Test 2: Race + Ethnicity

Question 1

Race and Ethnicity in Canada Today

Answer 1

-Canada is diverse + complex composed of racially + ethnically different groups
-widely renowned for cultural democracy + harmonious ethnic diversity
-Significant gains have been made in the past 50 years for ‘visible’ + ‘non-visible’ minority groups
However, racism is an important part of Canada’s history and part of its current circumstances

Question 2

Multiculturalism/Vertical Mosaic

John Porter: significant degree of ethnic stratification in Canada

Answer 2

• Vertical mosaic: ethnic groups vertically arranged according to income, power, + prestige
• Dissimilarity (occupational differentiation how men + women spread along ethnicity) & Inequality (stratfication, overrepresented in positions of power+prestige)
• Lautard and Guppy compared 1971 and 2006 figures: concluded that ethnic stratification was less pronounced in 2006 than in 1971

Question 3

Multiculturalism/Vertical Mosaic

Answer 3

Between 1931-2006 decline in significance of ethnicity occurred for both occupational differentiation + stratification
Occupational differentiation: reduction of ethnic division of labor of 30% for men, and 45% for women over 70 years
Occupational stratification: reduction of 50% for men and 45% for women over 50 years

Question 4

Race: Does it exists?

Answer 4

biological arguments: research in genetics=racial categorization based on phenotypical differences (skin color) don’t correlate with genotypical differences
geneticists find race to be “inadequate + harmful way to think about human biological differences” (Goodman 2000)

Question 5

Social construction of Race

Answer 5

•Race: social construct used to distinguish people by physical markers(skin colour, hair texture/eye shape) usually with profound effects on their lives
•allows forms of social inequality to be created + perpetuated. how people treat one another because of it + power
-variation across time + space, depends on context

Question 6

Race matters

Answer 6

Racialization: social + political processes by which racial groups are socially constructed based on perceived physical differences
Eugenics movement: founded on social philosophy dedicated to improving human heredity through selective breeding for ‘desirable characteristics’
-Hitler, Canadian example: Alberta Sexual Sterilization Act (1928) 4725 sterilizations approved between 1929 and 1972

Question 7

Ethnicity

Answer 7

collection of ppl distinguished primarily on basis of cultural/nationality characteristics
-can provide a sense of identity + belonging, although not everyone identifies with any one specific ethnic group, some >1

Question 8

Ethnic groups often share

Answer 8

1) Unique cultural traits, such as language, clothing, holidays, or religious practices;
2) A sense of community
3) Ascribed membership from birth
4) Territoriality or the tendency to occupy or iden=fy with a dis=nct geographic area

Question 9

Census (2006)

Answer 9

political tool, useful when generates data that help to shape public policy for the benefit of citizens

• can also serve more subversive/racist – political agendas
• allow a fair degree of choice. US asks all respondents to identify their ‘race’, the Canadian form ask respondents to identify their ‘ethnic/cultural origins’, as well as those of their ancestors

Question 10

Visible Minority

Answer 10

over 16% of pop visible minorities
Canadian Employment Equity Act: defines visible minority as ‘persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, non-Caucasian in race or non-white in color”.
96% of members of Canada’s visible minority live in big cities (population rate 68%)
43% of Toronto and 42% of Vancouver’s

Question 11

RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS: Labels, Identity, and Symbolic Interaction

Answer 11

•development of racial + ethnic labels + identities typically a process of negotiation:

• Members of a group may have racial/ethnic identity, but outsiders may impose new label on them
• Group members then reject, accept, or modify label
• Negotiation between outsiders and insiders eventually results in crystallization of new, more/less stable ethnic identity
• If social context changes again, negotiation process begins anew, never ending unless no change in social situation

Question 12

Ethnic and Racial Labels: Imposition versus Choice

Answer 12

•race and ethnicity are socially constructed doesn't mean that everyone can always choose their racial or ethnic identity freely
•wide variations over time in degree to which ppl can exercise such freedom of choice
•diff. categories of people are more or less free to choose
-if higher class label u=less freedom

