SOC101Y

1. SOC101Y Introduction to Sociology Professor Robert Brym Lecture #11 Race and Ethnicity 19 Jan 2011

2. Dr Samuel George Morton 1799-1851

3. Criticisms of Morton’s Skull Study Identifying the race of a skull imprecise even today. Small, unrepresentative sample. Controlling for sex reduces or eliminates race difference:

4. Prejudice and Discrimination Prejudice is an attitude that people employ to judge others on their group’s real or imagined characteristics. Discrimination is unfair treatment of people due to their perceived group membership.

5. DNA Snips DNA is a chemical that contains the genetic instructions for all living organisms. When people have a child, the DNA of the mates combines and the child inherits the parents’ DNA. DNA consists of 3 billion pairs of four types of molecules. Different sequences of molecules result in different characteristics (e.g., skin colour). 99.5% of the DNA of all people is identical. The remaining 0.5% of DNA may differ between any two people; these differences (known as Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, SNPs or “snips”) are the focus of research in the field of comparative genomics.

6. Comparative Genomics Snips influence readily apparent physical differences such as skin pigmentation and less apparent physical differences such as the capacity to absorb and utilize various chemicals. Identifying snips of the latter type enables the production of “designer” drugs that are best suited to groups with unique genetic characteristics. Significantly, comparative genomics research focuses on differences between socially distinct groups, such as blacks and whites. Yet genetic diversity is greatest among people of African origin, and genetic variation within other racial groups may be pharmacologically significant.

7. More genetic variation exists among blacks than among whites, but comparative genomics research focuses on black-white differences, thus (1) perpetuating the notion that social distinctions are the ones that matter most biologically and (2) failing to realize the full medical potential of the research. Is this research different in its social implications from Morton’s research in the 1850s? Blacks Whites Base Pairs among Blacks and Whites = Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (“snip”)

8. Race, Biology, and Society There is no biological evidence that races differ in ways that explain behavioural differences (e.g., brain studies). Behavioural differences between racial groups are not constant (e.g., group IQ scores and athletic success vary). Behavioural differences between racial groups vary by social circumstance (e.g., upward mobility and academic enrichment boost IQ scores; lack of opportunity for upward mobility increases participation in professional sports)

9. The Social Roots of Racism Physical markers are used to distinguish groups and create inequality based on race. Different social conditions among superordinates and subordinates create behavioral differences between them. Perceptions of behavioral differences get embedded in culture as racial stereotypes. Racial stereotypes reinforce the use of physical markers to distinguish groups.

10. Classes of Immigrants, Canada, 2006 ClassNumberPercent Family 70,506 28.0 Economic 138,257 54.9 Refugee 32,492 12.9 Other* 10,394 4.1 Total 251,649 99.9** * Mainly humanitarian and compassionate cases. ** Does not equal 100 due to rounding.

11. Independent Immigrants Need 67 Points Based On: criterionmaximum points education 25 (PhD or MA max) language 24 (French, English) work experience 21 (4+ yrs max) age 10 (21-49 max) arranged employment 10 adaptability 10 (work, study, family) total 100

12. Race and Ethnicity Defined A race is composed of people whose perceived physical markers are socially significant (especially in creating and maintaining systems of social inequality). An ethnic group is composed of people whose perceived cultural markers are socially significant (especially in creating and maintaining systems of social inequality).

13. Six Degrees of Separation Genocide: group extermination (Germans Jews) Expulsion: forcible removal of group from a territory (W. Europeans  Native Americans) Slavery: legal ownership of a group (W. Europeans  Africans) Segregation: spatial and institutional separation of groups (White Americans  African Americans) Pluralism: retention of identity and equal access to basic social resources (Canada today) Assimilation: cultural blending of majority and minority groups (Canada today)

14. “Slave Ship,” Joseph Turner, 1840

15. Factors Influencing Assimilation Length of time in country varies proportionately with assimilation. Socioeconomic status varies proportionately with assimilation. Occupational segregation varies inversely with assimilation. Current and historical discrimination (genocide, expulsion, slavery, segregation) varies inversely with assimilation.

16. Immigration, Canada, 1860-2001 Note: Annual immigration as a percent of the population has declined from 1.25% in 1851-61 to 0.76% in 2006. WWI Depression & WWII Deracialization

17. Canada’s Foreign-Born Population by Continent of Birth, 1981-2031 Foreign-born Canadians as percent of population* 1881 14.0% 1931 22.2% 1981 15.8% 2006 19.8% 2031 26.5% * Percentages were read from a graph and are therefore approximate.

18. Top Ten Countries of Origin, Canadian Immigrants, 2005 (percent of total) In 2005, the top 10 countries of origin accounted for 55 percent of all immigrants. Before the mid-1960s, immigration was mainly from Europe. Since the mid-1960s, immigration has been mainly from Asia with a significant admixture from the Caribbean in the 60s and 70s.

19. Proportion of Population by Ethnic Origin, Single and Multiple Responses, Canada, 2006 Canadian 32.2 Dutch 3.3Swedish 1.1 English 21.0Polish 3.2Spanish 1.0 French 15.8E. Indian 3.1American 1.0 Scottish 15.1Russian 1.6Hungarian 1.0 Irish 13.9Welsh 1.4Jewish 1.0 German 10.2Filipino 1.4Greek 0.7 Italian 4.6Norwegian 1.4Jamaican 0.7 Chinese 4.3Portuguese 1.3Danish 0.6 N.A. Indian 3.6Métis 1.3 Ukrainian 4.0Oth. British 1.3 Note: Equals more than 100.0 because multiple responses allowed.

20. Visible Minority Population by Visible Minority Group, Canada, 2006 Note: Visible minority Canadians (excluding aboriginal Canadians) represented 16.2 percent of the total population in 2006.

21. Percent Percent of Population Whose Mother Tongue is not English or French, Canada’s Five Biggest Cities, 2001

22. Percent Attitudes Toward Immigration, Canada Year

23. Canadians Feeling Uncomfortable or Out of Place because of Ethno-Cultural Characteristics, 2002 Percent

24. Canadians Reporting Discrimination or Unfair Treatment “Sometime” or “Often” in Past 5 Years, 2002 Percent Note: The ‘often’ category alone ranges from a low of 2% for Chinese to a high of 9.5% for Blacks.

25. Percent Percent Not Wanting Neighbour of a Different Race, Selected Countries, 2000

26. Canadian Research on Ethnicity, Race, and SES: A Summary Ethnicity is a poor predictor of SES and social mobility in Canada when other causes are held constant. Ethnic inequality is decreasing over time. Members of most ethnic groups experience considerable net upward mobility. The effect of ethnicity on SES weakens as immigrants become more assimilated. These generalizations do not hold as strongly for members of some groups – especially members of racial minorities, particularly black men – as they do overall. In the 1990s and 2000s, upward mobility among racial minority immigrants slowed.

27. Main Reason for Slowdown in Upward Mobility of Immigrants Since 1990s • Increased importance of credentials for mobility combined with ineffective mechanisms for recognizing foreign credentials.