Race/Ethnicity Flashcards
race
a socially constructed concept - differences in human physical characteristics used to categorize people
(ex. White, Black, Asian)
ethnicity
social identity related to ancestry and cultural differences
(ex. German, Chinese)
minority group
group with disadvantaged positions within society based on distinct physical/cultural characteristics
dominant group
group that possesses the most wealth, power & prestige in society
How do we know race isn’t real BIOLOGICALLY?
would need more TIME & ISOLATION for subspecies to develop
How do we know race is real SOCIALLY?
- we believe in race & society is structured on it
- we know this bc variation over time & cross-cultural differences
Racial Formation Theory
process by which social, economic & political forces determine context/importance of racial categories
1. talk & imagery
2. laws & social/economic action
NON-MATERIAL examples of how race impacts life chances
- extra attention from police
- extra scrutiny when shopping
MATERIAL examples of how race impacts life chances
- lower educational outcomes
- lower economic outcomes
- school inequality
- lower health
Why do both examples affect health?
causes stress
segregation
separation of different racial groups
Index of Dissimilarity
degree to which each neighborhood looks like the whole place
- score from 0 to 1 (perfect integration to perfect segregation)
- represents the proportion of one or the other group that would need to move in order to FULLY desegregate the area
Causes of Segregation
PAST
- laws/policies
- discrimination in housing search
-racial covenants
PRESENT
- economic inequality limits choices
- continued discrimination in housing search
Effects & Linkage of Segregation
- children’s potential for upward mobility
- limited wealth building
- isolation from jobs
- unequal schools
- exposure to environmental hazards
In-Group & Out-Group Dynamics
GROUP BOUNDARIES based on
group memberships and even categorical
identities
* Very NORMAL human group behavior
* but a problem in a multicultural society
ethnocentrism
– Cultural differences => “others”
– Cultural differences judged in terms of own culture –
will increase hostility
group closure
dominant group maintains boundaries
if/because they feel threatened
- Prevent intermarriage (before by law; now by
practice) - Limit social contact
- Physical segregation
- Limit access to resources – like jobs
How is history is still with us?
economic inequality and segregation are in-part
relics of past inequality
prejudice
- Based on stereotypes – false generic images of a
group - Conscious AND unconscious prejudice
- Resistant to change
discrimination
treating a particular group of people differently because of their race
* Overt and intentional
* Or from unconscious prejudice
institutional racism
way race matters in all social institutions, it’s woven
into the fabric of how society operates
aversive racism
subtle, often unconscious racial prejudice
* discomfort around minority group members
AND
* subtle, hard to detect forms of discrimination
When is aversive racism less likely to produce discrimination?
– When right and wrong are CLEAR
– When discrimination would be obvious to observers
When is aversive racism more likely to produce discrimination?
– When right and wrong are UNCLEAR
– When a non-racial explanation is
available to justify discriminatory
behavior
Racial Microaggressions
small slights, indignities, or acts of disrespect that are hurtful to people of color even though they are often perpetrated by well-meaning White people
assimilation
new immigrant groups would assume the attitudes and language of the dominant White community.
pluralism
ethnic cultures maintain their unique practices and communities yet also participate in the larger society’s economic and political life
multiculturalism
ethnic groups exist separately and share equally in economic and political life
