Goal 2: Sociological perspectives on Race, ethnicity and religion

1
Goal 2 Sociological perspectives on Race,
ethnicity and religion

• Looking at these groups within the United States.

2
Functional Theory (Functionalism)

• Society is structured like a living organism,
  where each part contributes to the survival
  (good) of the whole.
• Built to maintain stability and solidarity
  (Manifest function)

3
Latent functions of Racism

• Provides moral justification for keeping in
  place values which routinely deprives a group(s)
  of its rights and privileges
• Discourages subordinate groups from questioning
  their low status
• Serve as a rallying point for social movements
• Ex Limiting all immigration as a way of dealing
  with illegal immigration

4
Latent functions of Racism

• Encourage support for existing order without any
  dialogue about change
• Relieve the dominant group of responsibility to
  address the problems faced by subordinate groups

5
Dysfunctions of Racism

• This practice causes the society to fail to use
  all the resources of its individuals. Only the
  dominant group members can contribute
• Aggravates social problems and places the
  financial burden on the dominant group to fix
  problems

6
Dysfunctions of Racism

• A lot of time and money is spent to defend the
  barriers within society
• Racism undercuts the goodwill between nations of
  the world
• Social change is prevented because it will
  benefit a subordinate group
• Discrimination promotes disrespect for law
  enforcement and peaceful settling of arguments

7
Conflict Theory

• Sees the social world as a never ending struggle
  for power and control between the dominant group
  and the subordinate groups

8
Conflict theorists emphasize

• The presence of tension between competing groups
• There is unequal amounts of economic and
  political power between competing groups
• Emphasize social change and the redistribution of
  resources

9
Conflict theorists emphasize

• The dominant group is responsible for
  subordination
• The plight of the subordinate groups is the
  responsibility of the dominant majority
• The American Dilemma Gunnar Myrdal (1944)

10
Labeling Theory (Interactionism)

• Emphasizes that it is not the behavior, but the
  label placed on it which makes it acceptable or
  unacceptable
• Stereotyping plays an important role in labeling
  people as good/bad
• Ex self-fulfilling prophecy This is usually the
  prerogative of the dominant group

11

• Assimilation ABCA Subordinate groups B and
  C join with A as A.Amalgamation Where a
  dominant group and subordinate group combine
  through intermarriage to form a new group
  Melting Pot where ABCD, the dominant group is
  continually changing as new subordinate groups
  join and have an effect on the dominant group

12

• Accommodation Where the dominant group makes
  room for the others and provides subordinate
  groups with equal status. (Pluralism)

13
The American Dilemma- Myrdal

• Studied the plight of Blacks in America and
  concluded that the Black problem was really a
  White problem, and further, the problems of any
  subordinate group (Native American, Hispanic,
  Asian, etc.) are a White problem. Therefore
  the responsibility for societys problems rests
  with those who pocess the authority and resources
  to resolve problems

14
Blaming the Victim

• Labeling Theory is related to this however, it
  identifies stereotyping at the center of the
  problems between the dominant group and
  subordinate groups within society.

15

• Stereotyping an unreliable generalization of
  behaviors to an entire group of people.

16

• Civil religion The dimension of religion in
  American life, which merges the state with sacred
  beliefs. (Bellah 1967)
• Associated with established religions and faiths
• Not associated with a specific denomination
  Incorporates many groups

17

• One outgrowth of this is the Under God
  statement added to the Pledge of Allegiance in
  1954.
• Functionalists this concept reinforces values
  central to American culture.