Midterm Flashcards
Ethnicity
shared patterns of behaviour and culture that binds a group of individuals
includes: shared history, language, cultural practices, and belief in common descent
Race
a group of human bings socially defined on the bases of physical characteristics
originally based in genetics, but more aptly based in society
Albert Memmi, 2000
racial categories are not the problem
prejudice and stereotypes based on the race are the problem
Differences between Race and Ethnicity
Race is more often used for discrimination
Race is assigned while ethnicity is asserted
Race contains more power relations and hierarchy
Similarities between Race and Ethnicity
often used interchangeably
both a product of human interaction and influence human interaction
seen as natural categories
often overlap
Resurgence of Race and Ethnicity
post WWII hope of a post-racial world
race linked to nation states increased after WWII as new nations emerged
attention to human rights fuelled freedoms of ideology and expression
Models of Race/Ethnic Relations
Genocide Assimilation Segregation Integration Pluralism/multiculturalism
Genocide
actions aimed at the annihilation of a certain ethnic/racial group in a given area
enacted through physical and psychological actions
must be systematic
Assimilation
the loss of culture for a subdominant group and the adoption of the dominant group’s culture as their own
over time, subcultures disappear
Segmented Assimilation Theory
there are multiple pathways to integration
an individual’s ability to assimilate in a society is determined by various structural and personal factors
Segmented Assimilation Theory- Structural Factors
factors of one’s own culture or the country to which they move are incompatible
-race, location, resources
Segmented Assimilation Theory- Personal Factors
the skills or assets an individual brings which allow for better or worse assimilation into the new culture
Segregation
societies physically and forceful segmented based on racial/ethnic groups
groups function semi-autonomously
often forced physical segregation by the dominant group
Separation
societies where groups live apart, semi-autonomously by choice
Integration
supported interaction of racial/ethnic groups which results in changes to one, homogenous group which is different from each individual group
Pluralism/Multiculturalism
constructing a racially/ethnically diverse society where all aspects of all cultures are equally accepted
Why does race/ethnicity matter?
the consequences of r/e are real
people act as if r/e are real
the are embedded in our society
reification
treating a social construct as if it is real and natural and unchangeable (with negative consequences)
negative consequences include becoming a tool for injustice, an excuse, and a framework for explaining difference
Thomas Theorem
the things we view as real become real in their consequences
this is how we reify race
Race and the Enlightenment
the enlightenment saw a combination of colonization and scientific thought
this allowed for organized categorization of previously held ideas about race
Race and Colonialism
Racism went hand in hand with colonialism and ideas of superiority alongside the white mans burden
some argue that racism only emerged due to capitalism and colonialism
the most advanced societies were seen as most intelligent, and they had responsibility to help other countries
Social Darwinism
an ideology that some races are more fit for survival because they are more genetically advanced
the more genetically advanced were found in more advanced, white societies, who would survive (survival of the fittest)
Eugenics
the movement to create and ideal/perfect race through selective breeding and genocide
based on ideas of George Mendel, that you could cross breed for desirable traits
Scientific Racism
a movement to prove racial superiority scientifically, by testing for traits such as IQ
Stanford-Binet Test
an IQ test used to suggest that individuals who were involved in social problems were less advanced
Problems with IQ tests
they measure cultural/social/economic capital
measured test taking ability
measure the result of social problems rather than the cause of social problems
Cesare Lombroso
developed a theory of criminality based on the physical characteristics of prisoners
led to criminal profiling and the incarceration of children
Biological Determinism
the idea that all of our behaviours and characteristics are biologically disposed
based on Lombroso’s ideas
Racism
a system of dominance nd subordination which supports an ideology assuming the superiority of certain groups and that results in the benefit of one group over another
manifests itself consciously and unconsciously and in the actions of institutionalized power
Racism as Biology
any belief that links thought and behaviour to biology
any treatment, negative or positive, directed at others due to skin colour
Racism as Ideology
Racism is a set of ideas and ideals which form into prejudicial thoughts which in turn cause discriminatory actions
Racism as Culture
the belief that There are certain cultural practices that are inherently superior to others; other practices are dangerous to society’s structure or stability
Racism as Structure
racism is a key structural component of society that infiltrates the institutions and values of society and citizens,
racism is the source of ideology rather than the result of it
Racism as Power/Advantage
racism is the advantage of the in group to have their needs and desires met at the cost of others