Chapter 9 Flashcards
why do people continue to think of race as a biological category?
the idea has been reified
what is reification?
when an inaccurate concept is so heavily promoted that it seems to be an unquestioned truth
when did reification of race as a biological concept begin, and with who?
in 1700s with Linnaeus
how did Linnaeus classify human race?
Americanus, Europaeus, Asiaticus, and Africanus
how did Blumenbach classify human race?
Caucasian, Mongolian, Ethiopian, American, and Malayan
what are the types of race classifiers?
lumpers and splitters
what are lumpers?
classify races by large geographic tracts and produce small number of broad, general racial categories
what are splitters?
classify races by localized regional races to determine more precise racial labels
what are cline?
differences in the traits that occur in populations across a geographical area
why can’t skin colour determine race?
average range of skin colour gradually changes over geographic space
how does Vitamin D relate to skin colour?
less vitamin D = lighter skin
what does it mean to say that variations in human physical and genetic traits are non concordant?
each trait is inherited independently, not bundled together in a racial group
where is majority of genetic diversity in humans found?
within people who live on the same continent
what is racial formation?
how social, economic, political forces determine the content and importance of racial categories
what was a primary contributor to the expansion of “whiteness” in the USA?
rise of many members of those immigrant groups (Jews and Irish) in social status after WW2
what is hypodescent?
a socially constructed racial classification system where a person of mixed racial heritage is automatically categorized as a member of the less privileged group
what is the difference in classification of race between the USA and Brazil?
in Brazil the nature of race is more flexible and fluid
what is pigmentocracy?
a society characterized by a strong correlation between a person’s skin colour and their social class
what is an ethnic group?
a distinct identity based on cultural characteristics and a shared ancestry
what is ethnicity?
the degree to which a person identifies with and feels an attachment to a particular ethnic group
what is symbolic ethnicity?
expressive limited displays of ethnic pride
what is ethnogenesis?
gradual emergence of a new, distinct ethnic identity in response to changing social circumstances
what is acculturation?
loss of a minority group’s cultural distinctiveness in relation to the dominant culture
what is assimilation?
members of ethnic minority groups must abandon native traditions and adopt those of the mainstream culture
what is multiculturalism?
encouraging respect of ethnic and cultural diversity as a quality that enriches society
what is amalgamation?
creation of new hybrid identities as groups mix; promotes hybridization of diverse cultural groups in a multiethnic society
what is basic belief behind multiculturalism?
group differences don’t spark tension and society should promote tolerance for differences
how are assimilation and amalgamation similar?
a strong, unified national culture is viewed as the desired outcome
how do assimilation and amalgamation differ?
amalgamation blends various groups in a society into a new hybrid identity rather than expecting the minority groups to conform to the majority
