Intro to Race and Ethnicity Flashcards
What were the four reasons for studying race and ethnic relations discussed in class?
- Ethnicity and race are among the fundamental organizing concepts of the contemporary world
- In the 20th century and beyond, major world conflicts organized in racial and ethnic terms
- Ethnic diversity also sources of pride, unity and achievement
- Ethnicity and race shape our experiences, our opportunities, and our identities
What are the 5 general components of identities as discussed in class?
Relational **
Complex
Multifaceted
Dynamic
Varied
What were the two types of identities discussed in class?
Personal identity
Social identity
How does social identity arise?
Through a process of categorization/classification
What were the four sources of racial and ethnic identity discussed in class?
Family
Peer groups
Education
Media/culture
Is ethnicity considered a bottom-up or top-heavy approach?
Bottom-up
How did Max Weber define ethnic groups?
o Ethnic groups are those human groups that entertain a subjective belief in their common descent because of similarities of physical type or of customs or both, or because of memories of colonization and migration
According to Max Weber, what is ethnicity made up of?
common descent, tribe, culture, language, religion and nationality
Give a brief history of the term “race”.
- “Race” has historically been defined in terms of physical or genetic characteristics, or as an ascriptive characteristic
- Prior to late 19th century, “race” meant lineage and was variously defined in religious and environmental terms
- Europeans used these differences as justification for slavery and colonialism
How did we define “race” in class?
- A human group defined by itself or others as distinct by virtue of perceived common characteristics
What is the main, yet arbitrary, trait we use to assign race?
Skin colour
Is race considered a bottom-up or top-heavy approach?
Top-heavy
Why is race considered top-heavy and ethnicity considered a bottom-up approach>?
o Cannot pick racial identity as easily as you can ethnic
o Race is Imposed on populations
o More of a rigid concept
What were the 5 problems with biological notions of race discussed in class?
o More genetic variation within a ‘racial’ group than there is between
o Dimensions used to classify biological race are unclearly defined (e.g., skin colour)
o People all over the world are genetically mixed
Reductionistic
o Distracts from social aspects of inequality
What is meant when we say race is a social construct?
o Racial classification is a social and historical process and a product of human perception and classification imposed by dominant groups
