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Race, Ethnicity, and the Social Structure. Chapter 12. Race. Physical characteristics and whom others see as being a distinct group H ow people react to these physical characteristics and how these reactions affect individuals in society. . Remember the Titans. Ethnicity.
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Race, Ethnicity, and the Social Structure Chapter 12
Race • Physical characteristics and whom others see as being a distinct group • How people react to these physical characteristics and how these reactions affect individuals in society.
Ethnicity • people who share a common cultural background and a common sense of identity • Cultural characteristics: national origin, religion, language, customs and values
Minority Groups • no specific skin color, physical feature, or ethnic background is superior or inferior by nature • Many sociologists recognize that those who hold power in society may place an arbitrary value on specific characteristics
Patterns of Intergroup Relations “The Sneetches”
I. Discrimination and Prejudice • Discrimination is denial of equal treatment based on group membership • Legal discrimination is upheld by law. • Institutionalized discrimination is part of the social structure • Prejudice is an unsupported generalization about a category of people
Stereotypes are oversimplified, exaggerated, unfavorable generalizations • Racismis a belief that one’s own race or ethnic group is superior to others.
II. Sources of Discrimination and Prejudice • Sociological Explanations • Prejudice may be embedded in the social norms of a society or group • People become prejudiced by internalizing these norms.
C. Economic Explanations • Competition for scarce resources • Dominant group encourages competition among minority groups to protect position.
III. Patterns of Minority Group Treatment • Cultural pluralism allows groups to keep unique cultural identities. • Switzerland • Assimilation blends groups into a single group with a common culture and identity. • Melting Pot • Segregation involves physical separation of minority group from dominant group • De jure segregation based on laws • De facto segregation based on informal norms
Internal Colonialism /Subjugation is maintaining control over group through force, including slavery • Apartheid • Population transfer of the minority population to new territory • Indirect and direct transfer • Czarist Russia • Relocation of Native Americans • Extermination is the most extreme response to the existence of minority groups. • Genocide is the attempt to destroy the entire targeted population • A Boy in Striped Pajamas • Ethnic cleansing is removing a group through terror, expulsion, and mass murder
IV. Race and Ethnic Relations in the US • Split up into 5 groups • European Americans • Latinos (Hispanics) • African Americans • Asian Americans • Native Americans