The Sociological Imagination, continued

1. The Sociological Imagination, continued Concepts and Perspectives

2. What is race? • At one time, a group that had more physical and moral characteristics in common with one another than with other races. • Now, a socially constructed category of individuals seen by society as biologically and inherently distinct from other races.

3. The Biology of Race • Harris: How did our skins get their color? • Graves (2002): as few as six genes out of the total of 30-40 thousand genes could account for skin color differences. • Brown and Armelagos (2001): no longer makes sense to adhere to arbitrary racial categories.

4. But, outcomes are associated with race • A higher percentage of black infants than white infants die before reaching their first birthday. • The average number of years that an African American can expect to live is lower than that for a white American. • Race: A socially constructed category—real in its consequences.

5. What is ethnicity? • A group characterized by cultural practices and beliefs that distinguish them from other groups in society? • Are they real? • Socially constructed from within and without: Latina and Puerto Rican (J-Lo)

6. What is a minority group? • A group of people afforded less favorable treatment than others because of their membership in the group. • Not all minority groups are racial and ethnic groups. • Not all minority groups are numerically smaller than the majority group.

7. Range of attitudes about racial and ethnic groups other than ones’ own • Relativism (extreme) • E.G.: female genital mutilation • Dietary prohibitions (pork, alcohol, caffeine) • Ethnocentrism • Racism (different from prejudice) • Where do you fit?

8. Attitudes about incorporating racial and ethnic minorities • Xenophobia • Melting Pot • Multiculturalism (U.S. Constitution: no official language, no official religion, now no racial criteria for citizenship)

9. White Privilege • What is it? • Advantages accruing to white people in American society by virtue of socially constructed identities? Examples? • Racial profiling, service in stores, real estate agents, landlords • Non-discriminators can benefit from white privilege

10. Discrimination • What is it? • Denial of opportunities to members of a group because of their group membership. • Types (Jencks, 1992): • Principled (ethnic solidarity): Is it ok for black businessmen to favor black suppliers but not for white businessmen to favor white suppliers?

11. Discrimination, continued • Myopic (rooted in stereotypes) • Statistical • Institutional

12. The History of Sociological Perspectives • 18th Century: Ethnocentrism—recognition but disapproval of cultural differences • 19th-20th Centuries: Imperialism, Colonialism, Social Darwinism, Scientific Racism • 20th Century: Cultural Diversity, Cultural Pluralism, and Cultural Relativism

13. Developing Our Sociological Imagination: Taking Stock • Social and political acceptance of African Americans is much greater than in the middle of the 20th Century. • Immigration has significantly changed the racial composition of many areas, especially large cities.

14. Taking Stock, continued • The Civil Rights Movement and its aftermath led other racial and ethnic groups to focus on their own political and economic issues. • Gender relations have changed significantly during the past 50 years. (Women have more choices, but many barriers remain) 5. Globalization

15. A Model for Understanding Contemporary Racial and Ethnic Relations • Important to recognize consensus and conflict • Ignoring conflict or glossing it over is dangerous: a false or imposed consensus • Conflict carried out in the political arena is good for our society

16. A Model,continued • Americans can be Americans and also be, • African, Mexican, Chickasaw, Jewish, Arab • Maintain an interest and tie with their actual or emotional homeland (Africa, Israel, Palestine, Mexico)

17. American Indians as a Model for How to be an American • The Pow Wow • A particularly Indian event • But, American flags, flag songs, veterans groups, veterans songs • Royalty modeled after beauty contests • The fact that American Indians are Indians and Americans simultaneously reflects the major themes of this course.

18. Progress, Problems, and Possible Solutions: Progress • Discarding race as a biological concept and the explicit recognition that race and ethnicity are socially constructed categories • Using the scientific method to study race and ethnicity • Moving beyond an exclusive focus on blacks and whites.

19. Current Problems • Preoccupation with the black/white divide • Insufficient attention to the impact of globalization • Insufficient attention to the roles of gender and class

20. Potential Solutions • More research on Asians, Latinos, and smaller understudied groups • Explicit attention to the international context • Including gender and class in examining race and ethnic relations

21. Historical Images • Noble Savage • Destructive Heathen • Broken, Destitute Indian • Gaming Enriched Indian

22. Contemporary Uses of These Images • A Critique of American Society • Dances with Wolves • Thunderheart • An Affirmation of American Society • Weapons • Mascots • Advertising

23. Why are these images so popular? • Extent of Popularity • Part of common American images • Fascinating • Safe • Resistance to Change: Symbolic Politics

24. Are these images harmful? • Do they perpetuate stereotypes? • Do they impede understanding? • Good clean fun v. respectable bigotry?

25. What Should be Done? • Arguments Against the Continued Use of American Indian Images • stereotypes, demeaning • Arguments in Favor of the Continued Use of American Indian Images • free speech, honor Indians, Indians do it • Important to Move Beyond These Images