilationAssimilationBlending minority groups into dominant Blending minority groups into dominant

societysociety Integrated into all aspects of main stream Integrated into all aspects of main stream

societysociety ““Full participation in society”Full participation in society”Four major patterns of assimilationFour major patterns of assimilation

AssimilationAssimilation

Anglo-conformityAnglo-conformity ““Anglo” meaning an American from English Anglo” meaning an American from English

decentdecentMost common form of assimilationMost common form of assimilationMinority group is accepted Minority group is accepted as long as they as long as they

conformconform to the “accepted standards” of to the “accepted standards” of societysociety

Minority group Minority group mustmust give up or suppress its give up or suppress its own valuesown values

Least egalitarian (belief that everyone is Least egalitarian (belief that everyone is equal)equal)

AssimilationAssimilation

Melting pot Melting pot Ethnic and racial minorities voluntarily blend Ethnic and racial minorities voluntarily blend

Cultural pluralism (tossed salad)Cultural pluralism (tossed salad)Cultures/traditions exist side by sideCultures/traditions exist side by sideMinorities able to maintain elements of the Minorities able to maintain elements of the

“old” ways“old” waysThis impacts institutions (school, government, TV, This impacts institutions (school, government, TV,

churches)churches) Bilingual educational programsBilingual educational programs Cable – Spanish channelCable – Spanish channel

AssimilationAssimilation

AccommodationAccommodationMinority maintains its own unique way of lifeMinority maintains its own unique way of life Interacts with dominant group when Interacts with dominant group when

necessary but otherwise remains independent necessary but otherwise remains independent with its own language and culturewith its own language and cultureAmish – Lancaster, PennsylvaniaAmish – Lancaster, PennsylvaniaCubans – Miami, FloridaCubans – Miami, Florida

ConflictConflict

Patterns of rejecting a minorityPatterns of rejecting a minorityThree major patternsThree major patterns

GenocideGenocidePopulation TransferPopulation TransferSubjugationSubjugation

ConflictConflict

GenocideGenocideSystematic effort to destroy an entire Systematic effort to destroy an entire

populationpopulation ““ethnic cleansing”ethnic cleansing”Hitler’s attempt to get rid of the European Hitler’s attempt to get rid of the European

Jewish populationJewish populationRwanda: Tutsi tribe slaughtering the minority Rwanda: Tutsi tribe slaughtering the minority

Hutu tribe (Hotel Rwanda)Hutu tribe (Hotel Rwanda)

ConflictConflict

Population TransferPopulation TransferMinority forced to move to a remote location Minority forced to move to a remote location

or leave the territory controlled by the majority or leave the territory controlled by the majority all togetherall together

Native Americans – moving Indians across to Native Americans – moving Indians across to the western lands in the US, Trail of Tearsthe western lands in the US, Trail of Tears

ConflictConflict

SubjugationSubjugationMost common pattern of conflictMost common pattern of conflictMinority is denied equal access to culture and Minority is denied equal access to culture and

lifestyle of larger societylifestyle of larger society

ConflictConflict

SubjugationSubjugationde jure subjugationde jure subjugation

Based on lawBased on lawLegal racial segregation (prior to Brown vs. Board Legal racial segregation (prior to Brown vs. Board

of Edu. 1954)of Edu. 1954)

de factode factoEveryday practices of peopleEveryday practices of peopleMinority worker does not get promoted to a higher Minority worker does not get promoted to a higher

level of work because of stereotypeslevel of work because of stereotypes

Do you believe most people are Do you believe most people are prejudiced or do you believe prejudiced or do you believe

that most people are free from that most people are free from prejudice?prejudice?

StereotypeStereotype Set of ideas about a groupSet of ideas about a group

Helps to categorize peopleHelps to categorize peopleDo you like being categorized? When lumped Do you like being categorized? When lumped

into the subgroup of all teenagers?into the subgroup of all teenagers? Based on distortion, exaggeration, over Based on distortion, exaggeration, over

simplificationsimplification Applied to all members of groupApplied to all members of group Ex. – Athletes all brawn no brainEx. – Athletes all brawn no brain Ex. – politicians are corruptEx. – politicians are corrupt

PrejudicePrejudice

Widely held misconceptions of a group Widely held misconceptions of a group (minority or majority) and its members(minority or majority) and its members

Attitudes/beliefs based on biased or Attitudes/beliefs based on biased or insufficient informationinsufficient information

Based on strong emotion and can be Based on strong emotion and can be difficult to changedifficult to change

RacismRacism

Extreme form of prejudiceExtreme form of prejudice Involves judging people unfairly AND it Involves judging people unfairly AND it

assumes that one’s own race/ethnic group assumes that one’s own race/ethnic group is superioris superior

Racists believe discrimination or exclusion Racists believe discrimination or exclusion is morally justifiedis morally justified

DiscriminationDiscrimination

Not just a biased opinion but also acting Not just a biased opinion but also acting upon that belief by treating people unfairlyupon that belief by treating people unfairly

Ex. - avoiding social contact with members Ex. - avoiding social contact with members of minority groupof minority group

Ex. – blocking a minorities access to a Ex. – blocking a minorities access to a neighborhood (redlining)neighborhood (redlining)

Ex – attacking or killing members of a Ex – attacking or killing members of a minorityminority

Hate CrimesHate Crimes

Crimes that are motivated by extreme Crimes that are motivated by extreme prejudiceprejudice

Latin Americans, African Americans, gays Latin Americans, African Americans, gays and lesbians, Asian Americans, Jews, and lesbians, Asian Americans, Jews, disableddisabled

Racial Stereotypes in MediaRacial Stereotypes in Media

Do you think it is ok for comedians to use Do you think it is ok for comedians to use stereotypes in their work?stereotypes in their work?

Why? Why not?Why? Why not?Are comedians addressing the issue to Are comedians addressing the issue to

confront it and end a practice or do they confront it and end a practice or do they end up perpetuating the stereotype?end up perpetuating the stereotype?

How will you address How will you address stereotypes with your children? stereotypes with your children?

Functionalist PerspectiveFunctionalist Perspective

The majority uses discrimination and The majority uses discrimination and stereotypical practices to promote smooth stereotypical practices to promote smooth functioning within societyfunctioning within society

The majority conforms and establishes a The majority conforms and establishes a level of sameness – helping things level of sameness – helping things function properlyfunction properly

Conflict Theory PerspectiveConflict Theory Perspective

Uses prejudice and discrimination as Uses prejudice and discrimination as weapons of power to control minorityweapons of power to control minority

Symbolic InteractionismSymbolic Interactionism

LanguageLanguageUS culture exhibits its negativity for blacks US culture exhibits its negativity for blacks

using the following as examples:using the following as examples:BlacklistBlacklistBlack eyeBlack eyeBlack ballBlack ball

Why do all of these have a negative connotation?Why do all of these have a negative connotation?