Question 13

Majority and Minority Groups

Answer 13

-A majority (or dominant) group is one that is advantaged + has superior resources and rights in a society
A minority (or subordinate) group is one whose members are disadvantaged + subjected to unequal treatment by the dominant group
Visible minority refers to an official government category of nonwhite, non-Caucasian individuals

Question 14

Racism

Answer 14

-set of ideas that implies the superiority of one social group over another on the basis of physical or cultural characteristics
Overt Racism: May take the form of public statements about the ‘inferiority’ of members of a racial or ethnic group (X, get out.), less common
Polite Racism: Is an attempt to disguise a dislike of others through behaviour that outwardly is non prejuducial (Sorry, the job is taken)

Question 15

Racism

Answer 15

Subliminal Racism: form of subconscious racism that occurs when there is a conflict of values (I’m not racist, but…), dont see themselves as racist
Institutionalized Racism: Is made up of the rules, procedures, and practices which may directly/indirectly promote, sustain, or entrench differential advantage or privilege for dominant members (We treat everyone the same here), more latent

Question 16

Employment Equity Legislation (1986)

Answer 16

visible minorities higher levels of education on average than other Canadians + very high labor-force participation rates, continue to be concentrated in low-status, low-paying jobs
-should be doing better

Question 17

Employment Equity Legislation

Answer 17

Strategies: Modified admissions tests + requirements
Enhanced recruitment of certain target groups
Establishment of hiring quotas for particular minority groups
Specialized training/employment programs for specific target groups
programs have had the most significant effect on women and Aboriginal peoples, while people with disabilities have made the fewest gains.

Question 18

Prejudice

Answer 18

negative atittude based on preconceived notions about members of selected groups
Measuring Prejudice: Social distance studies, refers to the extent to which people are willing to interact and establish relationships with members of racial and ethnic groups other than their own
-ppl may not believe themselves as racist

Question 19

Stereotypes

Answer 19

Overgeneralizations about the appearance, behaviour, or other characteristics of members of particular groups

Question 20

Discrimination

Answer 20

involves actions/practices of dominant groups members that have a harmful impact on members of a subordinate group
-actions vary in severity from the use of derogatory labels to violence against individuals and groups

Question 21

De jure

Answer 21

legal discrimination encoded into laws

Question 22

De facto

Answer 22

informal discrimination entrenched in social customs and institutions. More subtle, less visible to public scrutiny + more difficult to eradicate

Question 23

Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples

Answer 23

Aboriginal itself refers to the ‘first’/indigenous occupants

• extremely diverse group with varying access to resources, development levels, and social health
• Native, First Nations/Aboriginal refer to over 600 bands across the country with approximately 50 aboriginal languages.
• most disadvantaged

Question 24

Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples

Answer 24

history includes genocide, forced migration + forced assimilation (process by which members of subordinate racial or ethnic groups become absorbed into the dominant culture)
Indian Act of 1876 which included prohibitions against owning land, voting, and purchasing and consuming alcohol. provisions prevented Aboriginal people from leaving reserves without permission

Question 25

Canada’s Aboriginal Children

Answer 25

placed in residential boarding schools to facilitate their assimilation into the dominant culture
were not allowed to speak their language or engage in any of their traditional practices
Due to government and schools believing Christian beliefs, values, and practices to be superior

Question 26

Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples

Answer 26

income, employment, housing, nutrition, and health, most disadvantaged group
In 2008 Prime Minister Stephen Harper offered a formal apology acknowledging that the policy of forced assimilation “was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country” and that the treatment of children in residential schools “is a sad chapter in our history”
Self-government, Aboriginal rights, and land claims are the primary issues still being fought for

Question 27

The Future of Race and Ethnicity

in Canada

Answer 27

Objective: Promote Unity Through Diversity
Multiculturalism programs provide funding for education, consultative support, heritage language training, race relations training, ethnic policing + justice, and ethnic celebrations
critique of multiculturalism: No agreed upon definition, pressure towards conformity & exaggerates differences
Key is balance is elusive and requires active engagement