Chapter 9: Racial And Ethnic Relations Flashcards
1
Q
Race as a Reality
A
- Racial difference become important because people believe them to be
- Assigning people to racial groups has great significance and people attach meaning to them
- In Sociological terms, “race” is a category of people who share observable physical characteristics and whom others see as a distinct group
- Sociologists were concerned with how people react to physical characteristics and the impact the reactions have on individuals
2
Q
Category of people who share observable physical characteristics and who others see as a distinct group
A
Race
3
Q
The set of cultural characteristics that separates me group from another
A
Ethnicity
4
Q
Ethnicity
A
- Ethnicity
- Ethnic group
- Ethnicity is based on characteristics such as national origin, religion, language, customs and values
- Ethnic groups must pass cultural beliefs and practices from generation to generation
- Ethnic identity can cross racial or national boundaries
- Ethnicity is based on cultural traits, while race is based on physical traits
5
Q
People who share a common cultural background and a common sense of identity are know as an
A
Ethnic group
6
Q
A group of people who - because of their physical characteristics or cultural practices - are singled out and treated unequally
A
Minority group
7
Q
Minority Groups
A
- Although no particular physical feature or ethnic background is superior or inferior to any other, many sociologist recognize that people may place an arbitrary value on specific characteristics
- in this sense, the term minority a has nothing to do with group size, but with the unequal standing in society in relation to a dominant group
8
Q
Race as a Myth
A
- Many people thinks that humankind can be sorted into biologically distinct groups called races
- This idea suggests that there are “pure” example of different races ad. That any person can belong to only one race (based on skin color, hair texture, physical characteristics etc.)
- Biologists, geneticists, and social scientists reject this view of race
- All people belong to the human species
- There are greater differences within racial groups than between racial groups.
9
Q
The group that possesses the ability to discriminate by virtue of its great power, privilege and social status in a society
A
Dominant group
10
Q
Dominant group
A
- The dominant group I’m American society is white people with northern European ancestry
11
Q
Characteristics that Distinguish Minority Groups:
A
- Possesses identifiable 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 (marriage within the group)
12
Q
The inequality experienced by minority groups are common across the globe
A
Discrimination and prejudice
13
Q
The denial of equal treatment to individuals based on their group membership
A
Discrimination
14
Q
Discrimination
A
- Can occur on an individual level or societal level
- Legal discrimination
- Institutionalized discrimination
15
Q
Upheld by law
A
Legal discrimination
16
Q
Outgrowth of the structure of a society
A
Institutionalized discrimination
17
Q
An unsupported generalization about a category of people
A
Prejudice
18
Q
Prejudice
A
- Stereotype
- Self-fulfilling prophecy
- Racism
19
Q
Over-simplified, exaggerated or unfavorable generalization about a group
A
Stereotype
20
Q
A prediction resulting in behavior that fulfills the prophecy
A
Self-fulfilling prophecy
21
Q
The belief that ones own race is superior
A
Racism
22
Q
Actively prejudiced and openly discriminatory
A
Active Bigot
23
Q
Prejudice, but is afraid to discriminate because of social pressure
- Hesitant, has thoughts but won’t act on it
A
Timid Bigot
24
Q
Not prejudice but discriminates anyways because of social pressure
- Followers, give into peer pressure
A
Fair-Weather Liberal
25
Not prejudiced and does not discriminate
All- Weather Liberal
26
Psychological Explanations:
- Prejudiced people have an authoritarian personality type
- Prejudice ,at be the result of frustration and anger
A Scape gloating occurs when an innocent person or group is blamed for ones troubles
27
Economic Explanations
- Prejudice arises out of competition for resources
| - Dominant group may encourage competition between minority groups in order to maintain its dominant status
28
Sociological Explanation
Prejudiced are embedded into social norms
29
- Policy that allows each group within society to keep its unique cultural identity
- Switzerland is an example with three official languages
Cultural Pluralism
30
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
Assimilation
31
Legal Protection
- The rights of minorities are protected by law
- The United States is an example
- Includes affirmative action laws
32
Policy that physically separates a minority group gro, the dominant group; different restrooms for white and black people
Segregation
33
Segregation:
- "De Jure" segregation is based on laws
| - "De facto" segregation is based on custom and informal norms
34
Subjugation
- Subjugation is a practice whereby dominance is maintained by force
- Most extreme form is slavery
- South Africa's apartheid is an example
35
Population Transfer:
- Separation of groups by transferring the minority population to a new territory
- "Indirect" transfer occurs when the dominant groups make life for minority is so miserable that they leave
- "Direct" transfer involves using force to move people to new locations
36
Extermination
- Most extreme; goal is elimination
- Genocide is the goal of complete destruction of minority group
- Holocaust and Rwanda are examples
- Ethnic cleansing is the combination of extermination and transferral
- Serbia and Sudan are examples
37
American Dilemma:
- The gap between what American claim to believe and how they actually behave
- Americans have not always lives up the ideals of freedom and equality when dealing with minority groups
- The conflict dates back to colonial times
- Minority groups have prospered in relation to how close to they adapt to the white Anglo Saxon Protestant (WASP)
38
African Americans:
- 12% of the population
- Experiences historically shaped by slavery, discrimination and segregation
- Civil Eights 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 representatives in government has grown quickly
- Organizations such as the National Urban League work to empower the African Americans
- Group faces environmental racism. Or bias in environmental policies and practices
39
Hispanic Americans:
- Largest minority group
- Trace their heritage to Spain or Soanish- speaking Latin American countries
- Population of Hispanics is growing faster than any other general population
- 1960's - Hispanics in the United States were mostly from Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico
- Central and South American immigrants now more common
- Came to the United States to seek political freedom and economic opportunity
- Estimates in 2014 that there are more than 11.3 million illegal immigrants in the United States; vast majority are Hispanic
- Hispanics now hold more than 6,000 appointed and elected positions
- Poverty rate is double that of white Americans
40
Native Americans:
- 2.9 million individuals
- Original inhabitants of he United States
- Disease, warfare. And destruction of traditional ways of life reduced number dramatically
- U.S. Government took traditional lands and forced Native Americans onto reservations
- policies encouraged assimilation into white culture
- Today 55% are on reservations
- Statistics reveal dire challenges for Native American populations
- Pan-Indianism
41
A social and political movement that United culturally distinct Native American nations to work together on issues that affect all Native Americans
Pan-indianism
42
White Ethnics
- White ethnics were immigrants from the mainly catholic countries of Ireland, Italy, France, Poland, and Greece
- Faced discrimination by the white Protestant majority
43
Jewish Americans:
- Focus their ethnic identity on their religion
| - Faced anti-semitism discrimination and prejudice against Jews
44
Arab Americans:
- 3.5 million Arab Americans
| - Arab Americans face new discrimination after the Arab-led terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
