Ethnic Inequality Flashcards
What is the perspective of Weberianism on ethnic inequalities?
Focuses on status, party, and power dynamics.
What does the study by Wood et al (2009) suggest about ethnic inequalities in employment?
Discrimination leads to relatively low levels of skill among ethnic minorities
Found discrimination in favour of white names over equivalent applications from number of EM candidates (names) were 29%.
What concept does David (1997) describe with the term ‘concrete ceiling’?
Faced by EM women, describes the embedded discrimination preventing EM being promoted.
White women ‘glass ceiling’. Seen to have more opportunities to break through and reach higher levels of professions.
What is the Dual Labour Market theory proposed by Barron & Norris? (Weberianism)
How racial prejudice and discrimination affect job distribution and wages of EM in labour force.
Primary labour sector: high wage, secure, formal education, e.g. teacher, doctor, dom by white men.
Secondary labour sector: low wage/pay, e.g. truck driver, dom by EM bc of racist beliefs about unsuitability
According to Marxism, what role do immigrants play in the labor market?
They serve the needs of the capitalist class and form a reserve army of labor.
What does the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2007) report about ethnic inequalities in poverty?
General household survey (GHS) -> older people in poverty: white elderly lowest levels income poverty, Pakistani + Bangladeshi: 60% in income poverty.
Highlights the disproportionate levels of poverty among ethnic minorities.
What does Black Feminism, as discussed by Brewer (1993), emphasize?
The simultaneous impact of race, class, and gender on inequalities. EM suffer because black, women, WC etc. Each inequality reinforces + multiply’s the others. (Intersectionality)
What is the argument of the New Right perspective regarding the underclass?
It suggests that certain demographics are unable to hold jobs, leading to dependency on benefits.
Sewell (1997) (New Right)
Argues high proportion of African Caribbean boys raise in lone parents families (usually matriarchal) in Uk. Research 2001, 57% AC fam, lone parent, 25% white. As result many black boys lacked role model + discipline from father. Results in boys more vulnerable to peer pressure + gangs
High levels of school dropout among African Caribbean boys contribute to delinquency.
What is the significance of intersectionality in understanding ethnic inequalities, according to Connell?
It links the dynamics of race, class, and gender established during colonial times.
True or False: The New Right perspective views lone-parent families as beneficial for society.
False
What does the term ‘racialised class fractions’ refer to in Miles’ Marxism perspective?
When ethnic minority groups emphasize their cultural uniqueness separate from the white majority.
How do Castles & Kosack (Marxism) describe the employment situation of most immigrants?
Concentrated in low-skilled, low-paid jobs with poor working conditions.
What does the term ‘culture of dependency’ refer to in the context of the New Right perspective?
A belief that certain groups rely on welfare benefits rather than seeking employment.
What impact does the intersection of capitalism and exploitation have on ethnic minorities, according to Connell?
It emphasizes the compounded inequalities faced by black women.
What is the focus of the functionalist perspective on ethnic inequalities?
It examines how societal structures contribute to or mitigate ethnic disparities.
Reserve army of labour (Marxism)
Immigrants working for lower wages in poor working conditions. Benefits employers (B) because pay immigrants lower wages than should, more profit etc
English defence league (Marxism)
A ‘defender of British values’. Prioritises protecting + promoting human rights which it believes are threatened by a Muslim extremists. Far right beliefs. Tories encouraging increase WC votes. Benefits Marxisms reasons WC believe struggle is due to immigrants
Castles + Kosack (Marxism)
Most immigrants concentrated in low, skilled, low paid jobs with poor working conditions. Treatment denied from need for RAL. Necessary to have a surplus of labour power -> keep wage costs down. Capitalist economies unstable -> RAL needed to be available to be hired and fired.
Cox (Marxism)
Racism developed by exploiters against the exploited. Racism developed by capitalism, hand in hand with colonialism. Racism developed to justify capitalism and exploitation.
Miles (Marxism)
Rationalised class fractions: when EM groups set themselves apart from white majority by stressing and celebrating their own cultural uniqueness
Functionalist view
EI by immigrants a product of their cultural difference and relatively low levels of skill.
Meritocratic society-> earn success due to abilities
EI would decline, immigrants would adopt N+Vs of society, disappear
Patterson (Functionalist) Host-Immigrant Model
Suggests immigrants adapt to the new country while maintaining their cultural identity. Hosts not racist but unsure how to act towards newcomers. Three causes for EI: 1) host fear of cultural differences of immigrants and social change they bring, 2) resentment because have to compete with immigrant for scarce resources e.g. jobs, housing, 3) failure of immigrants to assimilate (become British)
Rex + Tomlinson (Weberianism)
Study, West Midlands. Found material disadvantage EM experienced so great, cut off from white working class. Formed black underclass -> experience disadvantage in labour market, housing
+ education. BU exp of status inequality further through thought of socially excluded from standards of living most take for granted. Feelings sometimes result in riots e.g. London 2011. Conc that in capitalist society, under class ultimate victims + EM mainly in underclass
