Lecture 8

Social Stratification: Race and Ethnicity

Why do we still see racial inequality today? Racial and ethnic groups that were forced

into American society have historically been disadvantaged in the opportunity structure and experience segregation today Black, Latino, and Native American

Racial and ethnic groups that have voluntarily come to the US have seen higer levels of integration European, Asian

Racial Stratification Cultural differentiation

Ethnocentrism Individual Racism

Structural differentiation Institutional Racism: unchallenged and customary way of

doing things in society that keep minority groups in subordinate or disadvantaged positions

Unequal Opportunity Structure

Social structure can encourage or reduce inequality among racial and ethnic groups

Opportunity Structure

WealthHigh Income

Good Neighborhood Good Schools

Good JobsAccess to Health Care

↑

↓

→ → → →

→ → → →

Historical Race Relations: When Race Mattered1. Race caste oppression in the Ante-bellum

South (pre-1865) Slavery economic system based on race

2. Class conflict and racial oppression (1865- 1964)

Split-labor market – racial conflict over jobs De Jure Segregation: separation of racial and

ethnic groups in daily activities Civil service, housing, education, marriage

What is the Racial Legacy?3. According to William J. Wilson, class position now

matters more than race in defining life chances (Wilson) Political changes broke down racial barriers, but economic

inequalities exist

De Facto Segregation: Formal segregation replaced with informal segregation today

Underclass: segment of the population with limited social mobility due to economic subordination

Perpetuated by residential, occupation, and education segregation

Racial Stratification Today

Three areas of informal segregation exist today that perpetuate racial/ethnic stratification Residential Educational Occupational

All of these are tied to wealth, which is the engine of social mobility

Residential Segregation

New Deal Polices and GI Bill created a legacy of residential segregation Between 1934 and 1962, the federal government

backed $120 billion of home loans & more than 98% went to whites

Created segregated white suburbs

Since 1970, residential segregation declined for Hispanics and Asians

Diversity in Bay Area

Index of Diversity Most Diverse - Alameda County Least Diverse – Marin County

Largest Percentage of: Black Americans – Alameda and Solano (14%) Latino/Latina – Santa Clara (11%) Asian Americans – San Francisco (30%)

Do We Live Together?

Residential segregation is highest for: Blacks (32-57%) Latinos (23-46%) Asians (!5-28%)

Santa Clara County: Black – White: 59% Latino- White: 52% Asian – White: 34%

Changes in Education Access

1950’s – 1970’s saw gains in education By 1976 Black and White high school graduation

were nearly the same

Late 1990’s seeing decline or stagnation in equal education 1998 non-white enrollment at UCB dropped 45%

and at UCLA 36%

Disparities in Educational Attainment

Separate & unequal

If schools act as sorting mechanisms, what happens when the schools are unequal?

Occupational Segregation

Occupations in which at least 25% are African American Taxi driver, postal clerk, correctional officer,

security guard, nurse’s aid/health aid, barber

Occupations in which at least 25% are Latino/a Private house cleaner, maid/janitor, gardener,

construction worker, farmworker, food service

An Invisible Class? Invisible class: those who are economically

invisible Minority status Recent Immigrants Undocumented

Effects: Race and Health

Infant Mortality and Premature Birth Black Americans have more than double the rate of infant

mortality and premature birth than White Americans

Disease Obesity and Diabetes HIV Cancer survival

These health inequalities reflect inequalities in life chances and a structure of racism