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Sociology > Chapter 9 - Race and Ethnic Relations > Flashcards

Chapter 9 - Race and Ethnic Relations Flashcards

1
Q

Race as a reality

A
  • racial differences become important because people believe them to be
  • assigning people to racial groups has social significance and people attach meaning to them
  • sociologists were concerned with how people react to physical characteristics and the impact the reactions have on individuals
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2
Q

Race

A

A category of people who share observable physical characteristics and whom others see as being a distinct group

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3
Q

Ethnicity

A

The set of cultural characteristics that distinguishes one group from another group

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4
Q

Ethnic group

A

People who share a common cultural background and a common sense of identity

  • ethnic groups must pass cultural beliefs and practices from generations to generation
  • ethnic identity can cross racial or national boundaries
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5
Q

What is ethnicity based on?

A

National origin, religion, language, customs and values

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6
Q

What is the difference between ethnicity and race?

A

Ethnicity is based on cultural traits, while race is based on physical traits

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7
Q

Minority group

A

A group of people who–because of their physical characteristics or cultural practices–are singled out and treated unequally

  • the term has nothing to do with group size, but with unequal standing in society in relation to a dominant group
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8
Q

Race as a myth

A
  • many people think that humankind can be sorted into biologically distinct groups called RACES
    • no such thing as a “pure” example of different races and each person can only belong to one race (based on skin color, hair texture, physical characteristics)
  • however, we all belong to human race
  • there are greater differences within racial groups than between racial groups
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9
Q

Dominant group

A

Group that possesses the ability to discriminate by virtue of its greater power and social status in a society

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10
Q

What is the dominant group in America?

A

White people with Northern European ancestry

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11
Q

Characteristics that distinguish minority groups

A
  • possess physical or cultural characteristics that differ from the dominant group
  • recipients of unequal treatment at the hands of the dominant group
  • member in the group is an ascribed status
  • share a strong bond and sense of group loyalty
  • tend to practice endogamy
  • patterns of inter group relations
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12
Q

Discrimination

A

The denial of equal treatment to individuals based on their group membership
- can occur on an individual or social level

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13
Q

Legal discrimination

A

Upheld by law

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14
Q

Institutionalized discrimination

A

Outgrowth of the structure of a society

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15
Q

Prejudice

A

An unsupported generalization about a category of people

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16
Q

Stereotype

A

Over simplified, exaggerated, or unfavorable generalization about a group

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17
Q

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A

A prediction resulting in behavior that fulfillsthe prophecy

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18
Q

Racism

A

The belief that ones own race is superior

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19
Q

Robert K. Merton

A

Argued that prejudice and discrimination are related, but do not always go hand-in-hand

  • people combine them in four ways
  • – active bigot
  • – the timid bigot
  • – the fair weather liberal
  • – the all weather liberal
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20
Q

The active bigot

A

Is prejudiced and openly discriminatory

21
Q

Timid bigot

A

Is prejudiced, but afraid to discriminate because of societal pressures

22
Q

The fair-weather liberal

A

Not prejudiced but discriminates anyway because of societal pressure

23
Q

The all-weather liberal

A

Not prejudiced and does not discriminate

24
Q

How do sociologists explain discrimination and prejudiced?

A

They are embedded in social norms

25
Q

How do psychologists explain discrimination and prejudice?

A
  • Prejudiced people have an authoritarian personality type
  • prejudice may be the result of frustration and anger
  • scapegoating
26
Q

Scapegoating

A

Occurs when an innocent person or group is blamed for one’s troubles

27
Q

How does economics explain discrimination and prejudiced?

