Ethnicity and Ethnic Groups

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Ethnicity and Ethnic Groups
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What is the difference between race and
ethnicity?

• Write a short paragraph describing what you think
  the two words mean, then tell how you would
  describe yourself, racially and ethnically.

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Signs from ethnic restaurants around the country
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RACE

• A genetically significant difference among human
  populations.
• Some scientists argue that there are racially
  distinct populations, evidenced by diseases like
  sickle cell anemia.
• Many social scientists say race is more a social
  construct than a biological fact.

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• The FBI uses phenotypes to distinguish peoples
  appearance.

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Ethnic groups

• The word ethnic is derived from Greek word ethnos
  meaning people or nation. Definition
• People of common ancestry and cultural tradition,
  living as a minority in a larger society, or host
  culture

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• A strong feeling of group identity, of belonging
  characterizes ethnicity
• Membership in an ethnic group is involuntary
  you cant simply decide to join the group, you
  must be BORN into it.
• However, some individuals choose to discard their
  ethnicity.

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Problems encountered when defining ethnic group

• The main problem is different groups base their
  identities on different traits
• The Jewsprimarily means religion but is also
  cultural, especially in modern times
• The Amishboth folk culture and religion
• African-Americansskin color
• Cuban-Americansmainly anti-Castro, and
  anti-Marxist sentiment

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Whats the basis for ethnicity?

• What sets people apart, what makes them share a
  sense of being part of we or us can be
• Religion
• Language
• Folk culture
• Place of origin

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When is a group ethnic?

• Groups are not ethnic in their homeland they
  only become so when they migrate and settle
  elsewhere.
• Once transplanted by relocation diffusion they
  become both a minority and ethnic.
• OR, they can be absorbed into a larger or new
  political state.

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Ethnic Regions

• Rural
• Ethnic homelands cover large areas and have
  large populations.
• They tend to reinforce ethnicity.
• Ethnic islands small sections in rural areas,
  with fairly small populations.

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Ethnic homelands in the US

• Acadiana in Louisiana for Cajuns
• Highland New Mexico for Spanish-Americans
• Navajo Reservation in Arizona and New Mexico
• Quebec for French-Canadians
• Formerly Lancaster, PA for

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Ethnic substrate

• These are what remains of ethnic homelands after
  the ethnic group has become assimilated
• Still retain an ethnic flavor
• Can help shape the character and/or culture of
  the people in the area

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Urban ethnic areas

• Ethnic neighborhoods
• Are voluntarily inhabited by people who want to
  live near those who are similar to them.
• Miami Beach many Orthodox Jews
• Exist in every city with immigrant populations
• Ghettoes
• Comes from medieval times when Jews were forced
  to live in segregated, walled communities.
• Current usage refers to poor, usually black or
  Hispanic communities
• These also change over time.

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What happens to ethnic groups once they get to
the new country?
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But ethnic minorities are changed by their host
cultures

• Acculturation the ethnic group absorbs enough of
  the host society to be able to function
  economically and socially.
• Assimilation a complete blending with the host
  culture
• Involves loss of all distinctive ethnic traits
• Intermarriage is perhaps the most effective
  assimilatory device

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Types of assimilation

• Behavioral or cultural assimilation integration
  into a common cultural life through shared
  experience, language, intermarriage and sense of
  history.
• Structural assimilation the fusion of the
  immigrant ethnics with the groups, social
  systems, and occupations of the host country, as
  well as adoption of its common attitudes and
  values.

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Structural assimilation

• This is a two-way street the immigrant culture
  accepts the host culture, which must also accept
  the minority group and allow members to rise to
  positions of authority.
• But consciousness of cultural differences are not
  necessarily lost

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Competition theory

• As ethnic minorities achieve success, awareness
  of their ethnic identity can increase they
  choose to promote group awareness.
• This is a reflection of how the pressures of
  American urban life transform formerly isolated
  groups into self-assertive ethnic minorities.

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Simplification

• Cultural simplification immigrant ethnic groups
  lose certain aspects of their traditional culture
  in the process of settling overseas, creating a
  new, less complex culture.
• Absorbing barriers prevent the diffusion of some
  traits, and permeable barriers cause changes in
  others.

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Ethnic assimilation in other countries

• Other nations arent as willing to incorporate
  newcomers as we are.
• Sri Lanka Sinhalese are 75 of population but
  minority Tamils have fought for years to maintain
  their cultural rights.
• Kashmiri nationalists, who are Muslim, wish to
  separate from Hindu India.

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• Tibetans are being forced to assimilate into
  Chinese society by massive migrations of ethnic
  Chinese into their lands.
• In multi-ethnic African countries, single party
  governments try to impose a sense of national
  unity on populations who only care about their
  tribal connections.
• Basques and Catalans, Bretons and Normans are
  only now being allowed to teach their languages.