theories of ethnic inequality

Question 1

functionalist sociologists?

Answer 1

• Durkheim
• parsons

Question 2

what is durkheims reason for ethnic inequality?

Answer 2

suggests that for society to function there needs to be shared norms and values, he suggests ethnic differences in society could challenge cohesion and therefore everyone should be integrated into shared values.

Question 3

parsons view of ethnic inequality?

Answer 3

he argues immigrant groups often experience temporary disadvantage because they need time to assimilate into dominant culture and adopt host societies values and norms. inequalities are seen as transitional and eventually resolved through integration allowing society to function harmoniously. if inequalities continue it is a result of meritocracy

Question 4

evaluation of functionalism ?

Answer 4

• could be criticised for victim blaming as ethnic minorities should assimilate to society and change their norms and values
• parsons suggest ethnic inequality may be linked to some groups working harder than others but does not consider that ethnic minors have many more setbacks

Question 5

new right sociologists ?

Answer 5

• murray
• saunders

Question 6

murray suggests ?

Answer 6

links his ideas on underclass to ethnicity, suggests ethnic minority groups are more likely to be apart of the underclass due to illegitimacy, violent crime and drop outs

Question 7

saunders ?

Answer 7

norms, values and attitudes of migrants leads to poverty

Question 8

Marxists sociologists ?

Answer 8

• cox
• castles and kosack
• miles (Neo)

Question 9

cox ?

Answer 9

argues racism is socially constructed and was created to encourage benefit capitalism and the exploitation of labour. European colonies explored the work force and justified their actions through racism.

Question 10

castles and kosack ?

Answer 10

found most immigrants were in low skilled and low paid jobs, in poor working conditions or unemployed. he argued that the ruling class needs a reserve army of labour in order to hire and fire. they are disposable in the work industry

Question 11

miles ?

Answer 11

• neo marxist
  argues racism was originally used to justify the exploitation of non-europeans in various parts of the world then replaced with nationalism, the working class divides into racislaed class fractions preventing a sense of class affinity between ethnics and w class

Question 12

evaluation of marxist views ?

Answer 12

• racism persists even when is doesn’t directly benefit capitalism (policing, discriminatory hiring)
• many ethnic minorities are self employed showing their position isn’t always determined by capitalism, asian students are top performing
• is racism was purely a capitalist tool it should disappear in socialist states but that has not been the case

Question 13

weber sociologists ?

Answer 13

• weber
• barron and norris

Question 14

weber ?

Answer 14

he suggests theres intersection between class, status and party and recognises the difference within ethnicity.

Question 15

weber - class ?

Answer 15

ethnic minorities take low paid work often because its the only work available or due to poor language skills

Question 16

weber - status ?

Answer 16

minorities have a low status which results in discrimination and racism and prevents assimilation behave people don’t want to associate with lower status groups

Question 17

weber - party ?

Answer 17

ethnic groups aren’t apart of the party political process and don’t create political parties of their own thus they aren’t properly represented in mainstream politics

Question 18

barron and norris ?

Answer 18

explains ethnic inequality through the dual labour market which argues the job market is divided

1. primary - stable well paid jobs typically dominated by the white majority
2. secondary - low paid unstable jobs with bad conditions ethnic minorities

Question 19

evaluation of Weberian views ?

Answer 19

• focuses on stats which may downplay material aspects of ethnic inequality such as economic exploitation and discrimination
• racial inequality often maintained by institutional power which isn’t fully addressed

Question 20

feminist sociologists ?

Answer 20

Peterson and Rutherford
hooks

Question 21

Peterson and Rutherford ?

Answer 21

explains how gender and ethnicity shapes social and economic disadvanatges they argue ethnic minorities experience a double burden of oppression as women and as members of marginalised ethnic groups
- we need to take an intersectional approach recognising that ethnic and gender inequalities must be analysed together to fully grasp inequalities and systemic disadvantages.

Question 22

hooks ?

Answer 22

articles her frustrations with the failure of the black liberation movement and the women’s liberation movement, during slavery black families slaves experienced the brut of misogyny combined with racism.

Question 23

postmodernist sociologists ?

Answer 23

• bauman
• polhemus

Question 24

bauman ?

Answer 24

argues that in a globalised postmodern world identities are no longer stable but constant shifting, suggests ethnic minorities often experience otherness and exclusion which highlights how marginalised groups face precocity as their status belonging are often questions leasing to instability

Question 25

polhemus ?

Answer 25

argues ethnic identities are fluid and chosen rather than fixed, people can pick and mix elements from diff cultures like fashion this downplays structural inequalities implying ethnicity is more about cultural hybridity than oppression