Sociological Theories on Ethnicity Flashcards
What was Patterson’s theory? (Functionalism)
Host-immigrant model - inequalities result from the anxieties caused by the ‘culture clash’, resentment at competition for resources, and failure of ethnic minorities to assimilate.
Affected Labour gvt’s policies - introduced citizenship tests
What is an evaluation of Patterson’s model? (functionalism)
Segregation may be from discrimination, not choice
Sees British culture as superior
Racism has not declined as expected
The most assimilated groups (African-Carribeans) still face disadvantage
What is human capital theory? (Funct)
The wage cap and employment related differences can be explained by the amount of knowledge and skills groups have attained (usually through skills and training) - there is a meritocracy
EMs are paid less as they have less human capital - less opportunity for education
What does Functionalism think caused early racial inequalities?
Cultural differences and relatively low skill levels. In a meritocratic society inequalities would decline as immigrants assimilated
What does Cox believe (Marxism)?
Racism is developed by exploiters - colonialism exploited another country’s workforce and justified these actions through racism (evaluation - too simplistic)
What does Marxism think racial tensions do?
Divide workers, making them easier to control, preventing revolution
What do Castles and Kosack believe (Marxism)?
Treatment of immigrants is due to capitalism’s need for a ‘reserve army of labour’ to keep wages down
‘Divide and rule’
Racism is scapegoating, preventing a revolution
What does Miles (neo-marxist) think?
By the end of colonialism, biological racism was replaced by nationalism. 'Racialised class fractions' were created when immigrants were treated as different or celebrated their cultural uniqueness
What do Rex and Tomlinson (weberian) think about ethnic inequalities?
The underclass is made more severe by racism - point to a ‘black underclass’
What does Modood believe (postmodernism)?
Experiences of racism are not the same - hybrid identities mean identity is not fixed and is a choice, race has less of an influence on identity
What did Gilroy find?
Experience of racism vary
What did Hall (postmod) find?
There has been a fragmentation of identities. Ethnicity has become a KEY FEATURE of identity
Minority EMS may use their culture as ‘resistance’ to the reassertion of power by the majority ethnic group
What does Wilson believe (N Right)?
African-Caribbean cultural values lead to underachievement
What does Modood believe may cause inequalities for EM women?
Cultural traditions eg purdah (seclusion of women)
What does Bradley believe?
Identities are fractures and class is in decline, but we are still affected by power relationships such as racism