A
  • Prejudice arises out of competition for resources

- dominant group may encourage competition between minority groups in order to maintain its dominant status

28
Q

Patterns of minority group treatment

A
  • Cultural pluralism
  • Assimilation
  • Legal Protection
  • Segregation
  • Subjection
  • Population Transfer
  • Extermination
29
Q

Cultural pluralism

A

A policy that allows each group within society to keep its unique identity
- Switzerland is an example with three official languages

30
Q

Assimilation

A

The blending of culturally distinct groups into a single group with a common culture and identity

  • American idea of “melting pot”
  • can happen informally or by force
31
Q

Legal protection

A

The rights of minorities are protected by law

  • United States is an example
  • includes affirmative action laws
32
Q

Segregation

A

Policy that physically separates a minority group from the dominant

  • “de jure” segregation is based in laws
  • “de facto” segregation is based on custom and informal norms
33
Q

Subjugation

A

Practice whereby dominance is maintained by force

  • most extreme form is slavery
  • South Africa’s system of apartheid is an example
34
Q

Population transfer

A

Separation of groups by transferring the minority population to a new territory

  • “indirect” transfer occurs when the dominant group makes life for minorities so miserable that they leave
  • “direct” transfer involves using force to move people to new locations
35
Q

Extermination

A

Most extreme; goal is elimination

  • genocide
  • ethnic cleansing
36
Q

Genocide

A

The goal of complete destruction of a minority group

- holocaust and Rwanda

37
Q

Ethnic cleansing

A

The combination of extermination and transferal

- Serbia and Sudan are examples

38
Q

What is the American dilemma?

A
  • The gap between what Americans claim to believe and how they actually behave
  • Americans have not always lived up to the ideals of freedom and equality dealing with minority group
  • conflict dates back to colonial times
  • minority groups have prospered in relation to how closely they adapt to the white Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP) ideal
39
Q

African American group

A
  • 12% population
  • experiences historically shaped by slavery, discrimination, and segregation
  • Civil Rights Movement brought significant gains towards equality
  • some negative trends in education, employment, and income that reveal continuing inequality
  • since 1965 legislation, the number of black reps in govt has grown quickly
  • organizations such as the National Urban League work to empower African Americans
  • environmental racism
40
Q

Environmental racism

A

Racial bias in environmental polices and practices

41
Q

Hispanic American group

A
  • largest minority group
  • trace their heritage to Spain or Spanish-speaking Latin American countries
  • population of Hispanic is growing faster than general population
  • 1960s mostly from Mexico, Cuba, and Puerto Rico
  • central and South American immigrants are now more common
  • came to U.S. to seek political freedom and economic opportunity
  • estimated in 2014 that there are more than 11.3 million illegal immigrants in the uniformed states; majority are Hispanic
  • Hispanics now hold more than 6,000 appointed and elected positions
  • poverty rate is double that of white Americans
42
Q

Asian American group

A
  • 5% of the population
  • earliest to arrive were Chinese and Japanese
  • immigrants from Asian countries are now here, including Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Pakistan
  • projected to be 8 percent of population by 2050
  • have used education to move up economic ladder
  • median income is higher for Asian Americans than for other groups
  • some call Asian Americans “the model minority” because of their quick assimilation
  • Asian Americans face higher rates of stress, depression, mental illness and suicide attempts
43
Q

Native American Group

A
  • 2.9 million individuals
  • original inhabitants of the United States
  • disease, warfare, and destruction of traditional ways of life have reduced numbers dramatically
  • U.S. Government took traditional lands and forced Native Americans onto reservations
  • polices encouraged assimilation into white culture
  • today 55% on reservations
  • statistics reveal dire challenges for Native American populations
  • pan-indianism
44
Q

Pan-Idianism

A

A social and political movement that united culturally distinct Native American nations to work together on issues that affect all Native Americans

45
Q

White ethnics

A
  • immigrants from mainly Catholic countries of Ireland, Italy, France, Poland, Greece
  • faced discrimination by white Protestant majority
46
Q

Jewish Americans

A
  • focus their ethnic identity on their religion

- faced anti-semitism

47
Q

Anti-Semitism

A

Discrimination and prejudice against Jews

48
Q

Arab Americans

A
  • 3.5 million Arab Americans

- Arab Americans face new discrimination after the Arab-led terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001

Sociology (7 decks)

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