Race Theories Flashcards
Barron and Norris
As a result of the racism and prejudice of employers, BME groups are put into the Secondary Labour Market (unskilled, low paid work) which consists of jobs such as a shop assistant, whereas white men are able to access high paid work, such as a Doctor, in the Primary Labour Market.
Barron and Norris Evaluation
Difficult to categorise all jobs into primary and secondary market- for instance a poet may be high status and have power to influence others, but be low paid.
Although, it is true that ethnc minorities tend to get the lower paid jobs- British ethnic minority graduates are between 5% and 15% less likely to be employed than their white British peers 6 months after graduating.
Rex and Tomlinson
A black underclass has developed in many British cities, as a result of the low power and status experienced by black individuals. This is a result of society’s racism, and causes black people to feel frustrated and alienated from society, andthey develop hostile attitudes.
Rex and Tomlinson Evaluation
According to the Ministry of Justice, black people are 6x more likely to be stop and searched than white.
Hall et al
In the 1970s, Capitalism was in crisis, and the state used the media to detract the blame from Capitalism towards the ethnic minorities. As a result, the media scapegoated black people, calling them muggers, and this resulted in the public’s perception of black people changing. For example, many black people found it difficult to get employment, as a result of the racism of employers, thus they experienced social inequality.
Hall et al Evaluation
Neo-Marxist theories are often regarded as conspiracy theories that imply that the state is out to control everyone.
Can be viewed as still relevant with the way that immigrants have continuously been blamed for wider social issues, for example Brexit
Murray
Social inequality is the fault of the individual. By the 1970s, a culture of welfare had developed in England, with many (disproportionately black) men leaving their family as they felt that they were not needed. This left the black mother who inadequately socialised her children, meaning that generations of children are produced, just like themselves- lazy, poor and unskilled.
Murray Evaluation
Ignores some peoples inability to attain a good job, for example due to illness and disabilities. Not everyone on welfare made a choice.
But does offer an explanation for the increasing level of people on welfare.
Lyotard
Ethnic minorities no longer experience social inequality as a result of racism, in this post modern world. Nowadays, it is down to the perception of the individual as to whether they are in inequality or not- and this was caused by the globalised media, which ethnic minorities use to compare their lives with others, and then judge whether they are in inequality or not.
Lyotard Evaluation
Appears to believe that ethnic inequality is a social construct, and that it is a result of the individual’s perception. Clearly not true, statistics show that BME groups are paid on average 11% less than white counterparts- their social inequality is real.
Theory is also simply based on material possessions- not reflective of all aspects of social inequality people experience.
Parsons
Functionalists believe that all forms of social inequality are beneficial to society. Parsons explains that ethnic minorities may experience hostile reactions from the British population, and this is because they need to assimilate into British societies. For example, they need to adopt British values such as politeness, which may be expressed differently in their home country. Once ethnic minorities have assimilated into British society, they will be treated equally and will cease to experience inequality.
Parsons Evaluation
Parsons’ theory appears to excuse racism, passing it off as simply social inequality. His theory ignores the deep rooted racism of groups such as the BNP, who aim to prevent immigration into Britain- this is in no way functional for society.
Many people try to assimilate, but continue to experience racism throughout their lives.
