Stratification: Race and Ethnicity. Racial Stratification Race is a cultural construct Based on perceived physical differences that imply hereditary

Stratification:Stratification:Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity

Racial StratificationRacial Stratification

Race is a cultural constructRace is a cultural construct Based on perceived physical differences Based on perceived physical differences

that imply hereditary differencesthat imply hereditary differences Used to justify social stratificationUsed to justify social stratification Impacts life chancesImpacts life chances


Invisible RaceInvisible Race Easier to assign people to a “race” when Easier to assign people to a “race” when

they have obvious physical differences but they have obvious physical differences but lack of differences does not stop invention of lack of differences does not stop invention of racial categoriesracial categories

For example, Burakumin of Japan For example, Burakumin of Japan


Racial labels associated with culture, Racial labels associated with culture, character, morality, intelligence, character, morality, intelligence, personality, puritypersonality, purity

Racial labels seen as inherited and Racial labels seen as inherited and unalterable - ascribedunalterable - ascribed


People are treated differently based on People are treated differently based on attributes they are born withattributes they are born with

Has economic political and psychological Has economic political and psychological consequencesconsequences


Rationalization by those with higher statusRationalization by those with higher status Social distinctions kept in place by forceSocial distinctions kept in place by force Enough oppression triggers revoltEnough oppression triggers revolt


In the USIn the US Based on skin color – black, whiteBased on skin color – black, white History in slaveryHistory in slavery

Laws to control freed slaves after Civil WarLaws to control freed slaves after Civil War Like a caste system, born into a group, marriage Like a caste system, born into a group, marriage

within group (by law), cultural distinction (jobs within group (by law), cultural distinction (jobs available), rank order (inferior/superior)available), rank order (inferior/superior)

Race and social stratificationRace and social stratification Buying a house/rentingBuying a house/renting Infant mortality rateInfant mortality rate


In BrazilIn Brazil Brazil had slavery but race not reflected in law Brazil had slavery but race not reflected in law

especially marriage lawespecially marriage law More categories and not consistent More categories and not consistent

assignment of people to racial categoriesassignment of people to racial categories More equality in rural than city populationsMore equality in rural than city populations


In US and BrazilIn US and Brazil Although attitudes are different stratification of Although attitudes are different stratification of

economic status present in botheconomic status present in both Brazil has accepting attitude about interracial Brazil has accepting attitude about interracial

relationships, but whites still wealthier, better relationships, but whites still wealthier, better educatededucated

US has laws combating social stratificationUS has laws combating social stratification

Ethnicity and ethnic Ethnicity and ethnic stratificationstratification

Ethnicity – perceived differences in Ethnicity – perceived differences in culture, national origin, and historical culture, national origin, and historical experience by which groups are experience by which groups are distinguisheddistinguished

Race = perceived physical differences, Race = perceived physical differences, ethnicity = perceived cultural differencesethnicity = perceived cultural differences

Ethnicity and ethnic Ethnicity and ethnic stratificationstratification

Essentialism - ethnicity as unchanging, Essentialism - ethnicity as unchanging, historically rooted cultural differences like historically rooted cultural differences like languagelanguage

Social constructionism – ethnicity as Social constructionism – ethnicity as changing concept based on conditions changing concept based on conditions used to define groups of peopleused to define groups of people

Nation-State and Nation-State and EthnicityEthnicity Nation-State – a state government thst unites its Nation-State – a state government thst unites its

people by creating a common history and culturepeople by creating a common history and culture Modern nation-states are composed of many Modern nation-states are composed of many

ethnicities who share national identityethnicities who share national identity National identity fostered by interpretation of National identity fostered by interpretation of

history (raising flag at Iwo Jima), ceremonies that history (raising flag at Iwo Jima), ceremonies that encourage allegiance and make it feel naturalencourage allegiance and make it feel natural

Nation-State and Nation-State and EthnicityEthnicity How the Nation-state shapes ethnicityHow the Nation-state shapes ethnicity Ethnic group in power marginalizes othersEthnic group in power marginalizes others

Control of education, choosing textbooksControl of education, choosing textbooks Law and the courtsLaw and the courts Adopt some aspects of minority ethnicity as Adopt some aspects of minority ethnicity as

state identity, ignore othersstate identity, ignore others For example, Jamaica and Rastafarian musicFor example, Jamaica and Rastafarian music

Nation-State and Nation-State and EthnicityEthnicity Nation-State and ethnic conflictNation-State and ethnic conflict Many recent ethnic conflicts have recent rootsMany recent ethnic conflicts have recent roots More about power than ethnic identityMore about power than ethnic identity Politicians play minor differences against each Politicians play minor differences against each

other arousing fear and hatredother arousing fear and hatred For Example Yugoslavia, small language and For Example Yugoslavia, small language and

religious differences exploited by politicians leads religious differences exploited by politicians leads to violent ethnic cleansing and break up of the to violent ethnic cleansing and break up of the nation-state nation-state

Nation-State and Nation-State and EthnicityEthnicity Nation-State and indigenous peopleNation-State and indigenous people When incorporated into nation-state, When incorporated into nation-state,

indigenous people lose political and indigenous people lose political and economic autonomyeconomic autonomy

Law used to limit culture, take land, Law used to limit culture, take land, marginalizemarginalize

State sees indigenous as standing in the State sees indigenous as standing in the way of national economic developmentway of national economic development

Nation-State and Nation-State and EthnicityEthnicity Nation-State and indigenous peopleNation-State and indigenous people Saami of northern ScandinaviaSaami of northern Scandinavia

Hunted wild reindeer for 2000 yearsHunted wild reindeer for 2000 years Last 400 years herding reindeerLast 400 years herding reindeer Norwegian government now regulating Norwegian government now regulating

movement and size of herdsmovement and size of herds Gov’t sees herding as interfering with Gov’t sees herding as interfering with

agricultureagriculture

Ethnicity in the USEthnicity in the US

Ethnic identityEthnic identity Changes over timeChanges over time ““races” of European descent kept out by races” of European descent kept out by

discriminatory immigration laws became discriminatory immigration laws became “white ethnics” in the 1960’s in response to “white ethnics” in the 1960’s in response to protest movementsprotest movements


Immigration Immigration No single immigrant experienceNo single immigrant experience Different groups restricted at different timesDifferent groups restricted at different times How should immigrants be incorporatedHow should immigrants be incorporated

Assimilation – people should abandon culture in Assimilation – people should abandon culture in favor of American culturefavor of American culture

Multiculturalism – cultural diversity is goodMulticulturalism – cultural diversity is good


Immigration Immigration Transnationalism – when immigrants Transnationalism – when immigrants

maintain close ties with native country often maintain close ties with native country often through frequent visitsthrough frequent visits

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Stratification: Race and Ethnicity. Racial Stratification Race is a cultural construct Based on perceived physical differences that imply hereditary